Play with the Phantom (Midnight, #2)

by Amanda Richardson

“Ask me again. Officially.” His answering smile? It’s slow and devastating and absolutely knowing. He sets me down on the couch gently, then backs up. My stomach flips when he disappears around the corner of the kitchen, only to return with something behind his back. My nerves are shot, and I feel my eyes begin to water before he even gets close to me. And when he does, he holds a tiny, heart-shaped box in front of me, dropping to one knee. The box is plastic. Glittery pink. With the faintly retro glimmer of something that makes my heart squeeze and a sob escape from my mouth. “Is that a… Polly Pocket?” He grins wider. “Custom-made.” “Maddox.” “I wanted something special. Just for you. Frankie told me this was the best idea I’d ever had.” “You asked Frankie?” He nods. “And Dante. They approve, by the way.” I half laugh, half cry at the audacity of this man. He pops the box open. Inside, nestled in soft velvet, is a ring. A simple gold band with a dark aquamarine stone in the center, carved into the shape of a flower. A… forget-me-not. It’s stunning. Bold and uniquely beautiful. Just like him. Just like us. “I wanted to get you something that reminded me of you. Something unexpected.” His voice drops, and I can hear the tremble under the confidence now. “You’ve changed my entire world, Ari. You made this house my home. You became my home. You made me believe I could be more than what I came from, or where I’ve been. That I could have a future instead of a sentence. That…” ...