Emma picked up the note, her hands slightly shaking with confusion and hurt.

"Emma,

I’ve got urgent work that popped up overnight. I’ll be home late tonight. I didn’t want to wake you; you looked so peaceful.

Please eat your breakfast. Take the Metro to campus (I left some cash for the fare on the counter). Text me when you get there safely.

Don’t wait up for lunch or dinner. Fix yourself something or order takeout. I left my card on the counter.

Sorry for leaving like this.

Love, Dad"

Emma read it three times, trying to figure it out.

Urgent work. Couldn’t wake her. Would come home late.

Alexander had never left her a note instead of calling, not once. He always called when he was gone, sent her updates, and checked in all the time.

But today? Just a note.

She texted him when she got to campus, like he asked, "Made it safely. Hope everything’s alright."

His reply popped up two hours later, "Good. Sorry, I’m busy. I’ll explain tonight."

And that was that. No phone call during her lunch break. No "how was your day" text after class ended. Nothing at all.

Now, Emma was sitting alone, munching on instant ramen because she couldn’t be bothered to whip up anything more complicated, wondering what kind of urgent work could make her dad act so weird.

Her phone buzzed on the table.

Emma took a quick glance at the screen.

Zayn.

Just one word, Hi.

Emma couldn’t help but smile a bit. She looked at her left hand, at the ring sitting snugly on her finger, catching the light.

She had worn it all day, to class, at the library, on the Metro, constantly checking it, unable to believe it was real.

And now Zayn was texting her.

Quickly, she finished her noodles, left the bowl in the sink without washing it, something she’d normally never do, and practically ran down the hallway to her room.

She shut the door behind her and leaned against it, phone in both hands.

What should she say?

Should she send him a picture of the ring? Show him that she actually put it on?

Or would that come off as too forward? Too obvious? Would it sound like she was saying yes when she wasn’t even sure if she was ready to say yes?

But she was wearing the ring. That had to mean something, right?

Emma sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone.

Then, before she could overthink it any more, she typed, Hi.

She hit send.

Then, without thinking twice, she lifted her phone, aimed the camera at her left hand, and snapped a picture.

The ring was easy to see. Unmistakable. The diamond sparkled in the light from her fairy lights and almost glowed.

Emma attached the photo and sent it before she could second-guess herself.

She flung her phone onto the bed and covered her face with her hands.

Oh my God, she whispered to herself. Oh my God, I just—

Her phone buzzed.

Emma grabbed it so quickly that she almost dropped it.

Zayn, "Is that what I think it is?"

Emma stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.

She typed, "Maybe."

Another buzz came almost right away.

Zayn, "Emma Kane, are you wearing my ring?"

Emma bit her lip. She could almost hear the smile in his voice through the text.

She typed, "I might be."

Zayn, "That’s not a clear answer."

Emma, "You gave me a ring and said if I wanted to say yes, I should wear it."

Zayn, "I did say that."

Emma, "So, I’m wearing it."

Three dots popped up, then disappeared, then popped up again.

"Finally, does that mean what I think it means?"

Emma took a shaky breath.

She typed, "I don’t know."

Zayn, "You don’t know?"

Emma, "I’m wearing the ring, but I’m also super scared. Can both be true?"

This time, a longer pause followed.

"Yeah, both things can totally be true. You can wear the ring and feel scared, yet still not be ready to talk about your feelings. I get it."

Emma felt a weight lift off her chest.

She texted, "Are you upset?"

Zayn replied, "Upset? Emma, you’re WEARING THE RING. Do you even know what that means to me?"

Emma asked, "What does it mean?"

Zayn responded, "It shows you’re thinking about it. It means I might have a shot. It shows you trust me enough to even consider it. That’s huge."

Emma looked at her phone, her eyes starting to well up.

She typed, "I’ve never felt like this before."

Zayn asked, "Felt like what?"

Emma replied, "For the first time all day, the quiet house didn’t feel so lonely. I can’t even explain it."

Zayn said, "You don’t have to explain it. I feel the same."

Emma smiled, wiping away her tears.

Zayn continued, "Can I see you tomorrow?"

Emma said, "I have classes."

Zayn suggested, "After your classes?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Emma agreed, "Okay."

Zayn added, "I’ll come get you. We’ll go somewhere just to talk. No pressure, no big asks. Just us."

Emma replied, "That sounds great."

Zayn said, "And Emma?"

Emma answered, "Yeah?"

Zayn mentioned, "Keep wearing the ring. It looks perfect on you."

Emma glanced at her hand, at the ring that felt like it was made just for her. Knowing Zayn, it probably was.

She typed, "I will."

Zayn responded, "Awesome. Sleep well, Emma. Dream of me."

Emma laughed at that.

She texted, "You’re so cocky."

Zayn replied, "Only because you make me feel good about myself. Goodnight, beautiful."

Emma said, "Goodnight."

She set her phone down and lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

The ring felt cool and solid on her finger.

For the first time all day, the quiet house didn’t feel so lonely.

*****

Zayn was sitting in his penthouse, staring at the picture Emma had sent him.

His ring.

On her finger.

She was wearing it.

Zayn pressed his phone to his chest and let out a sigh he didn’t realize he was holding in.

"She’s wearing the ring," he said to the empty room.

And he couldn’t stop grinning. He had no idea how quickly everything was about to change.