Page 102 of Why Not Now?

“When did you get this?” she asks, looking from the ring to me.

It’s a gold band with a tear drop emerald, three small diamonds framing the green gem. The earrings and necklace I bought her for the ballet will match it nicely.

“About nine years ago, give or take. I love you, Ava. I always have.”

She sniffles. “I love you, too.”

Then she kisses me, wrapping her arms around my neck and leaning into me. Vaguely, I hear my friends clapping like idiots. I don’t care. I just pull her closer, kiss her deeper, and breathe easier having her back with me.

After a while, we break the kiss and I note Ava has more tears in her eyes. I wipe them away.

“I told you a week,” I say. “Just couldn’t wait, huh?”

She smiles and drags her thumb under my eyes beneath my glasses, capturing the moisture she finds there. I’m glad I didn’t put in my contacts this morning.

“Turns out I only needed a few days to realize I’d already lived my life without you. I don’t want to do that anymore.”

“Good. Because I’m not going to let you go again, sweetheart.”

We finally stand and all my friends jump up, the women demanding to see the ring. Ava shows it off.

“It matches the necklace and earrings,” Adalie says.

Ava grins, pulling the necklace out of her shirt to show the pendant.

“But you bought this ages ago, right?” Spencer asks.

I nod. “I got the new jewellery to match the ring.”

“That’s why you asked the jeweller specifically for teardrop emeralds,” Lis says.

Mom comes over and hugs us both. Then she steps back. “So, does this mean you’re engaged?”

I look at Ava, lifting her left hand to place a kiss on the knuckle behind the ring. “Let’s call it engaged to be engaged. For now.”

There’s laughter as everyone settles back down on my couches and I grab the last two presents under the Christmas tree, handing one to Ava and one to Lacey.

“Your Christmas presents,” I tell Ava when she looks at me in question.

She rolls her eyes. “What about all the stuff you gave me when we went to the ballet?”

“That was for all the Christmases I’ve missed. This one is for this Christmas. Now I’m all caught up for you.” I glance at Lacey. “I still owe you for the Christmases I’ve missed, so start thinking about what I can do for that.” I return my attention to Ava. “The ring isn’t a Christmas present. It’s just… yours.”

She shakes her head but kisses me before opening the present. Each one has the same thing inside: a ticket to an upcoming musical at Queen Elizabeth Theatre as part of Broadway Across Canada. I show them my ticket that I’d set on the mantle above my fireplace.

“Wait,” Lacey says. “What if you guys didn’t work things out?”

I shrug, draping an arm around Ava’s shoulders and pulling her into me. “I already said. I’m not letting Ava go again.”

Chapter 34

Ava

Derekinsistswestayfor dinner. Turns out there’s plenty of food, and we have a lot of fun chatting and laughing. Lacey plays with Cerberus while Abyss watches from Derek’s lap, blinking with disdain at the dog’s antics. I tell everyone about the call I’d received from Sam Fontana and they congratulate me.

“I’m glad Sam called,” Vic says. “I know he wants some stuff done quick. I’ve told a few others, but I wouldn’t expect to hear from them until January. You need to get some business cards.”

“I have some.” I pull one out of my purse and hand it to her.

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