Page 138 of Come to Me

---

This should be enough. I love him and he loves me. Sure, we have problems. But we can work through them.

My throat goes dry again.

Or maybe we can't.

I blink back a tear. The same hot sting as last time. And this is the same. Worse, even. Nothing has changed. Nothing will. Not like this.

I close my eyes, pressing my nails into my palms. There's no reason to hide. Not anymore.

"You're not happy with me," he murmurs.

There's salt on my lips. I wipe my eyes, turning away so he won't see. "That's only a matter of circumstance."

A small pause.

His voice is gentle when he speaks.

"What if it's not?"

"You're the one..." My voice breaks. My throat is too ragged and dry to make any of this fit. "You're the one who wants more."

He shakes his head. "I want you to be happy."

"Please..." I clear my throat. "Please don't do this."

"I don't want to," he says, his voice rough. He takes my hand, squeezing it with both of his. "But, Ally—do you really want to marry me?"

His eyes are on me and his gaze is laser focused on me. He wants to know the truth. Not bullshit that will placate him. The actual truth.

I swallow hard. "I think so."

He runs his thumb over my index finger. His eyes don't waver. "It's a 'yes' or 'no' question--do you want to marry me?"

Chapter Thirty

Luke

Alyssa bites her lip. She looks anywhere but in my eyes.

"That's not fair," she says. She turns her gaze to her engagement ring. Runs her fingers over it.

A tear rolls down her cheek.

"Ally..."

I reach for her, to touch her, offer some hint of comfort. She pushes my hand away, turning her gaze back to the ocean.

"Don't pretend," she says.

"This isn't even the first time this month I've made you cry."

She shakes her head as if to protest, as if to suggest that she's not crying.

"It's okay," I say. "You'll be happier."

I move closer to her, but she pushes me away. Harder this time.

"Don't tell me how I'll feel."

---