PROPOSAL PREPARATION

The following evening, Richie paced back and forth in his hotel room, the phone pressed against his ear. His heart pounded with nervous excitement as he listened to the ringing on the other end. Finally, Dazzle picked up, his voice cheerful and relaxed.

“Yo, Richie! What’s up, man? How’s the trip going?”

Richie let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Hey, Dazzle. The trip’s fine, work’s a bit hectic, but that’s not why I’m calling.”

Dazzle’s tone immediately shifted, sensing the seriousness in Richie’s voice. “Alright, spill it. What’s going on? Why are you all serious now?”

Richie stopped pacing and leaned against the window, looking out at the city lights. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately… about Leah and the kids. You know, she’s everything to me. And I’ve asked her to marry me before, but she wasn’t ready. We had our issues, especially with how things started between us, but we’ve worked through them. We've been together for months now and I think—No—I know it’s time. S