Jayden sat back, he was allowing the weight of the moment to settle in. The space between him and Ariel felt charged, but not with the tension of before. It was different now, lighter, more open. They had both acknowledged situation how their situation was, and yet there was something comforting in their shared understanding. Jayden smiled, feeling the weight of the evening lift from his chest. "Good. And tomorrow, we'll take the next step. I've been thinking about it, and I want to take you shopping for a dress. You know, for the proposal. I'll help you pick something perfect."

Ariel's eyes widened in surprise, the words hitting her...