Page 195 of No Headlines Please

Near the counter, Maisie stood utterly still, looking shocked, while a man at her feet knelt on one knee, holding out an open ring box with the ring inside catching the morning light.

In unison, they both turned to look.

I opened my mouth, but I had no idea what to say.

The man wasn't Griff.

It was Devon, who last I looked had been engaged to somebody else. I glanced around. No Sierra.

Actually, there was nobody at all. The shop was completely empty except for the three of us locked in a visual standoff.

Finally, it was me who broke the silence. "Do you, um…want me to leave?"

They both replied at the same time – except Maisie said no while Devon said yes.

That settled it. I wasn't going anywhere.

I stepped forward, zeroing in on Devon. "So, what happened to Sierra?"

He didn't get up. "Nothing."

"So…you're still engaged?"

He had the nerve to look insulted. "Of course not."

I squinted. "Hey, is that the same ring?"

He snorted just a little too loud. "What do you know about rings?"

"Not much," I admitted. "But I know plenty about you." I looked to Maisie. "I bet it's the same one."

She eyed the ring, squinting just like I had. "You know…I think that is the same one."

Devon sighed. "Alright, fine." He looked to Maisie. "We'll get you a new one. I promise."

Eww.

Seriously.

Maisie shook her head. "I don't care about the ring. I already told you, the answer's no."

He gave her a pleading look. "Oh, come on! Back in college, you said that's what you wanted."

She took a small step back. "Yeah. Years ago. And besides, you dumped me for another girl."

"So?" Devon gave her a shaky grin. "I just dumped her for you. That evens it out, right?"

Maisie stared like he'd just pulled a wedding cake from his ass. "Are you freaking serious?"

His mouth tightened. "I'm here on my knees, aren't I?"

I spoke up. "Actually, it's only one knee."

He turned his head to glower in my direction. "So?"

I shrugged. "I'm just saying, if you really wanna beg, you should probably get on both."

His eyes narrowed, but then he looked to Maisie and asked, "If I do, will you say yes?"