Chapter 40: The Answer
Elena stood there, the bouquet of flowers still clutched in her hands as she stared down at Riley, who was kneeling before her with that damn ring, that damn smile, and those damn eyes that had always made Elena feel like she was falling. This wasn't supposed to be happening, not like this, not so soon, not with everything that had happened in the last few days. But then again, this wasn't exactly a normal relationship, and Elena knew that Riley had always been one to take chances, to leap before looking.
For a moment, Elena could barely breathe. Her mind was racing, her heart beating in her ears, and she felt the weight of the world resting on her shoulders. Was she ready for this? Was she really ready to let herself love Riley in a way that was deeper than she had ever imagined?
She took a breath, trying to calm her nerves, but all that came out was a small, shaky laugh. She couldn't help herself. The sight of Riley, kneeling there, looking so vulnerable, was almost too much to bear. She didn't know whether to cry, laugh, or scream.
"Riley, you-" Elena started, but then she faltered, shaking her head in disbelief. "You're seriously doing this right now?"
Riley's smile softened, her eyes never leaving Elena's. She was clearly holding her breath, waiting for a response. "Yeah, I am. Is that okay?"
Elena blinked rapidly, trying to process the situation, but her lips couldn't help but curl into a grin. She shook her head, still trying to grasp how surreal it all felt. "Okay? You're asking me to be your girlfriend, and you're literally on one knee with a ring. It's a little... dramatic, don't you think?"
Riley laughed softly, her cheeks flushing as she shrugged. "I thought it was romantic," she said, her voice dripping with playfulness. "I mean, you can't blame me for trying. I'm just a girl trying to do something nice for her girl."
Elena chuckled, the tension in her body easing as she leaned down, giving Riley a teasing look. "You know, you're a little too dramatic for me sometimes," she teased, her voice light but affectionate. "I thought you were going to start singing or something. This is some kind of rom-com setup, right?"
Riley snorted at that, her face breaking into a grin as she sat back on her heels. "I can't sing, Elena. But if I could, I would serenade you right now. You know that."
"Oh, I know," Elena shot back, her voice full of mock horror. "I don't think the world is ready for that."
Riley's grin only grew wider. "Fair enough. But seriously, I'm kind of putting my whole heart on the line here. This isn't just about a ring or a fancy dinner. It's about us, and I want you to know I'm in this for real."
Elena looked down at Riley, her chest tightening as she took in the sincerity in her eyes. The teasing, the banter, the humor-it was all there, but beneath it was something deeper, something that Elena couldn't ignore. Riley was asking her to be part of her future, and for the first time in a long time, Elena realized she was ready for it.
A wave of emotion hit Elena then, and she let out a shaky breath. "You're really serious about this, huh?"
Riley nodded, her expression soft and vulnerable. "I am. I've never been more serious about anything in my life."
Elena swallowed hard, her heart hammering in her chest. The weight of Riley's words sank in, and the gravity of the moment hit her full force. She took another deep breath, looking down at Riley, who was still holding out the ring, waiting for her to say something. But the words felt stuck in Elena's throat. It wasn't that she didn't know what she wanted to say-it was that she couldn't quite believe this was happening, that Riley was asking her to be hers, forever.
"Well, damn," Elena finally said, her voice thick with emotion. She let out a breathless laugh and shook her head. "You really don't know how to make things easy, do you?"
Riley raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint appearing in her eyes. "I could've gone with the simple 'will you be my girlfriend?' but I thought the whole knee thing might add a little flair."
Elena's smile softened as she shook her head again. "You're something else, you know that?"
"I try," Riley replied, her voice light, but the seriousness was still there. She wasn't letting go, not yet, not until Elena gave her an answer. "So... what do you say?"
Elena looked at the ring again, then back at Riley's expectant face. Her heart raced in her chest as she considered her response. She could feel the weight of her own hesitation, but it wasn't because she wasn't sure about Riley-it was because this was a big step. She didn't want to mess it up. She didn't want to mess this up.
But then she saw the way Riley was looking at her, the warmth in her gaze, the trust, the openness-and suddenly, everything fell into place. Riley was right in front of her, asking for everything, offering her heart, and Elena realized that she wanted to give her heart right back.
"You're right," Elena said, her voice finally steady. "You are a little dramatic. But I don't care. I'm a sucker for that stuff."
Riley's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, Elena thought she might actually pass out from the sheer intensity of it all. But then Riley's grin returned, and she stood, pulling Elena into her arms.
"So... is that a yes?" Riley asked, her voice light but with an edge of excitement that was almost contagious.
Elena laughed, wrapping her arms around Riley's neck as she looked up at her, feeling her heart race with something she couldn't quite describe. "Yeah," she said, her voice soft but full of certainty. "Yeah, it's a yes."
Riley let out a breath of relief, then pulled her into a kiss-slow at first, testing, but soon deepening, as if the weight of everything they had been through together was finally being released. The world seemed to fade away, and for a moment, there was nothing but the feeling of Riley's lips against hers, the warmth of her hands around her waist, the sweetness of the moment.
When they finally pulled apart, Elena couldn't help but laugh softly. "You know," she said, her breath still a little shaky, "you could've just asked me over dinner. You didn't have to go all out like this."
Riley grinned, her eyes sparkling. "What can I say? I like to make things memorable."
Elena shook her head, her smile widening. "You definitely succeeded. I'm never going to forget this."
"Good," Riley replied with a wink. "Because I'm not going anywhere, Elena. I'm here for the long haul."
"I know," Elena said, her voice full of affection. "And I'm right there with you."
They stayed there for a moment, just holding each other, before Elena broke the silence with a playful smirk.
"Now, about that serenade..." she teased.
Riley raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "You really want to hear me sing, huh?"
"Only if you promise it's not going to be a total disaster."
"Deal," Riley said with a dramatic flourish. "But just so you know, I'm a terrible singer."
"Perfect," Elena responded, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just what I needed."
And with that, Riley launched into the most off-key rendition of a love song Elena had ever heard, and though it was utterly ridiculous, Elena couldn't help but laugh.
In that moment, everything felt right.