Page 136 of Help Me Remember
I walk over, wrap my arm around her waist, and look at them. “We asked you both here to tell you that we’re engaged. We were engaged before, in fact. I am the mystery ring giver, and Brielle is my fiancée.”
She slaps my chest. “Seriously?”
“I told you, no more waiting. We’re not going to shoot the shit when we have stuff to do. So, here it is.”
Brie lets out a long sigh and walks to them. “Isaac didn’t know, and . . . it’s one of many regrets I have about that day, so we want you guys to know.”
Emmett looks to Spencer. “I already knew.”
“Yes, but now you know in the way we wanted you to.” I look at Holden, who hasn’t really moved. “Sorry, bro, I forgot you didn’t know any of this.”
“You guys were together before?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“We didn’t tell anyone, and I wasn’t going to tell you before she remembered. I just . . . I couldn’t.”
Holden turns his attention to Brie. “And you’re sure you like this idiot?”
She smiles. “I love him. I always have.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s true. I’m happy for you both. Engaged . . . wow.”
Emmett snorts. “Seriously, you guys could’ve clued everyone in a little sooner than before you walk down the aisle.”
She moves back to me, wrapping her arms around my middle. “We kept it a secret for all the right reasons, I hope you know that.”
Emmett shrugs. “Far be it from me to understand the workings of his mind. He’s a mess, and I won’t pretend otherwise. I am happy that the mystery ring person isn’t a loser—well, not a total one.”
I flip him off.
Holden clears his throat. “Why did you put the ring in her kitchen and not take it? I’m assuming you did it when you and Em came here to clean up before she got discharged?”
“I knew where she kept it when she wasn’t wearing it, so I moved it.”
“But why not take it?” Holden asks.
“I couldn’t. I just couldn’t fucking take it back. It was like I was giving up and losing her again. So, I put it where I thought she’d never go.”
Brie tightens her arms. “You never lost me, Spencer. Not even when I was lost.”
I look down at the gorgeous woman I love. “Maybe not, but you were gone in a way. That ring was all the proof I had that you were mine. We didn’t tell anyone, and I...just hoped that, if you saw it, the ring would trigger something.”
She lifts up on her toes. “I always wanted it to be you.”
Holden makes a gagging noise. “Seriously. You could ease us all in a little.”
Emmett sighs. “As much as I’d absolutely love to sit around and watch you two be disgustingly in love, I have to get to the station.”
“Have you found anything?” I ask.
“No, and I wouldn’t be able to disclose anything anyway. I’m going to assume you have Cole looking into it and they haven’t found anything either.”
“I do and they haven’t.” There’s no point in denying it. If they find this guy, and I don’t kill him myself, it’ll be a miracle. He should pray for Emmett to find him first.
He moves toward us. “Be careful. Please. I know you were trained, but you aren’t a police officer, so don’t screw up the prosecution’s case by bulldozing over evidence, okay? We not only want Brielle safe, but also we want justice for Isaac.”
