Page 202 of Severed Heart

“Because I have something I want to give you.” I adjust her so I can reach into my pocket and pull it out, keeping it clenched in my fist.

“What is it?”

“Someday, we’re going to have to make you understand thefun partof gift-giving,” I chuckle.

“You have given me too much already,” she says, eyeing my fist.

“Don’t want it?” I ask. “Because I’ll give you a little background on when I got it. It was the same day you tried to kill me with the saltiest fucking enchiladas in world history,” I quip before we both burst into laughter. My lips burn in remembrance of the night I ate two of them just to keep her laughing, as she refused more than our first mouthful before making a frozen pizza.

“What do you have for me, Soldier?”

“Again, this is to be revealed, that is,ifyou can get my fistopen.”

“Argh,” she drawls, “impossible. I surrender already. You are a brute.”

“And you are the most brilliant strategist on the planet,” I tell her. “You’ll think ofsomething.”

“This is true,” she says confidently.

“Modest, too,” I chuckle as she starts to try and pry my fist open. Within a minute, she’s full-on straddling me in the swinging hammock, her temple covered in sweat as I egg her on.

“Guess you don’t want it badly enough,” I quip just before she shoves her tiny bare foot into my armpit while trying to rip my arm off.

“Ok-kay, ouch, shit.” I jerk as she indirectly draws a tickled laugh from me. “I’m b-beginning to think you want it.”

“Give it to me!” she orders in exasperation.

“Who’s the brute now?” I muse as she wrestles me for another minute until she finally collapses on top of me, her aggravated muffle sounding in my chest. “You, Soldier, are anasshole.”

“And you are the love of my life,” I murmur before she lifts her head and stares for lingering seconds. The way she always does when I relay any sentiment of the like toward her. Taking my words to heart, her silver eyes shine with happiness as the dim light of the porch dances along her profile.

“You already know you are mine, too,” she admits freely. “You bring me so much happiness, Soldier.”

“Hey, this ismy speech.”

“You are giving a speech to me? Why?”

“Because I want you to have this,” I whisper, lifting my closed fist and opening my fingers slowly, angling my wrist to capture the nearby porchlight as the ring comes into view. She gasps at the sight of it, darting her eyes from me to the ring and back.

“Soldier... what does this mean?” she asks, openly gaping at the solid band made up of diamonds.

“This is my forever,” I whisper, emotion clear in my voice. “And there’s only one woman on earth I will ever want to give it to. I just hope she really wants it.”

“Oh! I want it so much!” she admonishes tearfully as she sinks back onto me, nestled in my arms before holding up her left hand, which sparks hope in my chest. Gripping the ring, I flirt the glittering circle onto the top of each of her fingers without sliding it onto any of them, repeating the motion until she sounds up.

“Which one, Soldier?”

“Which one do you want it to be?” I murmur to her temple.

“This one.” She wigglesthering finger as my heart thunders, and I slide it on. The fit is perfect as she keeps her hand up, the two of us admiring it for long seconds.

“What would you have done if I wanted it on mymiddlefinger?” she laughs.

“I would have had it resized,” I tell her honestly, elation covering me about the finger she chose. “But since I got the right finger, will you lift your beautiful eyes to mine so I can pose the question that goes with it?”

She rolls back over, tears slipping down her cheeks as she clears her eyes, adamant about not missing any part.

“Can I have your forever, too, baby?” I murmur. “Will you marry me?”