“How doyou guys feel about sapphires?”
“Personally, emeralds are my favorite, but sapphires are fine.” Elena raises her coffee cup to her mouth, an amused smirk playing at her lips. “In what context are you asking?”
Everett half lifts from his chair, swiveling his head around the cafe in search of his girlfriend—I assume—before leaning in close to us. Dahlia’s in the kitchen working on customized bakery orders while Elena takes a break from her shift. Everett and I both stopped this morning to grab coffee before heading to our respective workplaces.
He reaches into his pocket, setting a black box down on the table between his hands. His fingers tap against it anxiously as he says, “In the context of an engagement ring.”
Elena’s brows shoot up, her pretty brown eyes widening. “Show me now.”
Everett looks around again in a failed attempt at being surreptitious before opening the box. The cushion-cut sapphire is damn-near blinding when it winks back at me. It’s massive, accented on each side by two triangle-cut diamonds, and sitting on a simple, thin silver band.
“Damn,” I murmur.
“Oh, Everett,” Elena gasps, hand flying to her mouth. “It’s stunning.”
His face lights up at his sister’s praise before he snaps the box shut and slides it back into his pocket. “Really?”
“Yeah.” She nods. “It’s very Dahlia.”
He leans back in his chair, wiping a hand down his face. “Thank God. I was scared shitless of fucking this up.”
“She doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would care much about jewelry,” I add. “I don’t think you have anything to be afraid of.”
“You’re right.” He sighs. “She doesn’t. She doesn’t even want a wedding, but I think a lot of it is because she’s still convinced she doesn’t deserve those things, you know?” Everett shrugs. “I’m trying to show her that she does.”
“Do sapphires hold significance of some sort? Why that instead of a diamond?”
“Her eyes remind me of sapphires.” Everett bites his cheek, appearing bashful. “Is that lame?”
“No.” Elena smiles. “That’s beautiful. She’s going to love it.”
“You think?”
She nods. “I mean…there aren’t gemstones out there reminding anyone of my fucking eyes.” She waves at her face, referencing her brown irises. “It’s unique and sentimental. I can’t imagine anything she could love more.”
“Chocolate diamonds,” I blurt without thinking, and the way both twins whip their heads to me makes me immediately regret saying it out loud. Yet, I can’t stop myself from continuing, “Smoky quartz. Topaz.” I clear my throat, taking a sip of my coffee before attempting to recover my outburst. “Those are all gems that could be compared to brown eyes, I suppose.”
The words fly from my mouth so quickly there is no hiding the fact that I’ve spent a significant amount of time catalogingevery shade of brown in her eyes and what comparisons they hold to the world around them.
She smiles at me knowingly, and I don’t miss the hint of blush coloring her cheeks before those chocolate-colored eyes flutter to her brother. He watches me with curious apprehension.
“When are you going to do it?” she asks, pulling his attention from me. “And please say that I found out before Leo did.”
“Of course I told you before I told Leo. That fucker can’t keep a secret to save his life. He’ll find out after Dahlia does.”
“He’s going to be pissed about that.” Elena laughs, and the sound is like rediscovering a favorite song you’d forgotten the lyrics to.
Seeing her happy like this is enough to light my soul on fire.
“You’re my wombmate. I needed your opinion.”
I fucking hate when they call themselves that.
“And you better not tell anyone either, Augustus.” He points at me without taking his eyes off his sister.
I hold my hands up, surrendering. “Secret is safe with me.”
“Good.” He nods before continuing, “You know I bought that live-in bus off Tyler, right? I’m fixing it up as a surprise for her?”
