Page 96 of Great White
“Well, you already have my body, my soul, my heart, and my name. I think it’s about time you have the piece of paper, too.”
“Is this a proposal?”
“It all depends.”
“On what?”
“Your answer.”
“I don’t think that’s how it works. You’re supposed to have a ring, and say something flowery to me. And hold your breath until I answer.”
“Flowery, huh? You don’t strike me as the flowery type of woman.”
“I’m not, but if I’m reinventing myself. Maybe I should try it.”
“Hmm,” I drawl. “A ring?” I reach over and grab my jeans off the floor. I fish in the pocket and pull out a little black box. As soon as Dove sees it, I feel her body tense against me. She didn’t think I was being serious. When will she learn? I always mean what I say.
I pop open the box, and inside is a black, emerald-cut diamond sitting atop a white gold pavé band.
Her hazel eyes grow large and wide.
“A ring, like this?”
Dove doesn't speak.
“And something flowery?” I muse. “Esta´s enredada con mi alma.” Cuando nos tocamos, las nubes se llenan, los cielos retumban, y la lluvia cae. La belleza de nuestro amor es parte de la tempestad. Will you be my love in the storm, always?”
Dove still doesn’t say a word. She just stares at the ring. She stares for so long I begin to worry. Truth be told, I was expecting an excited yes, maybe some tears, and a wet, happy kiss. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to happen?
Not with myTiburona. One solitary tear trickles down her face.
“It’s okay to say no, if you’re not ready,” I assure her as much as it destroys me.
“I would never say no.” She props herself up and pulls the ring from its box. When she slides it on her finger, my heart explodes with joy.
“But you haven’t said yes.”
Dove climbs on top of me and clutches my face in her hands. Her eyes are glassy with emotion, and for the life of me, I can’t figure out what she’s feeling.
“I was prepared to be alone for the rest of my life. And then you came and changed everything.”
“For the good or for the bad?” I joke from nerves.
“For the bad, at first. But now I can’t imagine not being anywhere you are. And for a woman like me, that’s terrifying.”
“Dove, I will never hurt you.” I caress her naked arms, well aware that her past will always haunt her.
“I know that. It’s why simply saying yes doesn’t feel like enough.”
“Why don't you try saying it and let me be the judge?”
Dove’s plump pink lips turn up into a small smile. “Yes,” she hums in my ear, and my whole body breaks out in chills.
“It’s more than enough. It’s all I need.”
There are no second thoughts after that.
No worries of not being enough.
