Page 47 of Infinite

“Excellent,” Tootles says. “I think we’re ready.”

The team nods and begins gathering their equipment. They recognize it’s time to go and forget everything they saw.

“Found it,” Hale says from the doorway. “I just need a moment with Becca.”

Tootles starts to explain that they’re almost done, but like the rest of the team, he sees something different in Hale. No one moves, including me, our full attention on Hale and where he waits by the door.

The air changes in the room, growing somber to match Hale’s mood.

Tootles moves toward him slowly, his attention dropping to the small black box cupped in Hale’s hand. “Is that it?” Tootles asks. Hale gives a stiff nod. I can no longer see the box, but I hear the small creak it makes when it’s opened.

“It’s perfect.” Tootles glances back at me, although I’m unsure why. “I . . .”

“A few minutes,” Hale says. “That’s all I need.” He looks past the staff to where I’m sitting. I can’t move. I want to, but Hale’s mere force keeps me in place. My word, what’s happening here?

“Of course,” Tootles says, motioning to his team to hurry. “Let us know when you’re ready.”

I think I should rise from the portable makeup chair, meet Hale halfway, or at the very least assume a less submissive position. But although the shoot hasn’t started, the one where I’m to reflect the vulnerability Hale can’t outwardly demonstrate, I’m already unwillingly in character long before he kneels before me.

He holds out the square box. It’s not one of those swathed in velvet. It’s leather with a gold stamp framing the worn edges. He opens it to reveal a thin, platinum band with tiny diamonds embedded around the edge. It’s not flashy. It’s subtle. But I can sense its significance long before Hale speaks.

“It was my mother’s,” he says. “My father gave it to her the day I was born.”

I meet his face, wishing I knew the right words to say. “Why?” is all I manage.

He frowns, looking at the ring. “I think it was his way of starting over and proving he was still committed to her.”

“But not to you?” I ask before I give it much thought.

I start to apologize for my choice of words, but Hale speaks first. “No. He wasn’t ready to accept me yet.” He sighs. “Momma gave it to me the last time I saw her. She slipped it off her finger and handed it to me. I didn’t understand why she wanted me to have it. I’d only just learned I wasn’t his son.”

“I think she wanted you to know that you were still a part of everything they shared,” I say.

Hale averts his gaze. My fingers slide over his hand and I give it a squeeze. “There was a lot wrong between them,” I add quietly. “A great deal of hurt and some things they never managed to forgive themselves for. But this ring was the first step toward healing and saving what they had.” I shake my head. “They made mistakes, Hale. Big ones. Your father with how long it took him to accept you, and your mother for straying when she should have remained faithful.”

I swallow hard. My next few comments are the hardest. Somehow, I manage without stumbling and without my voice breaking, although it very much wants to. “But if she hadn’t strayed, if he hadn’t created that wedge between them, if you hadn’t worked as hard as you did, you wouldn’t be you. You wouldn’t have been born and I never would have known you. God, Hale,” I say, gripping his hand tighter. “I’m so blessed to know you.”

Hale trembles, not with fear, not with anger. It’s raw emotion. The same thing I feel. “This ring was the first of many long steps toward healing and acceptance.” I fight back the tear that threatens to fall. It falls anyway. “I think your momma wanted you to know that, no matter what, they did heal and that you were their son.”

Hale bows his head. For a long moment, all I see is the top of his blond, mussy hair. I want to stroke it and clutch him to me. Instead, I give him the moment he needs.

“I don’t know why I thought of it,” he says. “And I’m still not sure why I brought it out. If you don’t want to wear it, I’ll understand.”

“I would be honored to wear anything that’s a part of you,” I whisper.

He nods, his head appearing as heavy as our hearts. He pulls out the ring and places the box on the corner of the granite vanity counter. He’s still on his knees. Without thinking, I offer him my hand, waiting for him to slip this bittersweet memory on my finger.

If he hesitates, it’s brief. I watch him slide the ring that symbolizes his existence across my finger. I think I should say something. Before I can gather my thoughts, he wraps his hand around mine and draws me to him, lifting me to stand in one smooth motion.

Our gazes lock. “Come on,” he says. “Time to play married lovers.”

Chapter Eleven

Hale

When I crawled out of bed this morning on very little sleep, I was expecting the usual; calls with Mason and Neesa, and doing all I can to hang onto my staff. Things that needed to get done. The last thing I was expecting was to slip into bed naked with Becca.

Would I have wanted to? Hell, yeah. I have a pulse, damn it.

---