Page 34 of The Write Track
“Ah, such a good question,” Hayley drawled.
“He won’t back down,” Nathan continued. “He keeps gaslighting Bella, says he’s going to therapy and stuff.”
A collective eye roll spread across the table, and it almost made me laugh.
“Bella panicked and told him we were engaged,” Nathan added.
Heat flushed my cheeks as all eyes turned to me. “It wasn’t my finest moment,” was all I could come up with.
“So, wait, are you guys suddenly engaged?” Brody asked, looking bewildered as he pinned his best friend with a questioning look. “Don’t you think that’s taking it a step too far?”
“Nope.” Nathan shook his head. “We’re trying to get this guy to back down. He doesn’t want to be here, but something tells me he’s at least renting a place here in town.”
“More likely out at The Landings,” Hayley countered. “That strikes me as something that would appeal to him more since you have to spend thirty grand just to get to play with the others at those restaurants.”
Nathan hesitated then flicked his eyes to me. “She has a point.”
“I don’t think he has a place down here,” I insisted. “He loves staying in hotels. He once told me that was his idea of heaven. He wanted to live in a hotel as an adult for the entirety of his life. He loves the idea of room service whenever he wants.”
“That also sounds like something he would do,” Hayley acknowledged.
“Yeah.” Nathan scratched his cheek. “It’s something to consider.” He was silent for several seconds then shook his head. “It doesn’t matter where he’s staying, just that he’s here to harass Bella. We need to make sure he doesn’t get his way.”
“And how are you going to do that?” Bree asked. “You can’t be with her every hour of the day.”
“No, but we all know he’s going to make his move at the retreat, which is right around the corner.”
“Oh, right.” Brody bobbed his head. “I didn’t even think about that, but you’re right.”
“The plan is simple,” Nathan announced, removing a small velvet drawstring bag from his pocket and procuring a beautiful, if understated, diamond ring from it.
My mouth went dry. Did he buy an engagement ring? There was no way. He wouldn’t do something that foolish. Who would throw money away like that?
“He noticed that Bella wasn’t wearing a ring when he first saw her,” Nathan continued as if he were talking about the box score for his favorite team. He didn’t seem bothered. “She lied and said it was being sized, so I have solved the engagement ring dilemma.”
He reached for my hand but I snatched it back. “What are you doing?” I hissed, glancing around. This felt so… I couldn’t even come up with the right word. How exactly did it feel?
“Stop being a baby,” Nathan chided, smoothly capturing my left hand. The ring slid on as if it had always belonged there. “Huh,” he said, staring at it for a moment once it was in place. “I thought maybe it wouldn’t fit. My mother had freakishly small hands.”
My mouth went dry. “Your mother?” Wait, was this his mother’s ring?
Nathan graced me with an amused look. “Did you think I was going to buy a new ring? Um, I want to be helpful, but that’s a bridge too far.” He laughed. Brody joined in. Bree and Hayley just stared at me, seemingly understanding what I was going through.
“Of course I didn’t expect you to get a ring,” I scoffed. “I would never. I just… this is your mother’s ring.” I moved to take it off. “I don’t want to disrespect the ring. You should keep this someplace safe.”
“It has been someplace safe,” Nathan replied, his hand landing on top of mine. “Stop. The ring has been locked away for years, since she died.”
“Which was when?”
He hesitated then shrugged. “I was sixteen. All her stuff went to me. My father told me to pack away what I wanted—but nottoo much because it would clutter the house—and then he tossed everything else. I protected the ring from him.”
“But… you should keep it for whoever you’re going to marry,” I replied darkly.
He almost looked sad when he shook his head. “That’s a long way down the line. My mother would want me to use this ring to help someone else. It was one of her favorite things, and she was keen on helping the downtrodden.” He caught himself immediately. “Not that you’re downtrodden or anything.”
“It’s not that. I kind of am downtrodden. It’s just… it’s your mother’s ring.”
His hand tightened on mine in tandem with his gaze. “You need a ring. You rightfully pointed out that Preston would spot a fake diamond. This diamond is real, and there’s sentimental value attached to the setting, even though it’s not that big. I think he’ll believe it.”
