"I heard Mr. Grayson passed away," Damien spoke, his eyes meeting mine. "I'm sorry."
"What is this about, Damien?" I asked, shuffling on my feet. "I doubt you got my sister to drive me out here to talk about the death a comatose patient."
"A comatose patient you cared for, Avery," Damien scoffed. "Is this what you do when you care for someone?"
Not wanting to talk about this anymore, I said, "You can keep your money, Damien. I don't want it."
"Why are you doing this?" Damien questioned; frustration clear in his tone. "You're doing everything you possibly can to push me away. When are you going to understand that I' m not going anywhere?"
"Because," I stated, with a scoff. "Everything was fine between us until we slept together and to make matter's worse you had to go and say the one thing–"
"You mean that I've fallen in love you?" Damien clarified.
"Stop saying that," I said, running a hand through my hair. "You don't understand. You can't love me."
"Why is that, Avery? Because of Jace?" Damien challenged. At the name, my eyes flickered up to Damien's. A familiar fire swirled in them as he continued. "He was more than just an ex, Avery. Emery told me everything."
"I'm not right for you, Damien. Your mother was right when she said I'm not wife material." I stated with a shake of my head. Any excitement for being a wife left when Jace left me alone at that alter. "Not anymore."
As if reading my thoughts, Damien's face softened, and he took a step toward me. "My mother doesn't know you like I do and I'm not Jace."
He lifted a hand to my cheek. Giving in, I leaned into his touch–savoring the warmth of his hand against the crisp night air as he ran his thumb along my cheekbone.
Tears stung the backs of my eyes, threatening to make an appearance. As much as I want this–as much as I want us–I have to let him go. "Damien–"
Damien dipped his head, his lips ghosting over mine. Everything in my body screamed to close the gap between us–to feel his lips move against mine just once more.
"Marry me, Avery." He whispered against my lips.
Opening my eyes, I took a step back. Staring incredulously at him, I whispered, "What?"
Before I could replay the question in my mind, Damien dropped onto his knee and reached into the pocket of his coat before pulled out a blue suede box. I swallowed hard, my heart ramming against my ribcage as he opened the box to reveal a shimmering 3 carrot cushion cut engagement ring.
"If the past year has taught me anything, it's that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, Avery Marie Conway, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
A gasp left my lips as I lifted a hand to my mouth. This was definitely not apart of the plan.
YOU ARE READING
The Act
RomanceThe day Avery Marie Conway-a 23-year-old Doctor from Seattle, Washington-meets Damien Miles Foster-the 25-year-old hospital CEO, everything changes. One moment, she's the pretty doctor with a dark past; the next, she's making a deal with Seattle's m...