Page 57 of Scoring with my Bestie's Ex

“What’s going on?” Bella asks.

Ellen detangles from Mike and rushes over, throwing her arms around Bella. “We were going to wait, I promise. But when we went to the mall, we decided to look, just to see what was available. And… well…”

She leans back and holds out her left hand. There, on her middle finger, sparkles a diamond ring. The gem is cut in a circle, a single stone with two small emeralds on either side in the delicate band.

“And they’re all lab-grown, so I don’t have to worry about it being a blood diamond,” Ellen squeals. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

I laugh as I get to my feet. I give Ellen a one-armed hug and pat Mike on the back.

“Congratulations, you two,” I say. “So you decided not to have a dramatic, public proposal after all?”

Mike chuckles. “Not yet. I am going to propose officially, and that will be a spectacle. But the when and how is a surprise.”

Ellen beams at him. “Just how I want it.”

They’re so happy, they don’t notice Bella slowly getting to her feet. Or the clear devastation on her face that she’s trying to hide.

But I do.

Chapter twenty-one

Bella

I can’t seem to get my feelings under control.

I knew this was coming. The way Ellen talks about Mike makes it too obvious that she’s head over heels for him.

But I still thought I had more time.

They’re so happy, and I’m terrified that my expression will give away my feelings.

It’s not them that makes my heart clench.

I should be happy for them. Even as fast as it’s happening, they’re wonderful together, and I already know they’ll be deliriously happy.

But right now, at this moment, I can’t think of Ellen and Mike.

All I’m thinking of is how Steven proposed to me.

The ring I just gave back seems to weigh on my finger, as heavy as it was when I first put it on.

If I hadn’t just given it back today, would their news be hitting me this hard?

Perhaps, but I can’t make this moment about me. Right now, I should be jumping up and down, squealing with excitement.

I pull myself together, forcing a smile on my face. I rush over and hug Ellen from behind, hiding my face on her shoulder.

“You two are crazy,” I say, hoping the emotion in my voice comes across as happiness. “You’re just flying by the seat of your pants, aren’t you?”

Ellen laughs and pats my hands. “I know! We’ve been talking about it for a while. I meant to tell you before we got the ring, but then we saw it and it was just so perfect.”

I pull my face into the appropriate smile as I release her.

“It’s wonderful,” I say and I mean it. “You are going to be the most beautiful bride in the world.”

“Oh, I’m not sure about that,” Ellen hedges.

Mike laughs. “I’m going to have to agree with Bella on this one. You’re already the most beautiful woman in the world. Of course, you’ll be the most beautiful bride.”

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