“Chicken sandwich with avocado, Swiss, and bacon, chips instead of fries?”
“Have them go lighter on the mayo this time.”
She had no idea if she guessed wrong. Just to spite him for pulling a stunt like that, she was tempted to serve him the same thing every time he came in. “Coming right up.”
“Wait.” He bent across the bar and grabbed her fingers. “If you’re free after work, can I take you ring shopping? I’d love to finally let you pick the perfect one.”
Her stomach flipped on itself, and she wasn’t sure if it was from his touch or the suggestion.
When she was little, she dreamed of getting engaged. It might be part of the reason she started the website—reality hadn’t quite matched the fairytale. That never stopped her from holding onto that little spark of fantasy. She’d meet the perfect guy, he’d propose with candles and roses and champagne, and their engagement would be amazing. Insane but amazing. They’d find the perfect wedding rings and get adorable pictures taken. Maybe they’d exchange Grandma and Grandpa’s rings at the ceremony.
She knew reality rarely worked out that way, and that this wasn’t her only chance. Hell, they weren’t actually getting married, and statistically, even if they did, she’d still have high odds of getting another opportunity to do things differently. A lot of people did marriage more than once. She was lucky she didn’t have to deal with divorce in between.
Somehow the assurance didn’t make her feel better.
Chapter Twelve
Gwen sat at her dining room table, picking at her breakfast and staring at the sparkly engagement ring on her finger. She should finish her toast and get started on her to-do list. Mondays and Tuesdays were her equivalent of the weekend, except it was easier to run errands, because everything was open and most everyone else was at work.
She was still sorting her way through her thoughts. The diamond solitaire shined under the lights, winking at her as she rotated her hand. The gold was bright and untarnished. She wanted to feel elated. In theory she should. I’m engaged. To a wonderful man. Who didn’t hesitate to buy me one of the nicest rings in the mall jewelry store.
She tried to pick up the tab on the ring or at least split the bill. Brad’s furrowed brow and the ghost of anger that crossed his face at the suggestion made her back down in a way she wasn’t used to. He pointed out he was the groom; he’d buy the rings. And lucky her, the one they picked had been in her size, so she got to wear it home.
Now a myriad of emotions, so jumbled she couldn’t name most, danced in her skull. She should be happy. But this was for show.
But sometimes it felt real.
But that just meant they were doing a good job acting.
The argument grew in volume in her skull, until she had to bite back a scream.
She sighed and pushed away from the table. It was time to stop dancing in circles around something she already knew the answer to, and to use this engagement for its intended purpose, like Brad was—whom she only missed because she’d gotten used to having him around lately. Not because she enjoyed his company, the familiar touches, the way he kissed…
There was one surefire way to distract herself—do the thing she’d put off for a few days now. She grabbed her phone from where it sat next to her hand, taunting her, and dialed George’s number.
“Hey, Sis. I was just thinking about you.” His voice was pleasant and cheerful. Genuine. If he hadn’t spent the last several months trying to fleece her, she’d be tempted to ask if he wanted to meet for lunch. The way they used to.
“I bet.” She couldn’t force the same phoniness into her tone. Pretending was hard enough with Brad. Except it’s not. She shook the words aside. “Dreaming of all the places you’ll go on my dime?”
“That’s not fair. The kids need braces. I’d love to take them to Disney World this year. Don’t you want to see your
“Have them go lighter on the mayo this time.”
She had no idea if she guessed wrong. Just to spite him for pulling a stunt like that, she was tempted to serve him the same thing every time he came in. “Coming right up.”
“Wait.” He bent across the bar and grabbed her fingers. “If you’re free after work, can I take you ring shopping? I’d love to finally let you pick the perfect one.”
Her stomach flipped on itself, and she wasn’t sure if it was from his touch or the suggestion.
When she was little, she dreamed of getting engaged. It might be part of the reason she started the website—reality hadn’t quite matched the fairytale. That never stopped her from holding onto that little spark of fantasy. She’d meet the perfect guy, he’d propose with candles and roses and champagne, and their engagement would be amazing. Insane but amazing. They’d find the perfect wedding rings and get adorable pictures taken. Maybe they’d exchange Grandma and Grandpa’s rings at the ceremony.
She knew reality rarely worked out that way, and that this wasn’t her only chance. Hell, they weren’t actually getting married, and statistically, even if they did, she’d still have high odds of getting another opportunity to do things differently. A lot of people did marriage more than once. She was lucky she didn’t have to deal with divorce in between.
Somehow the assurance didn’t make her feel better.
Chapter Twelve
Gwen sat at her dining room table, picking at her breakfast and staring at the sparkly engagement ring on her finger. She should finish her toast and get started on her to-do list. Mondays and Tuesdays were her equivalent of the weekend, except it was easier to run errands, because everything was open and most everyone else was at work.
She was still sorting her way through her thoughts. The diamond solitaire shined under the lights, winking at her as she rotated her hand. The gold was bright and untarnished. She wanted to feel elated. In theory she should. I’m engaged. To a wonderful man. Who didn’t hesitate to buy me one of the nicest rings in the mall jewelry store.
She tried to pick up the tab on the ring or at least split the bill. Brad’s furrowed brow and the ghost of anger that crossed his face at the suggestion made her back down in a way she wasn’t used to. He pointed out he was the groom; he’d buy the rings. And lucky her, the one they picked had been in her size, so she got to wear it home.
Now a myriad of emotions, so jumbled she couldn’t name most, danced in her skull. She should be happy. But this was for show.
But sometimes it felt real.
But that just meant they were doing a good job acting.
The argument grew in volume in her skull, until she had to bite back a scream.
She sighed and pushed away from the table. It was time to stop dancing in circles around something she already knew the answer to, and to use this engagement for its intended purpose, like Brad was—whom she only missed because she’d gotten used to having him around lately. Not because she enjoyed his company, the familiar touches, the way he kissed…
There was one surefire way to distract herself—do the thing she’d put off for a few days now. She grabbed her phone from where it sat next to her hand, taunting her, and dialed George’s number.
“Hey, Sis. I was just thinking about you.” His voice was pleasant and cheerful. Genuine. If he hadn’t spent the last several months trying to fleece her, she’d be tempted to ask if he wanted to meet for lunch. The way they used to.
“I bet.” She couldn’t force the same phoniness into her tone. Pretending was hard enough with Brad. Except it’s not. She shook the words aside. “Dreaming of all the places you’ll go on my dime?”
“That’s not fair. The kids need braces. I’d love to take them to Disney World this year. Don’t you want to see your
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