Hayden and I were so done.

I was so beyond pissed at him, I couldn't even believe him. After all his promises, he just broke them? Is that something men think they're just entitled to? Breaking their promises?

Well, you know what, fuck him.

I slam open the door to our apartment that's a few blocks away from campus, marching straight to the bonus room where we throw all our extra shit and rummage around for my luggage. Then I huff and march to our shared room.

I flick on the light and slam open the closet door, grabbing everything that's mine and shoving it into the luggage, hanger and all. My cute dresses, tops, everything was being squished into the tiny compartment of the suitcase, which is just sad.

This is sad.

But I'm also angry. All these years of promises for what? Just to throw them down the drain?

The front door opening catches my attention. The door shuts, Hayden's voice following. "Lina, baby? You here?"

My heart almost melts, but then the anger returns. He doesn't get to Lina baby me after what I just saw. So I ignore him, opening my drawers and grabbing all my bras and underwear when Hayden started talking again.

"Lina, I need to—what the hell is happening?"

I glare at him as I shove my things in my luggage. "I'm leaving."

"What? Why?"

"We're over, Hayden. Fuck you."

"I'm sorry," Hayden blinks and steps into the room. "What?"

"You heard me." I pause to look at him and dramatically say, "we're over."

Hayden blinks, confusion and hurt covering his beautiful features. "Why the hell do you keep saying that?"

Damn him for being so beautiful. His face has filled out more over the years, his hair longer than its ever been passing his ears. He's really pulling off this hot, mysterious artist thing—which is probably why I caught him not more than twenty minutes ago.

"I decided to surprise you," I say, shoving my shoes that were thrown on the floor into the mess of my stuff. "You looked so sad when I said I'd be busy studying because these finals are kicking my ass. But it must've been an act, right? Because you didn't look sad when I came to that dumb-as-shit frat party anyway, only to find fucking Shelly Patensky feeling you up. And when she tried to shove her tongue down your throat? Didn't see any objections either."

That was all true. It's my junior year of college, getting ready for summer, and Hayden's getting ready to graduate. The past three years haven't been easy, especially for someone like me who's struggled in school. But this year, it's just gotten worse. I can barely maintain a C average, and that's with me studying my ass off. So the past three weeks has been nothing but me focusing on working, studying, reading, and absolutely no distractions.

That includes Hayden.

So we haven't had sex in, like, a month. Which isn't us. I love sex, Hayden loves sex. We have a very healthy sexual relationship. But I guess he just couldn't wait anymore.

"Lina, hang on—"

"So you know what? You can go back to that dumb party and tell Shelly you're a free man now, cause this is over."

"Stop fucking saying that, Alina."

"Oh, my full name. I'm shakin' in my boots."

"You're such a brat when you want to be. Nothing fucking happened with Shelly."

"Liar!" I shout, pointing my finger at him. "I saw it."

"Shelly did kiss me. And I guess you wanted to jump to your own fucking conclusions instead of trusting me to wait another two seconds and see me push her the hell off me. I told her that I'm happily taken, and she can fuck off if she thought otherwise."

"Right, cause I believe that. Why did she think she could kiss you then?"

"I don't fucking know!" He shouted. "I was nice to her, said thank you a few times she complimented my work. But that's it. I guess she misinterpreted it."

"Sure, sure." I shrug, going back to my drawers.

And it's in the haste of pulling all my stuff out that I found my hiding place for the ring I had gotten Hayden. And that's the icing on the cake. I can feel the tears burning behind my eyes, the anger and stress of everything bubbling over. I couldn't even stop myself if I tried at this point.

I grab the ring box, holding the velvet between my fingers. "I guess it's a good thing this happened before I did something incredibly stupid." I turn to face him. "Like go, spend all my saved money from enduring sexist bullshit and men trying to touch my body without permission at my shitty job, just to buy you a ring." I hold up the box. "Before I told you that I was endlessly in love with you and I wanted to spend forever with you."

I blink, tears falling down my face. Hayden finally steps across the room, but I hold out my arm and hand him the box. "Because obviously this is never gonna work. So," I take a shaky breath. "You can have it. But we're over."

"Like hell we're over."

Hayden grabs my neck and forcefully brought our lips together, it actually hurt. I can taste the salt from both our tears running down our faces, feel the desperation between each kiss. And within seconds, I'm at his mercy, completely breathless.

