Aria's POV
"I'm not proposing," he said quickly. "Not in the traditional sense. I just want you to have this. As a promise."
"A promise of what?"
"That I'm going to wait. However long it takes. Whether you choose Lucian or Damon or someone else entirely, I'll wait. And if you ever decide you want to give us another chance, a real chance this time, I'll be ready." He took the ring out and held it up. "This isn't a mate bond ring. It's an engagement ring. For the future. If you want it."
I stared at the ring, tears burning in my eyes. "Mateo…"
"You don't have to wear it. You don't even have to keep it. I just wanted you to know that despite everything I did, despite how badly I screwed up, I still believe in us. In what we could be if I got my head out of my ass and actually appreciated you."
"I don't know what to say."
