Page 53 of Yours, Forever

His eyes softened, and I held his gaze.

He didn't get to say anything when Marcus, a sophisticated Black man came back with Amina. They carried several trays with rings.

Marcus greeted Max with a wide smile, and introduced himself to me with as much charm as Max showed me every day.

"What kind of engagement ring are you looking for?" He asked.

"I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about it, to be honest." I gazed at Max. "All I know is I don't want it to be too big."

Max nodded. "I think something with a low profile would fit you best, too, considering your job."

"What do you do?" Amina asked.

"I'm a coffee shop owner back in Laguna Island, a small town on the West coast."

"That sounds lovely. There's something magical about the Pacific, isn't there?" Marcus asked without a hint of condescension.

I perked up. "It's honestly beautiful."

"And the coffee at her place is incredible." Max leaned forward, already peering at the options. "She keeps busy, though, so a ring that won't catch on things while she's working might be best."

Nerves wanted to show up in my stomach again, at the fact he'd thought about it. I pushed them away. I would have a lovely night.

"Makes sense," Amina put a flat tray in front of us, then put three rings on it for us to look at. "These are some options to get us started."

One of the rings caught my eye and I picked it up. We discussed some variations I'd like to see, all while I wrangled tension in my gut.

"I think you're describing a ring we have in a special collection." Marcus exchanged a look with Amina. "You know the one? I'll go get it."

He came back within a few minutes with a velvet box he opened in front of me. A ring with a central round stone shoneat me, blue and gorgeous, with several smaller white and light blue stones cascading from it at the sides. Like water droplets catching on the band, organic and delicate looking despite the hardness of stone and metal.

"It's a sapphire engagement ring in a low profile, semi bezel head, with diamond and topaz ornamentation in the shank."

I could barely make out the words, too technical for me anyway. I took the box, incapable of more than shallow breaths.

Max leaned closer to me. "It's beautiful. Do you like it?"

I nodded.

"Then try it on."

I took it out of the box with trembling hands. Max didn't say anything about the tremors, but he took it from me.

"Let me help you." He took my left hand in a gentle hold and put the ring on. We both stared at it. "It looks perfect on your finger."

It did. My breathing, still shallow, quickened.

"I think it's a bit tight," I said.

"If she wants it, can we put a rush order to have it done in a few hours?" Max asked, my hand still in his. "We would need it by five."

"Of course, Max. We'll make it happen for you."

My heart, lost and confused, decided that beating from my clavicles was the right move.

Max gazed at my hand again. His thumb did a slow, warm arch on my skin. He continued to stare at the ring on my finger, but lifted his eyes up to me after a while.

"Is this the ring?" he asked.