7

Instead of getting embarrassed, Mira immediately got riled.

"Why do you keep trying to pick a fight with me?" She asked him, her voice heated, "You told me you forgave me for what I did. Can't we just move on?"

"So it's just my forgiveness you want then?"

She didn't pretend to misunderstand the question.

"No. It isn't."

He swam up to her again, folding his arms on the ledge.

"What is it you want, Mira?"

"I want to be with you." She pleaded, laying her heart out for him. "I love you, Nicholai."

His face remained expressionless and Mira's heart skipped a beat.

Did he not feel the same way?

"Look, I understand if you don't feel the same -"

"It's not that." He said cutting her off abruptly.

She gave him a questioning look.

"You don't know me, Mira." He told her bluntly, "You haven't really tried to and looking me up on the internet does not count."

"That's not true." She denied softly, "I know everything I need to know."

"Really?"

"Yes."

He pulled himself up and out of the pool. He dropped his hands on either side of her hips on the lounge chair, caging her in withhis body and raining droplets of water on her skin.

"Prove it then. Marry me."