"Not too bad," Enzo congratulates, nodding in approval. "Great form, excellent execution. But you lose focus of the target," he elaborates. "It's like the target doesn't matter to you." 

 "It's just a tree," I counter. "It doesn't matter to me." 

 Without a word, Enzo silently walks to the picnic basket. He plucks an apple from the supplies. Is he really doing what I think he is? Enzo preps himself against the tree and balances an apple on his head. "Moment of truth. If I matter to you, then hit the apple." 

 "Or I don't do anything at all," I suggest. "Enzo, I'm not throwing the knife with you in the way." 

"I'm not in the way. The way is between you and the apple. I'm simply chilling out underneath it," he says with a shrug. "Just breathe. And don't hit me. This shirt is white and I'd like to keep it this way."

I roll my eyes. "Your shirt is the least of my worries."

"Geez, if you hate it so much I can just take it off." He winks a golden eye at me. "Now come on. Throw the knife."

"What if I hit you?"

Enzo shrugs. "I die."

"What if -?"

"Reyna!" Enzo cuts off. "I trust you," he softly assures. "With my life."

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and channel all of my focus to a tee. I imagine a pinpoint line from Enzo's knife to the ruby apple. If I slip, I could kill Enzo. Killing Enzo is like... 

 I try to imagine a world where the heavenly boy has died by my hand. 

 Killing Enzo is like killing myself. I'd feel like there's nothing to myself without him. He completes me. Where I need to grow, he has grown and vice versa. We're each other's Yin and Yang. It's hard to think that there was a time when we were complete strangers when we're so connected now. Our souls are intertwined. 

You've got it," Enzo promises. "Trust me to trust you." 

 "I don't just trust you," I tell him. I hold the knife dominantly with my right hand and also with my left, as if praying I don't hit Enzo. Closing my eyes, I gather my will and energy and stare at the apple. With a grunt, I gather my force as well. I turn for momentum and expediently throw the knife. It sinks into the apple. Enzo doesn't even flinch. "I love you."

 Enzo smiles and comes back down from the willow tree. "I love you too," he says. "And I love you even more for not killing me, so." 

 Handing Enzo his knife back, I tell him, "I think I'm done throwing for now." 

 "My turn," he slyly responds.

 "Your turn to almost kill me?" I ridiculously ask. "Are you serious?" 

"Yep." Enzo walks me back to the willow tree. "I trust you, so now you have to trust me," he explains. He positions me against the bark and pulls something out of his pocket.
"Raise your hand and hold this." 

 I reach up and feel something small and circular. "Enzo, this target is tiny. The knife is too thick to even fit whatever this is." 

 "Not the tip," he renders, walking 100 yards away. "I have to use the right amount of force to sink the knife, but not too much to hurt you. I've got this. Watch and learn. And whatever you do, don't look at the target." 

Standing stock-still, I close my eyes. Is he thinking all the things that I thought before I threw the knife? Would he feel as hollow as I would if I passed? Could he live without me? Opening my eyes, I take him in. Enzo is truly a coin that I think only I understand; there are always two sides to him: one that wants to do good and one that urges him to do bad. Here he is, dressed in jeans and linen with the face of an angel; the good. But he holds a knife that he uses like a lethal weapon, about to use his deadly talent to show off; the bad. He's ever-changing but always the same man I love. 

"You okay?" he asks, voice echoing.

Nodding, I smile. "I trust you."

"Good," he says. He begins running, only to turn and flick his wrist, launching the knife my way. I cringe as it sinks into the bark, the knife singing as it wobbles to and fro but stays planted...hah, planted. Tree...planted...forget it, I suck at puns. 

 I release a breath that was building up inside of me and look at the knife that could've killed me. It also holds up the target that I held between my fingers. I yank the knife out as the object drops into my ready hand. 

 Glinting in my palm is a ring, its diamond large against a golden band. What? "Enzo?"
 I ask, slowly turning around. My eyes look up to meet his eyes, but instead, they have to look down. On one knee with his cheeks red, kneels Enzo King. "...Enzo..."

He watches me with a small smile, his expression eager for me to say anything other than his name. 

 "What's this?" 

Enzo furrows his dark brows. "What do you think this is?" he asks, gesturing to himself."I'm on one knee and you have a ring in your hand. I know I'm not used to this 'normal people stuff, but I'm pretty sure I nailed this one."

 My mind is thrown into a loop. I've always pictured us together in the future. There hasn't been a future plan that I've thought out that doesn't involve Enzo. Has he been thinking the same things that I have? Is he as head over heels as I've been for him? 

"Rain?" he asks, shoulders shrugging. His face droops into sadness and his arms sink to his sides. "Too soon?"

"No..." I admit, staring at the ring.

"Not a mutual feeling?" he inquires.

"No..." I echo.

"Then what is it?" he huffs, standing up and coming to me. "Reyna, I am in love with you. Madly in love with you. As in, if we aren't together, I'll go mad. There's not a second that I don't think about you and how much you've made me grow. I've endured a flip of who I used to be. I thought I was the scum on the bottom of someone's shoe, but you've made me realize that there are things to be good for. You're so perfect, Reyna. There are so many people who deserve you more than I do, but yet here we are. Being in a relationship is an everyday choice, and I'll choose you again and again. Even if you don't choose me, I'll always pick you. Forever."

I pull Enzo into a hug, tears rimming my eyes at his words. Enzo isn't one to wear his heart on his sleeve or pour his feelings out. For him to do so and say all those words...those beautiful words, makes me feel like this part of my life is fulfilled. There's a part in my mind that gives me a green checkmark or thumbs up for doing something right. Enzo is the one for me. He always will be. At least something good came out of all the evil. If this can withstand the battering wrongdoings of Solaris, then maybe the remaining livescan. If Enzo can rise above his past and fight it alongside me, then anything is possible. 

 Sliding the ring on my ring finger, I smile ear-to-ear. A perfect fit. Of course, he probably knew the ring sizes of all my fingers and toes before we even met, but that's beside the point. 

We part from a hug and share a kiss, his mouth tasting like apples. I wrap my arms around him and lean on his chest, hearing his strong heartbeat. His burly arms wraparound me and stroke my back. 

Before now, I would've wished I could pause the moment. The air was just right, Enzo and I have never been happier, the day is perfect, the scene is picturesque, and there is nothing evil is happening. 

 But now, I'm not so worried about capturing the moment. Now, I know that there will be many more like this or even better.

"You wanna know something?" he asks, voice rumbling, whisper hot against my cheek.

"Hmm?"

"I'm hungry," he admits, echoing the conversation we had when we first arrived at the willow tree and he ambushed me.

"Well aren't you just a tease?" I joke as he did.

Enzo holds up my left hand and examines the ring. "Nope. I'm the real deal, honey."

I smile until my eyes crinkle at the edges.

"But seriously, are you hungry? I think we're out of food," Enzo guesses.

"No, not really," I shrug.

"Should we head back home?"

"Head back home where people are probably dying or suffering at the hands of akiller?" I rhetorically ask but in a lighthearted tone. "How about we lay here for a while,Linen Boy?"

 "Works for me, Reyna King."

We laid on the blanket, staring at clouds through the willow tree branches. We talked about the future because his past was painful and my present is in turmoil. We talked about where we'd move to because Solaris has become anything but home. We talked about how we thought each of my friends would react to the news of our engagement. We laid on the blanket and talked for hours. We talked until the sun started to go down.

 
 And while we laid and talked, not once did the killer cross my mind.