It had nothing to do with Adam and everything to do with me wanting to be heard.
“You didn’t think to ask me?” I choked out. “You didn’t think you could have taken five minutes to talk to me about that video?”
“I know, Hayley,” he said, shaking his head. “I was an idiot. I was already in a vulnerable state, and she got into my head. I believed Miranda. I believed every word she said. And I let you go. Then, months ago, she admitted the truth.”
“During an argument, she slipped up. She told me the video was old, and she knew I’d overreact. She said she wanted me for herself and couldn’t stand that you had me.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. She’d destroyed everything we had, and he’d let her.
“I ended things with her that night,” he continued. “And I’ve spent every day since then trying to figure out how to fix this, how to win you back.”
I shook my head, still completely overwhelmed.
“And this?” I gestured around. “What on earth is all this?”
His lips curved into a small, nervous smile.
“This is me not waiting any longer…”
Adam reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black velvet box. Then he dropped to one knee.
“Hayley, I love you. I never stopped. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I’m asking for it anyway. Will you marry me? Right here, right now?”
I stared at him, my world spinning. Then, it suddenly dawned on me.
She’d planned this. Lena had asked me to make the dress because she knew.
And the truth was, I still loved him.
So, I whispered my answer.
Lena appeared almost immediately, carrying flowers and beaming like she’d just pulled off the greatest heist of all time.