Chapter 39: XXXIX

Chapter 39: A Promise

Elena stood in front of her wardrobe, her fingers brushing through the clothes she had on hangers. Her mind was a tangled mess. Everything had been strange between her and Riley lately—awkward silences, missed texts, ignored calls. It had been days since Riley had last responded to her, and she was at a loss for what to do. She had tried reaching out, but Riley seemed to be pulling further away. Elena didn’t know if it was something she had done, or if Riley was just... pulling away for another reason.

She was still trying to process it all when Danny, as usual, barged into her room, an overly enthusiastic grin plastered across his face. He gave her a quick, exaggerated once-over before shaking his head.

"Girl, we need to get you dressed. You look like you just rolled out of bed, and I’m not having any of it." He moved around her room, pulling clothes from the closet as if he were some kind of stylist on a mission.

Elena stared at him, blinking in confusion. "Wait, what? Where are we going?"

Danny simply raised an eyebrow, holding up a sleek black dress with a low-cut neckline and an intricate silver belt. "I’m not telling you. But trust me, you’re going to love it."

"Are you seriously dressing me up like this?" Elena huffed, half-laughing. She wanted to protest, but there was something in Danny’s eyes that made her pause.

"Don’t question me. You’ll thank me later," Danny replied with a wink, holding the dress up against her. “Now, take your time. We’re in no rush.”

With a reluctant sigh, Elena let Danny take the reins. She had no idea what he had planned, but something about his enthusiasm was enough to drag her out of her funk. Maybe she needed a distraction.

Twenty minutes later, Elena stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself in the stunning dress Danny had picked for her. The dress fit perfectly, hugging her figure in all the right places, and the silver belt sparkled like a star. She hadn’t dressed up in a while, and this made her feel like someone else, someone confident, someone ready for whatever Danny had in mind.

She was still confused, but the slight flutter of excitement in her chest made it hard to think too much about it.

Elena was just about to ask Danny where they were going when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see him grinning like an overzealous cat who had just caught a mouse.

"Alright, let’s go. Trust me, you’re going to love this." His eyes were sparkling, and before Elena could say anything, he was guiding her out of the door.

As they stepped outside, the sun was just beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow across the city. Elena blinked, feeling the chill of the evening air on her skin. Danny handed her a jacket, his fingers brushing lightly against hers.

"Where are we going, Danny? You’re being weird," Elena asked, feeling her heart rate pick up with a mixture of curiosity and nerves. She had no idea what he was up to, and something about his energy only made the anticipation grow.

"Patience, my dear friend," Danny replied cryptically, and Elena couldn’t help but laugh.

A few minutes later, they pulled up to the edge of the city, where the buildings began to give way to a stunning view of the ocean. The streets were quieter here, the air fresher, the view nothing short of breathtaking.

Danny stopped the car at the edge of a long winding path leading to a beautiful secluded space—an outdoor terrace, nestled in the midst of an almost hidden garden. It was like a dream—a mix of rustic charm and elegant beauty. Twinkling fairy lights hung from the trees, casting a soft glow over the stone pathways. Small lanterns lined the steps, leading up to an intimate patio overlooking the sparkling waters below. The garden was full of lush greenery, flowers in vibrant shades of red, purple, and yellow, creating a lively contrast to the soft white fabric of the tablecloths draped across the tables.

It was a place that seemed untouched by time, the perfect blend of nature and romance. It felt like it could only exist in a storybook.

Elena gasped, her eyes wide. “Danny… this is incredible. How did you—?”

“You’ll see,” Danny interrupted, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he led her toward the garden. “Just follow me, and everything will make sense.”

They walked for what felt like only a few minutes before Danny stopped. Elena looked up and saw the unmistakable silhouette of Riley standing in the middle of the terrace. She was dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit—black jeans, a white shirt, and a leather jacket—looking effortlessly stunning. The way she stood there, her hands clasped in front of her, made Elena’s heart skip a beat.

But it was the way Riley was looking at her that took Elena’s breath away. It wasn’t just the quiet, familiar gaze of someone who loved her—it was something more. It was as though she had waited for Elena to walk into this moment, and it was all for her.

“Riley?” Elena’s voice was barely above a whisper, her emotions already rising to the surface.

Riley’s lips curled into a soft smile, her eyes locking with Elena’s. Slowly, Riley stepped forward, the anticipation in her gaze more than Elena could bear. She reached into the small bouquet of flowers she had beside her—beautiful white and lavender blooms—and handed them to Elena.

“I’m so sorry, Elena,” Riley began, her voice steady but full of emotion. “I’ve been… distant these past few days, and I want you to know it wasn’t because of anything you did. It’s because I was scared. I was scared of messing things up.”

Elena took the flowers, her fingers trembling slightly as she held them close to her chest. She felt like there was a weight in her chest, like everything was about to come crashing down—but in a good way.

Riley took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving Elena’s. “I didn’t want to ask you too early. I didn’t want to just blurt everything out. I wanted it to be… perfect. For you.”

Elena blinked, her heart racing as the weight of Riley’s words began to sink in. “What are you saying?”

Riley dropped down to one knee in front of her, and Elena gasped in shock. This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening.

With a soft smile, Riley held up a small velvet box, revealing a promise ring nestled inside. The band was silver, thin but elegant, with small diamonds lining the edge. A perfect circle, simple and timeless.

“I love you more than I can say, Elena,” Riley continued, her voice shaking ever so slightly. “And I want to promise you that I’m not going anywhere. I want to be yours, and I want you to be mine. Will you be my girlfriend, Elena? Will you let me love you, fully and completely?”

Elena felt like the world had stopped spinning. The scene before her felt like a dream, too perfect, too surreal. She was so caught up in the whirlwind of emotions and the breathtaking beauty of the moment that she couldn’t quite process what was happening.

Riley held the ring out toward her, her eyes searching Elena’s with so much tenderness it was almost too much to bear.

The question hung in the air, and Elena’s mouth went dry. She could feel the tears stinging at the back of her eyes, the weight of it all pressing in.