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I head down the stairs, stopping on the main level and find her behind the bar, which is a surprise.
Her teal, purple, and sea green braids sway as she wipes down the bar.
“Hey,” I say as I stride toward her.
She glances up, offering a thin smile. “Hey,”
Her voice lacks its normal happy go lucky melody.
I study her face, searching for answers in those dark chocolate eyes.
I don’t think I can keep avoiding it anymore.
I have to ask her. “You okay?”
She continues wiping the bar, trying to appease me with a quick answer. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Bullshit.
Once I’m close enough, I walk around the back of the bar, reach out touch her arm. “Oakleigh.”
Sighing, she drops the rag and looks right into my eyes.
There’s a wetness behind hers, almost like she’s about to break down at any given moment. “My visa’s almost up. I’m gonnahave to go back to Los Angeles, and who knows when the next time I’ll be able to come back is.”
My heart drops into my stomach.
I totally forgot about her being on a tourist visa.
Since I have dual citizenship, sometimes shit like that flies over my head. “You don’t know how long you’re gonna be gone for?”
She averts her gaze, her tone breaking with her words. “No, maybe for good. I don’t know how this shit works, Ricardo.”
Ricardo.
She only calls me by my birth name when she’s coming, or stressed the fuck out.
I pull her against me, shaking my head. “That’s not happening, Oak. You just became part of my life and I’m not gonna lose you.”
Her eyes widen and tears begin sliding down her cheeks, “Ricardo . . . I don’t think we have much of a choice.”
“Yeah, we do,” I place a hand on her cheek, wiping away the tears. “Of course we do. All you gotta do is marry me and you can stay here. I can keep you with me on a temporary resident visa if you marry me,”
There’s no finesse, and it’s sure as hell not a romantic proposal, but there isn’t anything traditional about the two of us.
She reels her head back in response, “What?”
I smile softly at her. “I mean it with every fiber of my being. Marry me, Oakleigh. Stay with me. Stay here with me forever and never leave my side.”
A slow smile tugs at her lips, “You mean it?”
I give her a solid nod. “Yes.”
More tears flow down her cheeks and I don’t know what to think.
I just threw my heart out there on the line for her and she’s fucking crying.
She licks her lips and nods up and down. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
