MyGod.It’s perfect.
The diamond is big, three carats, if I had to guess, but the band is dainty and elegant. The cut’s just right. Clean. Classic. It whispers money without screaming it.
“It’s perfect,” I say finally, when my brain catches up. “It’s exactly what I would’ve picked for myself.”
He smiles, soft and amusing. “I know.”
Of course he does.
He curls his hand around mine and lifts it, pressing a kiss to the back of my hand. It’s gentle and sexy and my insides melt despite myself.
I remind myself this isn’t real and force myself to breathe.
“We have until the end of the week to exchange it,” he says. “Or return it.”
“Let me see,” I say, pulling my hand back to admire the perfectly sized rock on my ring finger. “It’s beautiful, Matt. Thank you. I’ll let you know before I leave tomorrow. Promise.”
He chuckles softly. “Christ. No pressure.”
“I know.” I look at him, then the ring again. Damn. It really is stunning. It’ll be hard to part with it, whether that’s tomorrow or five months from now.
I lift my gaze to his, take both of his hands, and give him a reassuring smile. “You ready?”
He huffs out a breath, squeezing my fingers gently. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
The car rideto the church is mostly quiet. Comfortable, but heavy.
Matt handles stress better than I do. Better than most people. It’s why he’s been able to accomplish everything he has. It’s actually impressive, especially knowing all he’s dealt with growing up. I’ve always admired him for that. Sure, he had his moments of recklessness and rebellion. But somewhere along the way, he changed. He matured in ways money can’t buy.
Matt’s someone who has his shit together, though I was questioning his sanity for a moment there last night.
“What’s your favorite memory of Nate?” I ask, trying to lighten the air.
His shoulders rise with a deep inhale, then he blows it out quickly. “That’s tough. There’s so many.” His lips curve just enough to make me smile. “He came to visit me over Spring Break one year. It was after I’d moved out, and you were gone.” He darts a quick glance at me. “Senior year,” he says somberly. As if I need the reminder.
“I was in a pretty dark place mentally, drinking a lot, getting high, and… sleeping around,” he says hesitantly, like it might hurt my feelings.
It doesn’t. I’ve always been aware of Matt’s extracurriculars, even back in college. It might have bothered me back then, but it hasn’t in a long time. Matt’s never cheated on me. He’d never cheat on anyone. Loyalty has always been one of his best qualities.
He continues. “But Nate—God, he was so good. He didn’t want anything to do with any of that. And after everything that happened with the DUI… I didn’t want him getting into trouble or lowering his standards just because he was with me.”
He lets out a quiet laugh. “Jensen came over the first day he was there, and I don’t think he even went home that week. The three of us just video gamed, stayed up late shooting the shit, ate way too much pizza, and laughed our asses off until we cried.” His whole face lights up. “It was one of the best weeks of my life. I was happy, something I hadn’t felt in a long time. And I did it completely sober. No booze. No drugs. No girls.”
He nods, his expression turning serious. Then he swallows, trying so damn hard to not get emotional. “That was Nate. Fun. Solid. Good. Just… good.”
He presses a knuckle into his mouth, eyes brimming with tears. But he doesn’t blink. Doesn’t let them fall.
I reach for his hand, pulling it down and wrapping it in mine. “Hewasgood,” I whisper. “And so are you.”
He lets out a sound of disbelief before turning into the church. He pulls into a parking spot and cuts the engine, releasing an audible breath. “My parents are going to be here,” he says, staring straight ahead.
“I figured they would be.”
“Both of them.” He turns to look at me. “My father too.”
My pulse beats harder with the mention of his father. Partly for me, but mostly for him.
I squeeze his hand, hoping to ground us both. It’s what I would do, engaged or not. “You okay?”
