Page 89 of Until

“Why? Is something wrong? Did my grandmother call? Is she alright?”

My heart sank, imagining the worst for my grandmother all because I wanted to spend the night out of our apartment.

“Everything’s fine. Relax.” He slides his hand behind my head and pulls me closer so he can kiss my forehead. “It’s just that it’s getting late, and I forgot something last night.”

He gets up, and I admire his naked body as he crosses his bedroom and heads out into the living room. He returns in just a few minutes with a bouquet of flowers he’s holding over his cock.

“That’s a good look you’ve got there. You should dress like that more often,” I say.

“I thought you’d like it,” he says as he sits on the edge of my side of the bed.

He holds the bouquet of peonies towards me, and I shimmy to sit up on the bed, my back against the tufted headboard.

“You forgot to give me flowers?” I ask. “It’s your birthday, not mine. That really could’ve waited.

“No, it couldn’t.”

He pushes the flowers towards me, and I take them by the ribbon-wrapped handle. Something heavy hits my hand.

I lift the bouquet up, looking for what could’ve hit me, but I don’t see anything.

Ryan sighs.

“What? Are you expecting me to be smart this early in the morning?” I ask.

The object hits my hand again, but this time I trace it with my other hand until I fish it out of the bouquet. In my hand is a sparkling pear-shaped diamond solitaire.

Ryan reaches over and takes the bouquet and the ring. He unties the ring and then holds it between two fingers as he lifts my hand.

“I forgot this part last night,” he says. “It was my mother’s.”

“Oh it’s beautiful,” I say as he slips it onto my ring finger.

The diamond reflects the rising sun that’s slipping through the blinds, making prisms on the walls.

Ryan leans forward and kisses me, his lips growing more insistent until he backs away. I shove the flowers onto the floor and pull him back into the kiss.

He pulls away again.

“Carina, the time.”

I glance at the clock. It’s 10am. We have to be to the trustees in an hour.

“I can get ready quickly,” I say.

CHAPTER 36

Ryan

RYAN’S BIRTHDAY

As I park in the same spot as I always did to see the trustees, I think about how different today feels.

Next to me is the woman of my dreams, even if she is fumbling anxiously with her seatbelt. I lean over and kiss her cheek, and her eyes pop up to mine. As I smile, I can see her relax and then unbuckle herself.

I extend my hand with my palm facing up, and she places her hand in mine.

“I’m the one who should be nervous,” I say, teasing her.

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