Over gravel, I push out the words, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
His voice is so gentle I wonder if it’s the same man. “I know. We’ll figure it out.”
My eyes spring to his and the kindness in his gaze is like pressure on a bruise. It’s the soft, brutal kind of pain that leaves me aching. “My ring is—” I shake my head. “There are no words.”
He nods and studies me. “It fit you.”
“Oh, I didn’t try it on,” I admit.
“I mean the setting. Soft, brilliant, and bold, with a few pointed bits. It fit. And it fits. If the nuts at The Home Depot were accurate.”
He smiles as I drop my shoulders. He did not. “No, you didn’t.”
With his other hand, he pulls the hexagonal nut from his pocket.
“Grrr.”
“Number four. I swear you’re trying to get me to punish you.”
“I—” I spin on a heel but catch myself. I rotate, put on my fakest smile. “Goodnight, William. Sleep well.”
“Sure thing, Wifey.”
Waving over my shoulder I get to my front door, growling when I tap in the code.
“I heard that.” His words form into a chuckle.
“No, you didn’t,” I throw right back and slam the door.
Liam
Ayla: You got married and didn’t tell me?
Me: You conceived the plan.
Ayla: Yeah, but rude.
Ayla: How I feel knowing I wasn’t there…
A message comes through with a picture of Sophia, huge crocodile tears on her face, her bottom lip jutted out to her delicate little chin.
Me: Don’t take this out on my goddaughter. She’s off limits.
Ayla: She missed it too. Deep wounding. Permanent kind of marks on her soul.
Me: Laying it on a bit thick?
Ayla: We were all there for each other’s weddings. Except for me with yours.
Me: Next time.
Me: And you can be my best woman.
Ayla: Too little too late.
Me: You know there was no wedding, right? We signed papers over tacos.
Ayla: So you…
