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“Yep.”

“That’s all you’ve got?”

“I’m trying really fucking hard not to ruin this.”

That made her laugh again.

I wanted to kiss her so badly my teeth fucking hurt, my whole fucking body hurt from holding back. I still didn’t move.

Maria stared at me. “You really aren’t going to ask me again, are you?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because you already know what I want. I said I’d prove it with actions, not words.”

Her expression softened. “And if I say no?”

“Then I leave you alone.” It nearly killed me to say it. “But I’ll still keep my promise.”

Her eyes filled again. “Stop making me cry on my birthday.”

“Sorry.”

“You should be.”

I smiled faintly and she stepped closer, every muscle in my body locked.

Maria stopped directly in front of me, close enough that I could smell her perfume and feel the heat of her body.

I kept my fucking hands to myself as my heart slammed against my ribs.

“How about this time I’m asking?”

I forgot how to breathe.

Maria looked straight into my eyes. “One more chance.”

Fuck. “Ria⁠—”

“One.”

I nodded so fucking fast she almost laughed. “One.”

“If you hurt me like that again⁠—”

“You’ll never see me again.”

“Correct.”

“Understood.”

“And this doesn’t mean everything magically goes back to normal.”

“Don’t want normal.”

Her eyebrows lifted.