Page 44 of Put a Rink on It

My fingers fumble, but eventually connect with the button.

“Juliet, it’s Nero,” he says, his words bouncing off the walls in my living room. “Are you there? Can I explain?”

Juliet snaps out of it. “Someone better. There’s an engagement ring on her finger. A huge one. What the fuck is going on?” Hurt flashes across her face. I hate that I can’t tell her the truth. I hate lying to her. “You’re engaged. I didn’t know you were dating. Who is he? And why does Nero not sound so surprised? Why does he know before me?” Her initial shock morphs into despair.

“Because he’s the one who gave it to me.” I point to the couch. “Sit down. We’ll explain.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “I’ll stand. Does Ma know?”

Double shit.

I hop off the couch, positioning myself in front of my sister. “No, and you can’t tell her. Not yet. Please,” I plead. “We’re gonna tell her.”

Why was I stupid to wear the ring home? Why didn’t I leave it with him? I could have avoided all of this….worry. Anxiety. The tightness in my abdomen.

Because you love it too much, my brain tosses at me.

In this moment, I’m not sure that’s true.

We should have worked out a better plan. I should have left the ring at his house.

“So, what? You’re engaged. Because you were secretly dating? Again, Marina? You’re doing it again.” Anger layers her expression.

“What?” I prod, pretending I don’t know what she means.

“Hiding him. Keeping secrets with him.” She throws her hands in the air and paces the length of my living room. “It’s like when you didn’t mention one of your best friends was a freaking professional hockey player. Until you got found out and had no choice. And we’re here. Again. Once wasn’t enough?”

It’s not that I kept my friendship with Nero a secret, per se. I’d mention a friend from college in casual conversation, without revealing his identity. Ma may have had an inkling, but she said nothing. Juliet was too busy with college and developing her money business, and Walsh was busy with high school, hockey, and being a dad. It surfaced on social media, and Juliet called me almost immediately in shock. Now, she’s almost furious.

She’s crushed. I can understand that. In her situation, I would be, too. It sucks she can’t know the full story. That he doesn’t love me, that we’re only engaged because the man can’t keep his mouth shut.

That it’s not real.

“I’m sorry,” I start, but she’s not ready to listen.

“It’s my fault.” Nero’s anguished voice comes over the phone. “Don’t be mad at Marina. She wanted to tell you, but I asked her not to.”

“I wouldn’t have told anyone,” Juliet states, her feet moving faster across the floor. “I can keep a secret. How many times did I prove that when we were growing up?” She glances at me, the agony in her eyes all-consuming.

I hate this. It’s a good thing Nero’s on the phone because I don’t think I’d be able to keep up the charade otherwise.

And this is nothing compared to how Millie’s gonna react.

I’m the worst.

I slump onto the couch. Not even the brilliance of the diamond helps. In fact, has it lost some of its shine in the last few minutes?

“I’m sorry, Ettie. I—” I’m at a loss for words. What else can I say?

“When’s the wedding?”

“We’re still working out the details. Probably after Nero’s season ends.”

“Will that be a secret, too?” She stops her pacing to fling the dig at me. At her sides, her fingers clench into fists.

“No.”

Except for a little while, before we hatched the whole “engagement” plan, there might have been a chance we would have sprung the whole marriage thing on everyone.