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Alex scowled, dropping the duo into silence. A minute felt like an hour. She had to tell her best friend…
“I found a ring in Mark’s backpack.”
Lucy look startled. “A RING? When?”
“August, in Dublin, the day we showed his mum the new house. Mark doesn’t know—I put it straight back.”
“And now you’re telling me? Three months later—”
Alex kept her volume low. “I didn’t say anything because I knew you’d tease me for being that girl.”
“That’s true, I would’ve. So, c’mon then, how big was it? Did you need sunnies?”
“Lovely little diamond, white gold band, understated but pretty—really pretty.”
“What the fuck? Did he buy it before he became a household name? It sounds like a Kinder Egg toy.” Lucy frowned. “He can do better than that.”
“Actually, it’s a family heirloom. Grace told me.”
“You asked Grace—in front of Mark?”
“No! He was in the kitchen with his mum, saying hi to someone on the phone. Rhys was in the bathroom. Grace and I were at the dinner table, talking about the family photos along the stairs. There’s a gorgeous shot of her and Rhys’ wedding where she’s holding up this blinding square-cut diamond ring—”
“Sounds like Grace’s bloke has better taste in rings.”
Alex glared. “You sound more like that girl than I do. Who cares if it’s large, square, yellow—it’s not about the actual ring. It’s about what it symbolizes.”
“Yeah, that your man is minted.” Lucy sniffed. “So, how did you two get talking about the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it hand-me-down?”
“Grace talked about the night she got engaged and said that when Mark was ready to propose, he would have their mum’s ring. She described it, and it sounded just like the one in his backpack.”
Lucy’s eyes widened. “Fuck…”
“I know, right?”
“So that’s why you’ve been so weird!” Lucy sipped her champagne.
“Don’t blame me, Mark started it—he’s the one with the engagement ring.” Alex peered into her glass. “I was never all about marriage, but now that I’ve actually seen it…and with Christmas coming up, our anniversary, I keep thinking he’s gonna ask! I’ve gotten all obsessed since finding that ring. Lucy, who have I become?”
“You’ve become Gollum, but, you know, without the body odour and bulging eyes. My precioussssss—”
“Shut up.” Alex swatted at her friend.
“Well! You do have big feet like him.”
“Stop! I thought it might happen next month in New York but with that trip cancelled—”
“I thought you were gonna kill him on the bus.”
“I brought it up while we were dancing, just now.”
“What? The ring?”
“No! Marriage…”
“Shit, Lex. Sometimes you don’t know when to leave well enough alone.”
“He wants to wait. What the fuck, Lucy? Is he acting, trying to throw me off the scent? Or maybe he’s changed his mind…”
