“Yeah.I like you a lot.I care about you a lot.And that brings up some ...not great things about me.And makes me afraid.”
Seth nods thoughtfully.
“But I am sure I want to try.And do this thing with you.Properly.”
He leaps and grabs me by the waist, pulling me off the bed.“You do?”I’ve never seen a person smile so broadly.His whole face beams.
“I do.I’m not going to be scared.”I sniffle, losing a battle with sappiness.
He wraps me in a tight hug, whispering into my hair, “We’re gonna be so happy.Sohappy.You’ll see.”
I smile, that knot in my gut finally loosening all the way.“I can’t wait.”
Epilogue
Billie
Ten months later
Sitting at his desktop, Seth yells over his shoulder.“Javi just messaged me.He’s asking if we’ll be in Chicago at the conference.Says he saw your talk in the program, but not mine.”
I chuckle.“Well, he should know you’re new to the company, so it’s a little early for you to be the face of your research team.”
“Should I tell him I’m still coming, as a plus one, for a couple of days to support my lovely fiancée?”
“I think so.And I think you should use those exact words: I am coming to support my lovely fiancée.”
“Damn.But I don’t wanna tell them before the conference.I want to see their faces when you flash your new bling.”
I twist the ring around my finger.It’s exactly the kind of ring I’ve always wanted, beautiful and elegant in its simplicity, one that suits who I am because Seth knows me, he sees me, and he loves who I’ve become.It’s a ring I’m delighted to wear as often as I can, because it’s from him.Because it’s us.
I’ve gotten so mushy, it’s disgusting.
I meet Seth’s eyes.“I don’t want to hide this from them...”
“Well, it serves them right for not letting me know the second you separated from Doug.Or at least the minute you took off that damn old ring, the bane of my existence.Now they get to see the new one in Chicago, with the rest of the world.”
