Page 95 of Absolutely Not in Love
Ohhh.This was a bad idea. Because this ring is literal perfection. If it is anything but what I get to wear on my left hand for the rest of my life, I might actually cry. It’s not a traditional wedding ring, though it definitely looks like a diamond. But there are blue stones surrounding it, and the setting looks vintage and amazing and exactly like something I would choose for myself.
“Did you find them?” Felix says from behind me.
I gasp in fright and toss the ring box in the air, scrambling to catch it before I slam the box shut and toss it back in the drawer like it’s literally on fire. I close the drawer next, slamming it so hard, the lamp sitting on top of the nightstand wobbles, and I have to reach out to save it, barely catching it in before it falls to the floor.
I look up to meet Felix’s wide, shocked gaze.
“Felix, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…my glassesdidfall in your drawer, and I found them, and then I saw the box, but I shouldn’t have looked.”
He slowly moves into the room and sits down on the edge of the bed. He reaches past me and opens the drawer, takes out the box, then carefully opens the lid.
I steal a glance at his face, almost afraid to look, but he doesn’t look annoyed or mad. Just…curious, maybe? Or even a little nervous.
“My mom sent it to me last week,” he says. “It was my grandmother’s ring.”
He has to meanthegrandmother. The one who taught him how to be nice and helpful and to make his own sandwiches. The one who taught him to love classical music. Who inspired his tattoo. Whose name will be on this building as soon as the renovations are done.
That makes the ring even more special. The fact that he’s giving it to me—might be giving it to me?—means the world.
I bite my lip. “It’s really beautiful.”
He leans forward, propping his elbows on his knees. “This isn’t how I was going to ask you, Gracie.” He lifts his warm, brown eyes to mine, and my heart climbs into my throat. “But obviously, I want it to be yours.”
“I would very much like for it to be mine, too,” I say softly.
He chuckles and runs a hand through his hair, the slight tremble in his hands giving way to how nervous he is. “I wanted to come up with a plan,” he says. “A grand gesture or something. Or even just to wait for the right moment. But…”
“I don’t need a grand gesture,” I say quickly. “I promise I don’t. And right now feels like a really good moment.” I don’t even try to hide the eagerness in my voice. There is nothing in this world I want quite as much as having Felix Jamison as my husband.
His fingers toy with the ring for a moment, then he slowly lifts it out of the box. “Are you sure?”
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh,” I say under my breath.
Then Felix drops to his knees in front of me and holds up the ring. “Will you marry me, Gracie?”
I nod. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.”
He reaches for my hand, which is trembling like a leaf in a fall breeze, and slides the ring onto my fourth finger.
I wouldn’t have taken it to mean anything dire if the ring was too big or too small. We would have just gotten it sized and everything would have been fine.
We love each other! It’s just a ring! It doesn’t have to be a sign of anything good or bad!
But I won’t pretend like there wasn’t some part of me that didn’t squeal, at least on the inside, when the ring was an absolutely perfect fit.
I launch myself off the bed and into Felix’s arms, and he lifts me up, spinning me around until we both fall backward onto the bed with an audible oof.
Then we’re kissing and laughing and kissing some more.
“I’m sorry if I ruined your proposal plans,” I say in between kisses.
Felix shifts to the side, propping himself up on one elbow so he can look down at me. “I just wanted it to be special for you. But I was nervous about involving Parker or the rest of the team, so if you’re happy, I’m happy.”
I tug him down for another kiss. “I promise I’m happy. This was perfect.”
He lifts a hand and runs it along my hair, his thumb sliding across my jaw and grazing over my bottom lip. Fire ignites deep in my chest and crackles along my skin, and I lean into his touch. “I can’t believe you’re going to be my wife,” he says.
I could say the same thing to him, but I’d rather show him instead.