He pulls back—just barely—resting his forehead against mine. "Shelly isn't who I want, Lina." With each word, his lips brushed against mine. "Shelly is probably desperate for attention and clung onto any ounce of kindness I gave her. But I fucking swear that I didn't lead her on. Because she isn't who I want," he shakes his head. "She isn't you."

I whimper, a sob breaking free from my throat. Hayden wipes my tears from my cheeks, still not moving. "I pushed her away and literally walked all the way home just to tell you it happened. I wasn't gonna hide it from you. I was gonna tell you exactly what happened because I don't keep secrets from you. You're the girl I want, Lina Andrews. Why would I ever be crazy enough to want anyone else?"

I choke on a sob. "I dunno. You got bored? Got tired of waiting for me to stop being such an idiot and give you what you need?"

"Fuck that," Hayden pulls back to look at me now. "I know how hard you're trying, Lina. I know how hard this is for you, and I'm proud every single moment of every day with how you juggle everything. I would try to help you study if you weren't so insistent on staying away from me while you are. But baby," he shakes his head. "You're not an idiot. You're so smart, but you trip yourself out. But I'll wait for months if I have to just so you can feel confident in what you're doing."

I sniffle, closing my eyes. I couldn't even look at him. "Why are you being so nice to me after everything I just said to you?"

"Lina, open your eyes and look at me." When I don't, he sighs. "I can't stand it when your eyes aren't on mine. Please look at me."

Finally, I slowly open them. Hayden's eyes were full of tears, but so much love. And it hurt just feeling that amount of love.

"I love you. That means I love all of you. Your amazing, happy side as well as your bratty, annoying side. It's been a stressful as hell semester. I understand that. But we're in this together, okay? Get that through your thick skull." That makes me laugh, which makes him smile. "You are the love of my life, Lina. You believe that, don't you?"

I sniffle, then nod my head. But Hayden quickly shakes his. "Words, baby. I need to hear you say it."

My cheeks flush. But I clear my throat, anyway. "Yes, Hayden. I believe you."

"Good. Cause I don't want anyone else. I haven't looked at another girl since the day you kissed me."

"Please!" I scoff. "You were practically begging me to kiss you with your eyes. Those damn beautiful, compelling eyes."

Hayden chuckles, lowering his gaze to the box still in my hand. "Can I hear what you were gonna say with this, but without you trying to rip my heart out of my chest?"

I smile, taking a step back. "After all that, you still wanna hear it?"

"Woo me, baby."

I narrow my eyes at him, but it doesn't help the nerves I'm feeling. I take a deep breath and wipe my face. "Hayden, you've been a pain in my ass since I was fourteen. You were annoying, put your nose where it didn't belong, and always thought you were better than me."

"Wow, I love this already."

"But," I smile. "You saw me. You really saw me. You didn't care about the outward appearance I was trying to fool everyone with. You, as you did best, stuck your nose where it didn't belong, and saw the ugly side of me. You saw my scars and you didn't run away. I had thought for so long," my voice starts to shake as my eyes tear up again. "That if someone saw everything I was hiding, and who I really was, they wouldn't stay. But you did. You showed me what it was like to be respected, valued and loved, and for that, I can never repay you, Hayden."

I wipe the now mascara-filled tears off my face. I'm sure I look like a hot mess, but I couldn't stop.

"I never loved myself the way you did. And when I saw that it was possible to be loved like that...it changed my life. You changed my life. Because you helped me find my own self-worth. I don't know what I did to deserve it, but I'm grateful for it. I'm grateful for you, Hayden West. I love you so deeply, it hurts to breathe." I smile. "I fell in love with you the day you picked me up and protected me from the world. And I don't think I'll ever stop, Hayden."

I take a deep breath. "I'm not perfect. I still have my own issues. Obviously," I chuckle. "I'm gonna get you angry, yell at you, make you wanna kill me, probably. But..." I lift a shoulder. "I don't wanna do that with anyone else except you. So, Hayden West," I carefully take a knee, opening the box. "Will you make me the happiest girl alive and marry me?"

I look up at him with eager eyes. But he just smirks and shakes his head slightly. "You've always been an impatient girl, baby."

I tilt my head. Hayden just grabs my elbows and brings me to my feet. Then he circles the bed, opens his nightstand drawer, and pulls out a small, red box. And my heart stops.

