“I love you,” Knox declared. “Both of you. And I don’t want to spend another day without you.”
“I love you, too,” I blurted on a sob.
Knox expelled a heavy breath, but he didn’t move, still holding up the rings.
I looked at Kieran, managed an emotion-riddled, “And I love you.”
“I love you, too, sweet cailín,” he whispered before looking at Knox. “I’m not sure I forgive you yet.”
Kieran was the one who reached for the ring box, retrieved the two rings out of it, held them in his palm. A moment later, he retrieved something from his pocket. When he opened his hand, there were two more rings, very similar in design. A large solitaire diamond set in platinum and a platinum band with thick bands around the outer edges, a solid line down the center. The lines were closer together on Knox’s band, and it hit me then. They were meant to reflect all three of us.
A sob escaped me, and my knees gave out. Before I could hit the floor, both men were there, their strong arms banding around me, holding me up.
“Tell me you love me,” Knox whispered roughly.
I looked up to see he was holding Kieran’s gaze.
“Tell me,” he demanded.
“I love you.”
The emotion behind those three words had another sob breaking loose inside me.
I held onto them for long minutes, letting their warmth infuse me, erasing the chill that had consumed me since the day my father had come to Delta June’s. In one morning, my father had single-handedly screwed up my life because of his own selfishness. Very similarly to what he’d done all those years ago when he met and married Kitty.
And to think, I nearly let him get away with it twice.
“You okay?” Kieran asked, stepping back and tilting my chin up so he could meet my eyes.
I nodded, still unable to form words.
“I think you’ve got a choice to make,” Knox said, gesturing toward the rings in Kieran’s hand.
I looked up at him, over to Kieran, then back down for a moment. I made my decision, then looked up at them again. “Since I could never choose just one of you, I think I’ll take both.”
“That’s a lot of diamond for one finger,” Knox quipped. “But who are we to argue.”
“Well, obviously, I can’t wear them both at the same time.” I mean, Icould,but that would be weird.
“You can if one’s a necklace,” Kieran suggested.
I held his stare and smiled. “True.”
“And we won’t even tell you how many millions of dollars you’ll have on your person when you wear both.”
My eyes widened comically. I hadn’t even considered that. Before I could refuse them, Knox took my hand and slid his ring on first. Kieran was fast, grabbing the band he’d produced and sliding it on Knox’s finger without even asking. Before Knox could do the same, I took the one Knox had brought and slowly slid it on Kieran’s.
Whoever said a complete set was comprised of only two?
39
Emily
After spending the weekend in Vegas withKnox and Kieran, I was eager to get home after a full day back at Delta June’s.
I’d gone out of my way today to make up for my absence to Zena and Emmet, promising them both that things were back to normal. After they’d squealed and crooned over my engagement ring and pendant, they’d managed to settle down some. I had bribed them with lunch and afternoon coffee, ensuring they knew how much their support meant to me. I was grateful for their forgiveness, as well as how they’d managed things while I’d been out. I wasn’t quite sure what I would do without either of them.
After greeting the doorman with a smile, I headed up to my apartment, ready for a hot bath and some dinner. I pulled out my phone to call Kieran to see if they had plans for the evening. I dialed the number and was greeted with an in-stereo ring when I stepped out of the elevator.
