There’s no arrogance in his voice. Just certainty.
“I made a promise,” he repeats.
My chest tightens.
He slides the ring from the box and holds it up.
He takes my left hand gently, sliding the ring onto my finger.
It fits perfectly.
The diamond catches the light again and something in my chest swells.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.
His gaze stays on my hand for a moment, then flicks up to my face.
“You like it?”
“I love it,” I say honestly.
And I do.
I step closer and wrap my arms around him.
“Thank you,” I murmur into his chest.
His arms come around me automatically.
“You’re welcome.”
I pull back just enough to look at him.
“I really do love it.”
“Good,” he says.
The evening settles into something warm and quiet after that. We watch something mindless on TV.
He stretches out on the couch with his head in my lap like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
I play with his hair absently.
Later, when we head upstairs, I’m still smiling to myself.
I’m brushing my teeth when my phone buzzes on the bathroom counter.
I glance at the screen.
Katia.
My heart stops.
I grab the phone immediately and step into the hallway.
“Katia?” I answer, already moving toward the staircase for privacy. “Where are you? Are you okay? I’ve been trying to—”
“Hi, Tal,” she says.