"I was going to wait until graduation. Just a couple more weeks and I would've been the one making all these declarations to you."

"You still can," I encourage with a small, nervous laugh.

"I can't top that, Lina." Hayden smiles. "What you just did will be engraved in my memory forever. So," he takes his spot in front of me. "Yes, baby. I'll marry you. But on one condition."

"Anything."

"You tell me how lucky I am to have you. Because Lord knows it's me who doesn't deserve you." 

"Hayden..."

"No arguments. Just, please."

I sigh. I take the ring out of the box and look at it again. It's nothing too fancy, since I really didn't have a whole lot to splurge. But I did have enough for a nice silver band, thick, with some diamonds studded across it. Not plain, but does make enough of a statement to say off limits.

I grab his left hand, looking up at him. "You're just as lucky to have me as I am to have you." Then I slid the ring on his finger. "We're both equal here. It's you and me forever, remember?"

"God, I love you." Hayden murmurs as he kisses me, hard. I giggle against his lips as I kiss him back, but he doesn't let it get too far before he pulls away. "Forever."

When he opens the ring box, my jaw drops. "Oh my gosh! Hayden!"

The ring was huge. It was rectangular cut with smaller diamonds outlining it. It glistened just in the low light of this room, I can't imagine in the sun.

"Nothing could ever amount to what you're worth. But," he smiles. "It'll paint a pretty clear picture that you're mine."

I can't help but squeal and lift my hand out. Hayden just laughs. "You didn't even let me—"

"Yes, yes, yes, a million times yes. Just put the ring on already."

Hayden happily obliged and slid the ring onto its rightful spot. I bit my lip, admiring the beauty. Then I look up at him with tears swelling in my eyes again.

"You made me an emotional mess tonight."

"Same, baby." He smiles and wipes under my eyes. "But it was worth it."

"The proposal of a lifetime, huh?"

"Oh, most definitely." He grins, wrapping his arms around my waist. "I can't wait to tell it to our children."

"Already planning our whole life out?" I wrap my arms around his neck.

"Hell yes. I have been since the day you told me you loved me. I'm thinking, what, four, five kids. A place in Italy. A place here. All I need is you."

"Same, baby."

"But you're never allowed to pull the shit you tried to tonight," he leaned in close. "Understood? No more 'we're over'. None of that shit ever again. Got it?"

I smile, closing the distance between us. I kissed him, long and hard, so damn happy. I never would've thought that I would ever get to experience this kind of love. And yet, here I am, with the man of my dreams. Engaged.

I'm engaged.

Oh my gosh, I'm engaged.

I deepen the kiss, exploring his mouth with my tongue. He groans against me, tightening his grip on my waist and pushing me back against the bed. Hayden hovers over me, his hands exploring my exposed thighs.

"What was this dress for again?" He asks, voice raspy, against my jaw as he kisses it.

I smirk, allowing him access. It was a dark red mini dress that clung to my curves and exposed a lot of cleavage, and did little to hide my ass. "I told you," I pant. "I came to surprise you."

"Mm," he says against as he kisses down my chest. "I love it when you surprise me. But I'm kinda glad what happened happened tonight."

I look down at him. "Why?"

He looks up at me with devilish eyes. "Because nobody gets to see you in this but me." His hand roams up underneath my dress. "You look absolutely ravishing."

His fingers stroke against me, awakening every sense in my body. "No teasing," I beg. "Please. I can't tonight. I need you." He kisses me tenderly, softly, making my toes curl. I wrap my legs around his waist and bring him closer. "Make me yours all over again, Hayden."

Hayden pulls back and kisses my nose, then pushes my hair off my forehead. "You've been mine, Lina. He runs his hand down my arm and laces our fingers together, our rings (coincidentally) matching one another. "And you always will be."

"Promise?"

"Always, baby."

I smile, bringing our hands to my lips. "I can't wait to be a West, and have all your babies, and live forever with you."

Hayden smiles. "All in time, baby. But for now, I think I'm going to make love to my fiancé. All night long."

"Fiancé," I grin. "I love the sound of that."

"Me, too."

And, of course, he kept true to his word. Just like he always has.

A/N

I have like 7 bonus chapters up in the air for Hayden and Lina, but i woke up today SUPER inspired for this one. So... here you go 😌

Thanks for reading, lovelies! Don't forget to vote, comment, etc!! <33