Chapter 74

~ Elara’s POV

My jaw practically hit the floor when Rufus asked his question.

"Ready to give me the response to my proposal, Elara?"

"Proposal?" I stammered, my mind scrambling. The vibrant colors of the restaurant seemed to fade, replaced by a dizzying blur. Before I could even form a coherent response, he surprised me again.

"Hey, no pressure," he said quickly, his smile strained at the edges. "If you need to think about it, that's totally fine. No rush at all,”

The truth was, I did have a response, a tangled mess of emotions churning in my stomach. But the words wouldn't come.

How do you tell someone you care about them deeply, but not in the way they want?

Guilt gnawed at me, a heavy weight settling in my chest. The playful banter that flowed so easily all during our meal time felt awkward at that moment, a forced lightness to a heavy situation.

As if sensing my discomfort, Rufus started telling jokes, one after another. They weren't knee-slappers, but they were his way of t