D takes my hands, his eyes locked on mine.
“Wren, you stubborn, beautiful pain in my ass. You’ve been my inspiration, my rock, and the best mother our boy could ask for. You’ve loved me at my worst and pushed me to be my best. You’ve seen me covered in blood…” And I hear more gasps from the audience.
“D!” I warn.
“What I’m saying is.Krasotka, you’re the only woman who can make me feel like a lovestruck teenager and a grumpy old man in the same breath.”
I’m trying to glare at him, but my vision’s going blurry with tears.
D takes a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. Then, in one smooth motion, he drops to one knee. The entire auditorium goes silent.
He pulls out a ring box, and I swear I hear collective gasps from the crowd. “Wren,” he says, his voice rough with emotion, “I added a few more carats. Thought maybe that’d sweeten the deal.”
I can’t get a word out. D lets out a nervous breath, like he’s been holding it in for way too long.
“Will you marry me?”
I’m barely holding it together, tears streaming down my face. D reaches out, his calloused thumb gently brushing away the wetness on my cheeks.
I catch a glimpse of what’s in his hand and nearly choke.
There it is. The ring.
Holy shit.
The ring inside is ridiculous—a massive diamond surrounded by smaller stones, glittering so brightly it’s almost blinding. It’s like someone shrunk down a disco ball and slapped it on a band.
My mind’s racing a mile a minute. This is insane. We’re in the middle of my fucking graduation. There are hundreds ofpeople watching. My cap’s sliding off my head, and I can feel my mascara running down my face.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. My throat feels like I swallowed sandpaper.
Suddenly, a familiar voice pipes up from the audience. “Marry Papa, Momma!”
It’s Alex, standing on his chair, hands cupped around his mouth like a megaphone. The crowd erupts in laughter and cheers.
I suck in a breath, feeling like I’ve been sucker-punched. D’s holding both my hands now, his grip warm and steady. I look into his eyes, seeing a mix of hope, fear, and something else I can’t quite name.
“You son of a gun,” I whisper, my voice shaky. “You’ve ambushed me.”
D’s lips quirk up in that infuriating smirk of his. “Guilty as charged,krasotka.But can you blame a guy for wanting to lock down the best thing that ever happened to him?”
His words are light, but his eyes… Fuck, his eyes are so sincere it hurts to look at them.
“Do it! Do it!”
The crowd’s getting restless. I see people leaning forward in their seats. The dean’s tapping his foot, probably wondering if he’s gonna have to give me my diploma or a wedding certificate.
“Wren,” D says, his voice low and intense. “I know this is crazy. I know you hate being the center of attention. But I love you. I love our kid. I want to build a life with you, a real one. No more running, no more hiding. Just us, facing whatever comes next together.”
I swallow hard, my heart pounding so loud I’m sure everyone can hear it. This is it. No more excuses, no more running.
“Yes,” I whisper.
D’s eyebrows shoot up. “What was that?”
I clear my throat, feeling a grin spread across my face. “I said yes, you deaf bastard. Now, put that rock on my finger before I change my mind.”
The auditorium explodes. It’s like someone set off a bomb of cheers and applause. D’s on his feet in an instant, crushing me against his chest. I can feel his heart hammering, matching mine beat for beat.
