Page 70 of Girls Will Be Girls
“Small towns are incredible.” He runs his hand through his hair.
As we both grin at each other, his eyes slowly drop to my fingers laced around my necklace again. I look down and see that with every inhale, my breasts skim the surface of the water. When I look back up at him, his eyes are on mine again. Dark pools to match the one I’m in.
There’s no way I’m mistaken about what that look means.
I’m weak under a look like that.
“What were your thoughts?” I say. “On how she thinks we should handle things.” I goad him.
He inhales slowly. “I think.” He pauses. “She had some interesting ideas.”
“Mm.” I nod, my heartbeat racing. “Would they be ideas worth exploring?”
His mouth tilts up, knowing exactly what I’m doing. “I think we should circle back another time.”
“I didn’t realize we were in a business meeting.” I joke. “Just make sure youloop me in, and we can discuss thevalue-addedand make sure we’re not picking thelow-hanging fruit.”
“I love it when you talk dirty.” He smirks.
I huff out a laugh.
“I got you something, by the way.” He shifts to dig in his pants pocket.
“For me?” I point to myself.
“Come over here.” He gestures with his head.
I hesitate for a second. More to bolster myself to be on display in my swimsuit in front of him than anything else. I rise out of the water like he asked, feeling the sting of the evening air on my skin. I step up onto the decking and grab my towel from the chair next to him. As I wrap the towel around my shoulders, I notice my pebbled nipples, quickly covering them with the towel scrunched up in my fists.
I sit down opposite him and look up to see his eyes dilated like before. As if he needs the full expanse to see me.
I fight every urge inside of me to feel self-conscious. To worry about what he’s thinking of my body. Instead, focusing on the way his eyes stick to me, like they can’t look away. Trusting my instinct that’s telling me he enjoys what he sees a whole lot.
“Here.” He finally breaks the silence, holding out a small pink velvet bag.
He untwists the strings on each side and reaches in to take out a rose gold ring with little gems stacked all along the top like a rock formation. All the gems are different shades of pinks and purples, with more rose gold colored parts keeping them together. As he holds it out, the ring in between his thumb and finger, the stones glint in the dim light.
“I still feel bad for how I treated you and wanted to get you something to say sorry. I also figured with our track record, we’ll probably end up fake-engaged again, so thought you should have a ring for the trouble.” He smiles shyly. “I hope it’s okay.” He says. “There were only two jewelry stores close by today, and one was so stuffy and boring that none of the rings felt right, and the other was actually a craft store, not a jewelry store, and they only had a few.” He rambles. “But this one sort of reminded me of you. I thought maybe you’d like it.”
He sounds nervous. Over buying me the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.
I shake my head in disbelief, stretching my hand out to stroke the ring still in his fingers.
“You really didn’t have to,” I say.
“I wanted to.”
“But this is like aringring.”
He chuckles. “Of course, it’s aringring.” He says. “I mean, I didn’t spend as much on it as you would an actualringring, but I hope it’s still passable.”
“Passable?” I scoff. “I wish thiswasmy real engagement ring.” My fingers stroke it again, feeling his warm touchunderneath. “I mean, not for you to be proposing to me right now or anything.” I flounder with red cheeks. “Just, cause it’s so pretty.”
He grins. “You’re sure?”
“I love it so much,” I say. “Can I pay you for it?”
“No.” He grins wider, taking my left hand and sliding it smoothly on my middle finger. “It’s a gift.”
