Page 145 of Driftwood Daffodil 3

Teenagers were two things to Maw Maw. Idiots or criminals. Both assumptions had merit in this situation.

“It was my mother’s.” Gio responded while keeping his eyes on me.

That was his mother’s ring? Why would he give it to me, and why was he doing this? Technically we were already engaged, so why put on the show? Was it for Maw Maw’s sake? He did say I had to announce our engagement. Was this his way of doing that? Did he expect me to say yes? Did I want to say yes?

“Gio…”

He cut me off. “I know it’s sudden.”

No it wasn’t. This was already predetermined.

“We’ll have to wait until after college of course.”

Ah crap. That was the magic word. Maw Maw was on board now.

She clapped her hands together as a tear came to her eye. “This is so beautiful.”

No, college was what was beautiful. Not the proposal. Although I don’t think she saw the difference.

“Do you two kids know where you want to go to school? Oh wait…” Maw Maw clapped her hands, and rushed down the hall, saying, “I have some brochures.”

I watched her disappear then glared down at Gio. “Are you proud of yourself?”

His brow arched. “It worked didn’t it.”

Yeah, except now I had to go to college and Maw Maw thought the sun shone out of his ass. Prick.

“Besides,” he braced his hand on the counter and rose to his feet. “You’re the one that said you loved me.”

Damnit. Wooden spoon to the eye it is.

“I said no such thing.” And he couldn’t prove otherwise.

A sly smirk curled the corner of his mouth and I suddenly had a better idea for the wooden spoon.

I smacked it off his arm. “Stop looking at me like that.”

Gio didn’t even flinch. “Hit me all you want, I still heard you.”

“You heard nothing.”

He bent down and purred in my ear, “I could force it out of you.”

I knew what that meant.

“Do you want Maw Maw to beat you to death?” Cause I kind of did.

“Alright.” Gio leaned back against the counter and held up the ring box. “You better put this on before she comes back.”

In true Gio Mancini fashion he didn’t wait for me to answer. He took the jewelled band out of the box and grabbed my hand. I may have accidentally hit him again with the wooden spoon. Unfortunately, that didn’t deter him from sliding the ring on my finger.

I didn’t like being responsible for something worth that much. On the upside this thing would really hurt if I punched someone with it. Like say the asshole standing next to me.

“Look at that,” Gio said. “It’s a perfect fit.”

Uh huh. Bastard. “Have I told you I hate you today?”

He bent down, kissed my cheek, and whispered back, “I hate you too.”

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