If anyone had told Mira Lawson that the next crisis in her life would involve a velvet box and a man who looked like he was about to faint in the bread aisle, she would have laughed.
And yet.
There she was.
In the middle of the town's smallest grocery store.
Holding a bag of oranges.
Watching Leo spiral.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?" she demanded.
Leo clutched something behind his back like a criminal who had absolutely no training.
"I'm grocery shopping," he said too quickly.
"You hate grocery shopping."
"I have matured."
"You stole a traffic cone last week."
"That was civic art."
She narrowed her eyes.
"What are you hiding?"
Leo inhaled dramatically.
"Okay," he said. "Before you react, know that I did this out of love."
She froze.
That never meant anything good.
He slowly brought his hand forward.
A velvet box.
Mira blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"…What," she said carefully, "is that."
Leo's eyes widened.
"IT IS NOT MINE."
"Then why do you have it?"
