“I’m sure enough that I wouldn’t let Kelly sleep alone tonight.”
I scrub a hand down my face. This should incite fear in me, but it doesn’t.
It’s fury running through my veins. Rage. Rage at Jason. Rage at myself for not listening to her, not seeing what was right in front of me.
“Okay, then,” I say.
Casper cocks a brow. “You gonna tell her?”
“I’ll tell her when I’m finished.”
“Hey.” He lowers his feet from the desk. “Are you going to do something you’ll regret?”
That makes me chuckle. “I won’t regret this. But will you stay with her until I’m done?” I stand, grabbing my wallet and phone. Shit, I missed a couple text messages.
“Sure thing.”
“Anything else I should know?” I ask, hoping there aren’t any surprises when I show up at his house to beat him senseless.
“Yeah,” he drawls with a smirk. “What the fuck is on Kelly’s finger?”
I read Dad’s letter one more time.
Hey kid?—
If you’re reading this, you’ve either found your soul mate, or are being incredibly reckless with your heart. Either way, congratulations.
P.S. I’m not sure what condition Logan was in when he handed this envelope to you, but in my heart of hearts, I hope like hell he was smiling when he gave it to you . . . and if he wasn’t, go easy on the man today.
I’m gonna be real with you for a second. You’re a lot like your mom. Beautiful, smart, and kind, but you also possess the same spark she did. She didn’t justlight up faces when she walked into a room, she lit the whole damn house on fire. That’s a lot to handle for most people. So, I pray whoever you picked showed up with a box of matches and not an extinguisher. Don’t fall for weak men who try to shrink you in order to make it easier on themselves. Extinguishers don’t stand a chance with an Everhart woman. You want someone who will help you burn brighter and hotter, who will feed and fan your flames until the whole place burns to the ground.
Remember what I said about seeing yourself in them? Who you choose to spend your life with matters not just on the day of your wedding, but every fucking day, because that’s what love takes. You have to choose each other every day. Life will try to come between you. Choose each other anyway.
If he’s your soul mate—really your soul mate—then you’ll always pick each other no matter what tries to pull you apart. Even when you’re both full of piss and vinegar. Even when your pride is too great. Even when it hurts.
Love you.
Dad
I wipe my tears away. It feels like the two of them are conspiring against me. The velvet box is heavier than it looks. I open it and take another peek at the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. Delicate and dazzling. I should have expected this from him. Something with this kind of attention to detail, something so perfect and exactly what I would have chosen for myself.
Logan shouldn’t have made that decision for me. He messed up. Badly. But we aren’t done yet.
I remove the sparkling promise from the box and slip it on my left ring finger.
I’m choosing to wear it.
I’m choosing him. Even when it hurts.
Holding my hand in front of me, I bite my lip with a small smile. I can’t help it. I’m still pissed, but not as much as I once was. One diamond ring—one really gorgeous diamond ring—doesn’t wipe the slate clean, but it gives us a chance. And we’re worth a chance.
We’ve done this whole thing in reverse. First marriage, then a proposal . . . but stunning diamonds and paper certificates are meaningless without his love. I appreciate him letting me have my emotions. Just because I’m not ready to hear the words today doesn’t mean it’s not the thing I’ve waited the longest to hear and what I’ve craved the most.
After folding the letter, I carefully place it back into the envelope, and then Frankie pops her head into my station. “Hey, I’m on my way out, but there’s a Rosa up at the desk for you?”
Casper pauses outside my station, glancing down at my finger briefly and whistling. I tuck my hand into my pocket before Frankie sees and causes a scene.She’s going to lose her fucking mind when I tell her.Casper heads back to Logan’s office and shuts the door behind him.
“She’s here?”
