Page 97 of Cuffed By Love

Smart? You just admitted to wanting to kick me down the stairs. Now, if I happen to fall down the stairs, there’s incriminating evidence. You know these emails are recorded, right?

Devin King:

Considering your lack of gracefulness and my shoddy luck, there’s a high chance of that happening. Fortunately, I look great in orange. I’ll see you in another ten years?

From: Mira Evans

Haha, so funny. I almost cracked a rib laughing and choked on a gummy bear, you oaf.

I go to email her back, but I see her head of dark hair approaching, so I close my laptop, lean back into my chair and rock back and forth. The office is near enough empty save for the cleaners. I sent Mark home early, as I wouldn’t need him for anything else.

“Thank you for the basket,” Mira says, leaning against the doorframe to my office. “If I get fat or wake up with a face full of pimples, I’m holding you responsible.”

I laugh and lace my fingers together while I watch her. “I’ll take full responsibility.” Mira smiles back at me and throws a packet of Haribo toward me. I look at the pack of star mixes and pull it open, fishing out the ring. “Do you remember when I proposed to you with one of these?”

Mira nods, licking her lips. “I do remember. I wore that ring for three days before getting a rash, and my mum forced me to take it off. My dreams of being the future, Mrs King went down the toilet… literally.”

I stand up and walk over to her, smiling. I take her hand in mine and lift my eyes to look into hers. “Will you be my forever, Mira Evans?” I ask with a grin, just like I did when we were twelve.

The smile on Mira’s face slips, and she looks down at her smaller hand in mine. “There’s no such thing as forever, Devin King.”

I bite my lip and tighten my fingers around hers a little. “Then be my for now.” I request and slide the ring on her finger. Mira stares down at the colourful ring on her finger and shakes her head.

“For now.” She whispers to herself and then looks up and plasters a smile on her face. “Thank you for the proposal and the ring. I can’t promise I won’t eat it on the drive home, though.” Mira jokes and pulls her hand out of mine. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I nod and watch her walk off toward the elevators. I groan and lift my gaze heavenward. How can she be yours forever when you have a girlfriend, you idiot? A girlfriend who is waiting for you at home.

With a shake of my head, I turn and walk back into my office.

“Why didn’t you say goodbye?”

I stop dead in my tracks when I hear Mira’s voice behind me. I frown and turn to face her. “What?”

“When you left for Singapore. Why didn’t you say goodbye?”

“Tinks…”

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