Page 54 of Yours, Forever

Words clashed and collided in my throat. I wanted to say that it was unfair, that I'd discover the ring of my dreams when I'd have to say goodbye to it and to him in the future sometime. Nothing came out.

Max held my hand firmer. "Hey. Don't panic, okay? Let me do this for you... for us."

He hijacked my lowering eyes with an intense gaze, so I couldn't help but to lock eyes with him. Resolve hid in the wrinkles of his irises, and it pulled some of it from down around my belly button.

"For tonight?" I asked.

"For every day we're together," he said.

He and I knew that meant for as long as it took for this ridiculous plan to come to fruition, but to Marcus and Amina it must have sounded endlessly romantic. It was easy to interpret the tone of his voice as'til death do us part.

We may not have been planning on forever, but we planned for tonight. I would give us tonight to show the world.

"This is the ring." This time, my voice resounded assertive between us. My hands didn't shake anymore.

"Wonderful." Marcus took my hand from Max's, and took my ring off. It already stung to let it go. "We'll get the right sizing done."

"Congratulations." Amina closed the velvet boxes that had held my options, and opened another one that had remained closed. "Shall we look at some bands?"

We ended up choosing a simple, solid band in the same pale gold metal alloy of the engagement ring. Amina finished sizing my ring finger.

"As for mine," Max said, "can I see the selection you chose based on the email I sent you?"

Amina opened the final velvet box, which held five bands all in very similar designs.

Marcus pushed the rings toward Max. "The one you wanted to see is the middle one, with two variations on each side in case you'd like to compare."

Max didn't hesitate; he took the middle ring and inspected it. "Just what I envisioned."

He leaned closer to me and showed me his pick. A black central band, with a copper-toned gold edge on each side. The black material was textured and slightly opaque, compared to the shiny metal rim.

"Do you like it?" He asked.

"It's a stunning ring."

"It's already sized for you, if you want to try it on," Marcus said.

Max arched an eyebrow in my direction. "Will you do the honors?"

He held the ring between two fingers and offered it to me. His cheeky yet charming smile won me over. I laughed.

"Unbelievable," I said, mostly to deflect, but took the ring regardless.

He held his left hand to me, fingers unwavering as I put the ring on.

"It fits perfectly," he said. "Should I take it?"

"If you like it—"

"I also want you to like it."

"I do."

"Then I'll take it." He gazed at Marcus and Amina. "We're done, right?"

"Yes. We'll send Eva's rings to get resized and we'll deliver them to your place by five."

"Thank you, Marcus. Amina. Put it all on my account, of course."