Page 87 of Worth the Fall

He exhales sharply, looking at me with a mix of frustration and something else I can’t quite place. "I just—I wanted tonight to be special."

"Mia!" Felicity squeals, running toward me and grabbing my hand. "Daddy was making a special dinner!"

My heart melts a little, even as I cough from the smoky air. "Oh, you two are so sweet," I say, smiling warmly. "You didn’t have to do all this because I got the Simmons account."

"What?" Miguel freezes mid-wave, his face morphing from panic to sheer excitement. "You got it? Seriously?"

I laugh, nodding. "Yeah, I did! Wait…" I blink at him, realization dawning. "Isn’t that what this was about? Because of my text earlier?"

Miguel’s eyes widen like a deer caught in headlights. Before he can say anything, Felicity pipes up, "No, it’s because of?—"

"Let’s order dinner!" Miguel blurts, his voice an octave higher than usual as he spins toward the counter. "Celebrate with takeout! Great idea, right? Wine! We’ll have wine!"

I blink at him, thoroughly confused. "Are you okay?"

"Me? Perfect!" He practically lunges for the wineglasses, setting them out with a flourish. "Sit down, relax. Felicity, help Mia pick out some… uh… napkins! Or… something."

Felicity giggles but doesn’t argue, clearly enjoying the show. I sink into one of the chairs at the dining table, shaking my headas Miguel pours the wine. "I don’t know what’s going on with you tonight," I say, "but I’ll take the wine."

As the minutes tick by, Miguel’s behavior only gets weirder. He’s fidgety, checking his watch every five seconds, and keeps adjusting the wine bottle like it’s a centerpiece in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

I sip my wine, watching him with amusement. "Are you expecting someone? You keep looking at the door like a pizza delivery guy owes you money."

"No! No one," he says quickly, sitting down across from me before immediately standing back up. "Just… hungry, that’s all. Long day."

"You sure you’re okay?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Totally fine," he says, his voice tight.

Felicity, sitting beside me, giggles into her stuffed bunny. "Daddy’s being weird," she whispers loudly.

I laugh. "You’re not wrong."

"I’ll be right back!" Felicity announces suddenly, hopping off her chair and darting out of the room before I can ask where she’s going.

Miguel’s face pales. "Oh no," he mutters under his breath, standing up. "Uh, stay here. I’ll be right back, too."

But before he can make it to the door, Felicity reappears, proudly dressed in a makeshift "Ring Security" outfit—her tiara slightly askew, sunglasses perched on her nose, and a bright-pink sash across her chest that reads Ring Security in sparkly letters. She’s clutching what looks suspiciously like a Ring Pop in one hand and grinning like she just saved the day.

"Ta-da!" she announces, posing like a superhero.

"Oh my God," I say, laughing as I glance at Miguel. "What is happening?"

Miguel groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Felicity…"

"Daddy, you’re being weird," she says, crossing her arms and looking up at him with an exaggerated sigh. "Just do it already!"

"Do what?" I ask, looking between them, completely lost.

Miguel looks at Felicity, then at me, and suddenly he starts laughing. Not just laughing but dissolving into full-blown, shoulders-shaking laughter.

"You’re right, baby girl," he says, his voice softening as he kneels down to Felicity’s level. "You’re absolutely right."

Felicity is practically vibrating with excitement as Miguel stands, his laughter fading into something softer, more profound. He takes a step closer, his eyes locking with mine as he pulls a small velvet box from his pocket.

My breath catches, and my hands fly to my mouth. "Oh my God."

Miguel smiles, his nervousness melting into warmth. "Mia," he begins, his voice steady but thick with emotion, "you are the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. You’ve brought so much love and light into my life, into Felicity’s life, and I can’t imagine a future without you in it."

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