Page 117 of Dangerous Rhythm

“I’m not good with long romantic speeches. But I want you to know that you are perfect to me. These past few months showed me how much better life is with you. If you believed the vendor woman on the streets of Hong Kong, we are destined,” he pointed out.

Though smiling, Lina narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t think that’s what she said.”

“Fine. Work with me here,” Curtis said. “She said we balance each other and have a strong bond. And as long as we continue to respect our differences, we can bring the best out of each other.”

“You remember that?”

“I do. We already see how we do that to each other. Since you walked back into my life, you’ve helped me figure out so many things. And I’d like to believe I’ve helped you overcome some stuff, too.”

“You have,” she agreed.

“We may not always have perfect days like today, but I want to take up the challenge of making you laugh every day and making you happy for the rest of your life. I think I’m pretty good at it.”

Lina smiled. “You are fucking great at it.”

Curtis presented the ring to her. It was a simple ring with the diamond embedded low into the design, instead of standing inside a prong. It was clean, sleek, and practical, just like Lina.

“So, Lina Cheung, I love you so fucking much. Would you go on another crazy adventure with me and marry me?” he asked again.

“Can I say something?” she asked.

“Uh-oh.”

“No uh-oh.” She cupped his face in her hands. “I love you, Curtis. I don’t think I say that enough.”

“You have a different love language. I get that.”

“You get me.” Lina nodded. “Few people do. And I never thought in a million years that you’d be the one who gets me. But there’s something about you I couldn’t figure out. I mean, you and I shouldn’t work.”

“Why not?”

“We’re so different.”

Curtis shrugged. “Opposites attract, babe. Haven’t you heard?”

She dropped her hands to his shoulders and laughed. “I’m not good at this, either.”

“There. Something in common,” he teased.

“Stop.” Lina couldn’t stop laughing from happiness. “Let me see the ring.”

Curtis proudly took it out of the box and put it on her finger. “I thought you wouldn’t want anything obnoxiously big that would catch on something while you’re working.”

“It’s perfect.” Lina beamed at the ring. “See, you really get me.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Curtis got something else out of the box. “I also got you this. It’s a chain you can clasp the ring into. See the mechanism here.”

He worked with the designer to get this done.

“So if you ever need to take the ring off your finger, you can wear it around your neck and it’ll be a cool pendant,” he explained.

“For real?” Lina tried it as he showed it to her. “Now, that’s double perfect.”

It was surreal to see Lina wearing his ring. But he realized she hadn’t actually answered his question.

“Is this one of those times you don’t answer the question but it means yes anyway?” he asked.

“No. My answer is yes,” Lina said. “Abso-fucking-lutely yes.”

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