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He grih he doesn’t knohat to say next

"I’hter’s life I couldn’t be more pleased with her choice in someone to love"

"Thank you, sir," I say I’ve been blindsided, and I feel like so at all

"I know you have plans to be with hter forever" He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small jewelry box He presses it into e inside You would probably need ais beautiful, with a lot of detailed etching around the band It looks like an antique "If you decide to ask her to marry you at so And you can use her grandain "Or you can use your own I don’t particularly care"

I rewith her in a shitty aparts He remembers it, too

"Thank you, sir" I feel like someone has stolen allthat you have to ask her anytime soon"

"I plan to ask her as soon as possible," I ad it since I woke up in the hospital I don’t want to be away frole second Ever

"When you do, you have er at oodthat will ever break her heart, I’ll have to do terrible things to you" He glares down his nose at h

I look down at h," I say I need to tell hi I take a deep breath "I feel like I need to co"

His arches his eyebrows and sits forward "Please do"

"I didn’t try to push you out of the way that night Eet to her So, I shoved you, hoping you would fall into her like do with chuckles "I know"

"You did?" How the hell did he know that?

"Yes, I saw the look on your face No one is that scared over a man who has treated hiards , you had this look that told hter and that you would sacrifice yourself for her" He nods toward the ring "That’s why I gave youNot because you saved my life"

"Oh" I probably sound like an idiot, but I don’t knohat to say

"Two ets back" He looks anxiously toward the door "One--when you’re ready, there’s an internship waiting for you at Madison Avenue in the advertising departan, and I could use someone like you" He holds up a hand to stay me when ned that advertising can And you’re very talented" He smiles, and it actually reaches his eyes Maybe I’ve had too many painwho thisme praise "I wouldn’t expect any special treatment" Or accept any for that ," he says He licks his lips and then his eyes n a tattoo forthat representstoin ood knee "I know you’ll co perfect"

The door opens, and E box down in the couch cushions

"Give it soht, and let er in front of hisa secret

I nod

He kisses Emily on the cheek and walks out the door She rushes over to my side "What did he say to you?"

I still can’t believe it "He told rin at her

She rolls her eyes and slaps my shoulder "Be serious"

"I am," I complain "I’m injured Don’t beat on me" I catch her hands and pull her toward me

She sits down next to me "What did he say, really?" she asks

"He said I can ask you tomy forehead to hers I kiss her quickly

She lays a hand on her chest and inhales and exhales heavily "What?"

I shrug "I asked him before the accident if I could have his permission to ask you to marry h "He changed his mind" I reach into the couch cushions and pull out the box I was going to wait for a special occasion, but I don’t want to wait I want to put a ring on her as soon as possible I want her to be o hen I show her the box

"I can’t quite go down onto one knee," I say in apology

Her eyes fill with tears, and I stuff the box back down in the cushions

"We can do this another ti?" she asks She takes my shirt in her fists and jerks me toward her "Ask me Ask me Please ask me" She’s in my face, and I’ve never been ht now But she sits back, looks at me sheepishly, and says, "If you want to ask me, that is You don’t have to ask me if you don’t want to"

I wrap ie "I don’t just want to I have to"

She looks up at hts in as much turmoil as her hair

"I can’t live without you, durins at the term of endearment There was a time that a word like that would have shredded her; now it’s just a word A funny one, too, because she’s the opposite of duue sweeping into o rock hard immediately

"Get the box back out," she says I can feel her grin againstAsk me I promise I’ll say yes"

"You’re so easy," I tease

She wasn’t always easy It was da, but I couldn’t avoid it She’s like a piece of ine a day without her I reach into the cushions and pick up the box My heart is thuh she just toldto accept I open the box, and it creaks on its hinges