Page 122 of No Rings Attached
“I saw it again,” I whispered, shocked. The sun’s last rays were finishing its descent. How was this possible?
“Saw what?”
“The ruby glimmer. In the water. Right where our flowers went in.”
He was quiet for a moment, and I expected him to laugh or tease me about believing in legends.
Instead, he pressed a kiss to my temple. “I saw it, too.”
I looked up at him. “You did?”
“Yeah.” His eyes held mine, serious and soft. “Right when our flowers touched. Just for a second. I thought I might have imagined it.”
Forever kind of love.That’s what Goldie had said. When a ruby hue touches the water, a couple falls into that forever kind of love.
I didn’t know if I believed in legends or magic or signs from the universe. But standing there with Drew’s arm around me, watching the river, not knowing what came next, I wanted to believe.
“This is real now,” I said.
“This is real,” Drew confirmed. “No more pretending.”
“No more pretending,” I echoed.
He kissed me, the faint taste of doughboys and hope on our lips, and I felt something settle deep in my chest.
This is where I was meant to be. With him. In this town. Building something that was ours.
Scared and brave and falling, but not alone.
Never alone again.
We parked in front of the cutest little dance studio, its windows glossy black with ballet cutouts frozen mid-leap. My stomach pitched. My hands wouldn’t stop twisting the hem of my knee-length black skirt.
“Babe,” Drew said gently, “what’s wrong?”
“I’m going to look like an idiot in there.” My voice sounded high-pitched and tight. “Dancing’s not really my thing. I’m terrible at it.”
“Says who?”
“Me. Celia. My mother. My prom date.” My throat constricted. My palms were so damp I was afraid I was going to stain the fabric.
Drew slid his hand over mine, firm and warm. “Two of those are professional liars. That leaves you and some teenage idiot. Not exactly credible sources.”
I gave him a weak side-eye, but a laugh hiccuped out anyway.
He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. “Do you trust me?”
“With my life,” I whispered before I could stop myself.
“Then trust me tonight. I won’t let you down.” He hooked out his pinky.
I groaned. “Seriously?”
“Absolutely. All important promises should be resolved this way.”
Against my better judgement, I linked mine with his.
But as we stepped onto the sidewalk, my breath came in short, shallow bursts. My vision narrowed. My pulse hammered so loud it was all I could hear.Not again. Not in front of everyone.
