Page 72 of Our Unexpected Beginning
“Fuck.” Wes ran his hand over his face and sighed.
Julia shifted from foot to foot infected with his nerves, watching as he walked around the desk, roughly pulled the drawer open and handed her a small box.
She opened it to find a beautiful rose gold band set with a heart shaped diamond. “Shut up.” she gasped.
Her heart raced and she sat against the edge of the desk and Wes came around and joined her. She knew exactly what he was hinting at.
They sat in silence, the nerves wafting off of Wes as if he handed her a grenade.
Julia looped her arm around his elbow and looked up at Wes. “Putting the urge to tease you aside,” she started. “It’s beautiful, she will love it and I don’t know any two more deserving people.”
Placing his hand gently over hers, Wes sighed and relaxed. “I’ve been holding it for weeks. I wanted to wait for the right time.”
“There’s never a right time. It’s just now and whatever you make of it.”
“Do you think she’ll like it?”
“I’ll have the fridge and blanket fort ready for the sleepover gossip-fest.”
Wes chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Thank you for the approval and giving her space.”
“You give her love. It’s more than a best friend could ever hope for.” She pulled away and wiped the water from her eyes. Damn hormones.
Julia shook her head and handed him back the box for safekeeping. Only when he took the box did she let the joy and excitement of what would come take over.
“Okay, so tell me. When, where, how?! How long do you expect me to keep this quiet?!” She gushed, wrapping her arms around her shoulders and grinning. “A bestie is only so strong.”
“I’m hoping in the next few weeks.” Wes chuckled. “Graham helped me pick it out. So that leaves you someone to gush with.”
“Are you kidding me? That meathead knew all this time?!”
“Be easy on him.”
“Fiiiiine.” Julia rolled her eyes and laughed.
Wes cleared his throat. “Hey, so um. I know it’s none of my business.”
“But you want to know how we are just like I’d want to know about you and Melly?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“We’re good, I think. I mean all this wasn’t planned and things are progressing.” They had gone through three-quarters of their question sheet. Julia was already looking for the next one.
“But?”
“He’s so confident that everything will be roses…I’m not wired that way.”
“Graham knows you’re not.”
“I know he does.”
“Would it make you feel better if he was questioning things?”
Julia sighed. “That would feel like the most normal thing in the world to me.” She looked at her hands, anxiously cracking her knuckles out of nervous habit. “I’ve had to anticipate moves like a boxing match my whole life.”
“I heard about what happened…”
“Yeah. I hate to admit a part of me thought he’d run for the hills by now.” Julia smiled up at Wes. “I’m glad I was wrong about that.”
