“Phoebe.”He gently squeezes my hand.“Buying you an engagement ring is not a waste of money.Anyway, you’re saving me tons of money by letting me live with you, so it’s almost like rent.Please let me do this.”
Well, that’s romantic.I’m wearing rent on my left hand.Whatever.
“Gee, when you put it that way, let’s go.”
19
OLLIE
I’ve never beenin a jewelry store this fancy.Okay, I’ve never been in a jewelry store at all.I haven’t had anyone to buy jewelry for before.It’s intimidating, but I want Phoebe to have the engagement ring of her dreams.She’s the only woman I’m ever buying an engagement ring for, so this experience is for me as much as it is for her.
We gravitate toward the case of diamond rings.I’ve never paid attention to them before, but I’m finding them icy and lifeless—words I’ve never associated with Phoebe.She’s warm and vibrant.I think of wildflowers and rainbows and cupcakes when I think of her.Well, when I’m not thinking of how wonderful it is to cuddle with her in bed or how right her hand feels in mine or how desperate I am to kiss her.But if a diamond is what she wants, that’s what I’ll buy her.
An older man in a suit approaches us.He’s elegantly styled, with an impressively dark mustache compared to his salt-and-pepper hair.I wonder if he dyes it?
“Hello, is there anything you’d like to see?Try on?”He glances at both of us, but he’s obviously talking to Phoebe.
“We’re just looking, thank you,” she says with a friendly smile.
He nods and says to let him know if there’s anything we want to know more about, then leaves us to look and discuss.
I lean down to murmur in Phoebe’s ear.How have I never noticed how pretty her ears are?They’re delicately formed, almost elfish in shape.The way she has me entranced, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out she was one of the fae folk.Not that I’ve met any—they’re concentrated on the British Isles.I believe Shelby mentioned their mother was from Ireland, so it could be possible.I’ll have to ask Shelby if she knows anything.
“Do you see anything you like?”
She looks up at me with apology in her eyes and gives me the slightest shake of her head.“I’m not really into diamonds.They’re cold.I like colored stones more.I’m sorry.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulder.“Phoebe, you have nothing to be sorry about.I want you to have exactly whatever you want.Diamond, ruby, emerald, whatever.I make a ridiculous salary.As long as you want something less than six digits, I can do it.More than that will take some financial gymnastics, but I’ll do it for you.”
We look at the case full of richly colored gemstone rings.They’re pretty, but there’s nothing I can imagine on Phoebe’s ring finger.
“Anything?”I ask.
“No…”
Giving her a squeeze, I kiss her temple.I nod at the salesclerk and thank him before we walk out of the store.
Phoebe looks up at me as we cross the threshold.“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be so picky?—”
I cut her off.“Yes, you should.I want you to have what makes you happy.This is important to me.I’ve never shopped for an engagement ring before.I probably won’t do it again.”
She stops suddenly, and it takes me a moment to realize it.
“Why wouldn’t you do it again?You’d reuse my ring?”
There’s a sheen of tears in her velvety brown eyes.Crap.I gently tug her to the side so we’re not in full view of the jewelry store and turn us so she’s not on display to people walking by—they only see my back.
Rubbing the knuckle of my index finger along her soft cheek, I lean down so she can hear me whisper, “Phoebe, any ring I place on your finger is yours forever.I’d never give it to someone else.But I can’t imagine there being someone else.You know me, I don’t connect with very many people.You’re the person I’m closest to.If I’m not marrying you, who would I marry?”
“But I thought you wanted kids and a wife and the whole thing?”
“I do,” I say simply.
I can see the wheels turning in her head, and I’m hoping she finally realizes this isn’t pretend for me.I’m treating this like every moment is real.Because it is.Just when I think the gears are going to connect and she’ll understand how much I love her and want my future to be with her, it’s like a cog slips and springs start bouncing around and it’s lost.So close to seeing meas the man she wants to marry and grow old with Ollieand notbest friend fake fiancé Ollie, then it faded away like early morning fog.Nothing to do but keep trying.Phoebe hasn’t seen stubborn me yet.
We stroll along past the gift shops, clothing stores, and candy stores.At the candy store, we stop in for a box of the saltwater taffy Atlantic City is famous for and a box of assorted flavors of fudge.I carry the bag so I can hold her good hand and there’s no pressure on her healing wrist.I think we’re recognized as we walk along, but no one asks for autographs or pictures, so that’s nice.We’re walking past a shop full of crystal knickknacks when Phoebe suddenly stops with a gasp.
“Are you okay?”I bend so I can see her face clearly.She’s turned away from me, looking in the store’s window.Lots of pretty sparkly things, but nothing catches my eye.“Is it your wrist?Did you hurt it?”
