I couldn’t believe Chaz wasn’t leaving. He really seemed to think nothing could ever touch him, but I had seen the unease in his gaze; he just tamped it down quickly to save face in front of those watching us. I guess he was too stupid to realize this group around me was made up of some badass men who could wipe the floor with him.
And I realized at that moment, myhusbandcould too. The more I was around him, the more I realized we weren’t those high school kids anymore.
“What a joke. Your wife?” Chaz leaned to the side, peeking around Jett. “I noticed you couldn’t even afford to buy her a ring. Your marriage is bullshit if you ask me.”
Panic plagued me, and my vision blurred. He knew that Jett only married me to help save Griffin. I hadn’t even thought about a ring. We’d done everything so fast, and it wasn’t real.
Well, for me it was.
I’d never marry another soul, even if Jett went ahead and divorced me one day. That’s how real it was for me. He was the only man I wanted. Would everwant.
Jett didn’t respond like I thought he would. Instead of things coming to a blow and fists starting to fly, he turned around to face me, a ring pinched between his thumb and pointer finger and dropped to one knee.
And I stopped breathing.
“I know we’re already married.” He took a deep breath. “But I didn’t have your ring ready when we decided not to waste any more time after I returned home.”
I faintly heard Sloane say in a disgusted voice, “I’m notstanding around for this,” but I was too focused on Jett and didn’t care what she had to say.
He looked up at me, and even with the knowledge of why he married me, so much sincerity laced each of his words.
“This ring was always meant for you.”
Wait, what?
He said it was always like he’d thought about this before. I didn’t know what was happening.
“Oh Jett,” I heard Ruby say breathlessly from beside us.
I turned to her, but she wasn’t looking at me; she was staring at…
My gaze followed hers, and my eyes landed on the ring. I’d been so stunned when he knelt on the floor, and while I realized there was a ring, I had been so focused on the man that I hadn’t really looked at it.
Tears flooded my eyes and trickled down my cheeks. “What are you doing?”
“Like I was saying.” He pushed the ring up closer toward me. “Gramps gave me Gram’s ring, and I’ve been saving it.”
He blew out a breath.
“No matter what happens, I want you to have this.”
Him thinking that we might have an end date, hurt.
I could hear the worry and doubt in his voice. How could I take his grandma’s ring knowing he didn’t think we belonged together?
I was about to say just that, but his bright blue eyes implored mine as he said, “Please. Take it.” He gulped. “For me, Roo?”
Closing my eyes, I searched my heart and soul for the right answer. Emotions began to well up inside me.
Fluttering my lids open, I looked at the ring. It wasn’t flashy or big. It was simply beautiful, elegant, and timeless in its design. A single white gold band with six marquise diamonds and five round sapphire stones—ones thatreminded Gramps of his wife’s vivid, velvety blue eyes—set between each one.
It wasperfect.
I’d heard how Gramps had seen the ring and knew it was meant for his one and only true love. My heart skipped a beat as Jett’s words from only seconds before echoed in my mind.This ring was always meant for you.
My gaze moved to Jett’s, and I knew with everything in me, I couldn’t say no. I wished, even dreamt of this moment so many times, longing for him to want me the same way I did him. The lines blurred between what was real and what wasn’t—kinda like my eyes that swam with tears.
I held out my left hand, holding my breath as he moved to place the ring onto my finger. The cool, smooth texture of the band slid on my finger, fitting me flawlessly. My heart beat wildly as the tears finally spilled over, cascading down my cheeks.
