Page 15 of That Emerald Vow

“I know it’s for the good of humanity and all that. But how do you have a relationship with such a huge secret?”

I releasea deep sigh as I lean back to sink down into the couch. “Can’t really be like ‘Hey, I’m a serial killing vigilante’ during the first date.”

“Or the third. Or ever, really,” she says as she sinks down with me.

I turn my head slightly to look at her. “Hey, it doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun along the way . . .” But the enthusiasm I’m trying to portray in my tone doesn’t fully pierce my own feelings.

“But how long do we really want to have fun? I love being able to be single and mingle. But . . . I’m slowly getting over it. And as my best friend so nicely pointed out, I have commitment issues. And now it’s all I think about. I want to share my life with someone.”

“Is that someone Ade?” I ask.

“Maybe. We’ve been texting pretty much nonstop since our coffee date, and it feels really nice . . .” She shoves her face into the pillow and grunts. “Or maybe I’ll be single forever, boinking one guy and then the next.”

“Nothing wrong with that!” I exclaim because it’s what I expect for myself.

“Absolutely not. But I don’t know if that’s what I want. Leaving Ade and our conversation the other day really made it all real for me. I want more . . .”I want more too . . .I silently admit to myself.

I pull her into my arms and say, “Lils, I believe that if that’s what you want, that’s what will happen. You just have to have a little faith. There’s a nutso guy out there who will love you for you. Regardless of all the skeletons hiding in your closet. Maybe it’s Ade. Maybe it’s someone else. The good thing is, you don’t have to figure it all out right this very second.”

I meant every word I said to her . . . for her. I just don’t believe the same for myself. I’m happy and content being the forever-single-and-ready-to-mingle gal. These intrusive thoughts telling me differently are lies . . .Right?I love seeing Lily happy, and it’s confusing my dumb brain. That love story isn’t meant for me.

I look back up at the gorgeous—rough around the edges—but sweet man. He doesn’t want more either, I’m sure. Without knowing much about each other, I can tell we’re cut from the same fucked-up cloth. There’s potential for a great friendship here.And that’s it,I yell at myself.

Smiling, I take his hand, pulling myself up. “Where to?” I ask as we start walking in the opposite direction of the bar we were planning to go to.

“I was thinking we can go . . .” He trails off as his eye catches something on the floor that he bends over to grab. I can’t tell what it is, as his back is to me. When he turns back to me, he has a radiant smile on his face and a ring in his hand. The light is shining through it, reflecting its beautiful, emerald glow.

“It’s beautiful! I can’t believe someone lost that and didn’t realize.” I move closer to him to get a better look.

His smile turns devilish as he says, “I have an idea. Do you trust me?”

I bite the inside of my cheek as I say, “Yes.” My own lips form a grin, knowing I actually mean it.

I’m sitting in a booth at our local diner, looking down at Damon, who is bent on one knee. My right hand is placed over my mouth in shock as fake tears threaten to spill over.

“Charlotte Thatcher, you came into my life like a tornado, destroying everything that I once thought I knew.”Bold, but where is he going with this?“Every moment since then has been a whirlwind of new and amazing emotions and memories. I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone else.”Better.He dramatically pulls the emerald ring we foundfrom his pocket. “The moment I saw this ring, I thought of those beautiful emerald eyes of yours that I would love to drown in.” The fake tears all of a sudden feel real, and my heart starts to race. “With this ring, I vow to love you for you, for all your amazing qualities and even those small imperfections. Will you be mine?”

Tears continue to slowly stream down my face, and his eyes are also filled with emotion. “Yes!” I scream as he puts the ring on me. Barely letting him stand up, I jump on top of him—my arms going around his neck.

Goosebumps pebble all over my skin as I feel his hot breath on my neck—a tease of a kiss that’s not coming.A kiss!No one is gonna believe this without a kiss. I pull back and look Damon in the eyes. They are filled with something—something that I also feel deeply rooted inside.A want?Must just be a sexual attraction.

Without a second thought, I smash my lips into his. I feel him gasp against my mouth, but quickly, his arms pull me tighter into his embrace. His mouth slightly opens, his tongue finding mine. It swirls against mine, tasting of the strawberry milkshake he had earlier. Heat erupts deep in my core, spreading out. This kiss feels different from anything I have ever had before. It feels comforting and safe. Others either felt like nothing more than sexual release or were laced with fear . . .

We break apart, both of us looking up in a daze—eyes glazed over.

The store manager comes by, saying, “Dinner’s on the house for our newly engaged couple.”

It breaks us out of our trance. “Thank you so much, sir,” Damon says as he shakes his hand.

Grabbing my cell phone out of my pocket, I ask the manager to take a pic of Damon and me to commemorate our engagement in a permanent memento. Since that’s what I assume a normal couple would do.

“How cute!” I exclaim.

“Definitely send me that!”

We both quickly finish the half-eaten cake we had before leaving a generous tip for the waitress.

Giggling, we make our way to his bike. “I can’t believe that worked!” I say.