The sun peeked in through sheer curtains, casting golden stripes across the room.
Mara stirred.
Her head rested on Stone's chest.
Their legs were tangled under the blanket.
And his arm?
Wrapped so tightly around her, it was like even in sleep, he refused to let go.
"You're awake?" he murmured, voice heavy with sleep.
"Mhm. You snore a little."
"Lies," he smiled, eyes still closed. "I'm perfect."
She giggled softly, and he finally opened his eyes.
"You stayed," he whispered.
"You didn't let me leave," she teased.
"Never will."
...
Kitchen
Mara stood at the stove, barefoot in his shirt; too big, sleeves rolled, and smelling like comfort.
She was stirring tea when he walked in, shirtless, messy-haired, and so unfairly fine.
He slid up behind her, arms snaking around her waist.
Chin resting on her shoulder.
"You making that for me?"
"Nope. Just for the vibes."
He chuckled, kissing her neck lightly. "Marry me."
She turned in his arms, smirking. "You're serious?"
"Terrifyingly."
They stared at each other, soft and unguarded.
And then he whispered:
"I don't care how long it takes. I'll wait. As long as I still get mornings like this.
They didn't say "I love you" yet.
They didn't need to.
It was in the hugs.
The tea.
The quiet.
....
Later That Day; His Apartment
Mara was cross-legged on the couch, one hand balancing a bowl of cereal, the other holding the remote.
She wore his top again;
This time, it was black.
It slipped off one shoulder.
And he swore it was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen.
"Why're you staring?" she asked, without looking up.
"You're wearing my shirt."
"And?"
"You're eating Froot Loops in it."
"Your point?"
"I'm gonna marry you."
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Mhm," Malik said, walking over slowly. "Gonna marry you."
She laughed, almost choking on her cereal.
"You're not serious."
"Dead serious."
He reached into his hoodie pocket;
And brought out a box.
She froze.
"Malik…"
He got down on one knee right there in the living room, next to spilled milk and cartoon sounds playing faintly in the background.
"I was gonna wait for a rooftop or candles or some movie-type crap. But seeing you like this? All cozy, barefoot, in my shirt; laughing like life finally makes sense? I just had to."
He opened the box slowly.
Inside sat the ring.
Simple. Elegant. Diamond glinting like it already knew the answer.
"I don't need the world's permission. I don't need a crowd. Just you."
"Say yes now…
Or say yes later.
Just don't leave."
Her lips trembled.
She looked down at the ring.
Then at him.
Then at her cereal.
"You're really proposing while I have milk on my chin?"
"You look hot."
She laughed through the tears and tackled him to the floor.
"You're insane."
"Insanely in love."
She didn't say yes. Not officially. Not yet.
But when she kissed him like that?
Wrapped in his shirt?
Tears and all?
He knew.
She was already his.
....
Malik had just kissed her goodbye, soft and slow, like he was leaving for a year and not just the office.
As the door clicked shut, Mara stood there, heart thudding like a drum.
Then;
She SCREAMED into a pillow.
She grabbed her phone with shaky fingers, opened her call list, and hit Clara
Riiiiiing...
"Hey b—"
"CLARAAAAAAAAA!!"
"Girl what?? Why're you screaming?"
"I think I'm ENGAGED?!"
Silence.
Then Clara screamed so loud it echoed through the phone.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'YOU THINK'? MARA DANIELS YOU BETTER EXPLAIN BEFORE I COMBUST!!"
Mara fell back on the couch, laughing and breathless.
"I was in his shirt. Eating cereal. Looking like a raccoon. He pulled out a ring and just; PROPOSED."
"IN HIS SHIRT? DOES IT FALL OFF YOUR SHOULDER??"
"YES."
"MA'AMMMM YOU SEDUCED THAT MAN WITH BREAKFAST. YOU DID THAT."
Mara wheezed with laughter.
"I didn't even say yes properly. I just tackled him like an NFL player."
"You better frame that shirt. It got you a HUSBAND."
....
They screamed.
They cried.
They planned wedding colors that hadn't even been discussed yet.
And for the first time in forever...
Mara Daniels felt like maybe, just maybe, she was living the kind of love she used to laugh at in movies.