She huffed. “Yes. I’m here because I–God, I’m no good at this! Just tell me what you want me to say, and I'll say it, Bleu!”
I pushed out a soft laugh. “Now you sound like me. Say what the fuck you feel, Imani. Say what’s on your heart.”
She pressed her lips together tightly before casting her eyes down to the ground. “Look, if losing everyone around me has taught me anything, it’s that life is too short. I don’t want to lose any more people I love. I love you, Bleu. I’ve always loved you. You have my heart, and I don't think I could get it back if I wanted to.”
“Are you kidding me right now?” I asked, stone-faced as a statue.
Her face flushed. “Bleu, I—
“Every fuckin beat of my heart is for you, Imani. I love you, too,” I told her before slowly lifting my arm to hug her.
She placed her lips on mine, and at that moment, I vowed never to let her go again.
∞∞∞
Three days later, I was discharged from the hospital, and Imani was right by my side as promised. She was driving us back to my spot when I spoke up. “We gotta stop somewhere before heading back to the crib.”
“Let me get you home and settled, and then I’ll come back out and get anything you need, okay?
“Nah, this can’t wait.”
“What is it? Do you need your pain medication?”
I shook my head. “Nah. I’ma plug the address in your GPS.”
She looked over at me with a sigh. “Okay, fine.”
After plugging the address into her phone, I leaned against the headrest and waited until we arrived. Twenty minutes later, Imani pulled up to a jewelry store with a confused look on her face. “Are we at the right place?”
I shot her a quick nod. “Yeah.”
“What are we doing at a jewelry store, Bleu?”
Instead of responding, I popped the passenger side door open and slowly started to make my way out.
“Bleu, wait up,” Imani called out, “let me help you!”
“I got it,” I insisted, making my way onto the sidewalk and into the storefront.
“For someone healing from a fractured femur and ribs, you sure do move fast,” she said, catching up to me. “Can you please tell me why we’re at a jewelry store?”
“We’re here because I want you to pick one.”
Imani’s forehead creased. “What?”
“You heard what I said. Pick one, Imani. Pick any one of these engagement rings in here so I can ask you to be my wife.”
Her breath hitched. “Bleu–”
“Don’t say no. You can’t. After all that shit you spewed to me at the hospital, don’t be scared now.”
“I’m not.”
“Then pick one, Imani,” I encouraged her.
Her face flushed as her hands shook with fear and excitement. “O–okay.”
I fell back and allowed her the space and time to look around. After trying on a few rings, she settled on one with a smile. “This is the one,” she urged.
After making my way over to her, I took her left hand in mine and slid the ring on her finger. “Imani, I meant what I said to you in the hospital. Every beat I got left in my heart is for you. Time and time again, life has managed to tear us apart and drive us back together. I don’t want to let another second go without making you, my queen. Will you marry me?”
With tears welling up in her eyes, she opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Instead, she nodded her head and wrapped her arms around my waist.
“Yes,” she whispered.