Chapter 1

During the request segment, I gripped the ring box in my pocket.

Eight years together. Tonight, I'm proposing to Lucian Vance.

The spotlight stopped on me.

Sadie screamed in my earpiece. "Go!"

I took the mic and looked at Lucian, face burning.

He glanced at me, raised his hand, and took the mic.

He turned and handed it to his assistant Chloe Reed on his other side.

"The light hit her first. It's Chloe's first live show. Let her have it."

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. Gentle as always.

Chloe took the mic, eyes wide, and picked a love song.

Lucian clapped first.

Sadie's voice changed in my earpiece. "Chloe Reed again?"

I almost laughed. Lucian had no idea. This wasn't just a mic.

This was the last chance I was giving us.

In one week, the Sterlings would announce my goodbye.

......

The singer froze for a few seconds, cleared his throat, and started warming up the crowd again.

Sadie had lost it in my earpiece.

"What is wrong with him? New Year's fireworks, he brought Chloe. Your birthday dinner, he brought Chloe. Now the concert too? Is he dating you or babysitting the intern?"

Sadie stopped herself.

"Sera, that came out wrong."

I managed a laugh. She wasn't wrong.

Lucian brought his little assistant everywhere. He said it was for work.

Sadie lowered her voice. "Everyone's at the restaurant. Balloons are set, banner's up. Just waiting for you two. Then he pulls this. I could kill him."

She paused. "Should we still wait?"

I forced a smile. "Don't."

What was there to wait for? The mic wasn't even in my hands.

I took out the earpiece and shoved it in my pocket.

My fingers touched the ring box. The corner dug into my skin.

One carat. I'd spent weeks on the setting. I'd waited until Lucian was asleep, wrapped a string around his ring finger, and took it to the jeweler.

For tonight, I'd called the organizers two months early and filmed a three-minute video.

Eight years together. Our friends filmed their blessings one by one. The last frame was me looking into the camera, saying the words.

I filmed it seventeen times before I got a take where my smile didn't shake.

Chloe's song ended. The crowd went wild with cheers and whistles.

Everyone probably thought she and Lucian were the couple.

Lucian glanced at me. Like he just noticed I wasn't clapping.

"What's wrong?"

I said nothing.

The show ended and the crowd pushed toward the exits.

He walked beside me, arm around my shoulder, keeping me from the crowd.

"Sulking? Over a song request? Seriously." He was on his phone, not looking up. "I'll book you a whole show later. Pick whatever you want."

Sometime.

Next time.

Later.

His three favorite words.

"Lucian." I stopped walking.

He didn't. Took two more steps before turning back.

"We had a deal. Eight years, you'd give me an answer. It's been eight years."

He put his phone away, looked at me, and smiled.

That "here we go again" smile.

"What's the rush? I've got five deals going before year-end. Once things settle after New Year's, I'll take care of the wedding."

After New Year's.

Pushed back one more notch.

He'd said the same thing three years ago.

The first time I took him home. Flights were booked.

The day before, his secretary said there was an urgent pitch deck.

He canceled his ticket.

He'd said the same thing then. "What's the rush? I'll meet them eventually."

I flew alone with two sets of gifts. My dad asked where he was. I smiled and said work came up.

The car pulled into the garage and stopped.

He leaned over and rubbed my earlobe with his thumb, barely touching.

"I'll get you that bracelet you liked, as an apology. Deal?"

I turned my head away from his hand.

He froze.

"Lucian, stop."

"I don't need it anymore."