He could do that.
Staring down into the case, there were two shiny gold rings side-by-side, and they were simple.
They would make a statement but not scream to get too much attention.
That was perfect.
Why?
Because they were a matched set—like them.
“Can I see those?” he asked, hoping he could make this work. They looked different sizes, which was common. A husband’s finger tended to be bigger than a wife’s, and Gene’s fingers were definitely thicker than Ethan’s.
In his head, he was praying, but he was also going to take it as another sign if they worked out.
Gene was a simple guy, but the idea of a promise ring to lock them into marriage one day made him so incredibly happy. Ethan deserved that joy, too.
As he was thinking about giving Ethan a ring, the sales lady was yapping about something regarding sizing, but he didn’t go there. All he wanted was to hold those rings and hope they would be perfect without alterations.
“I’ll worry about that after,” he said. “Can I see them?” he asked again.
This time, she pulled them out, and he held them in his palm. They shined in their pristine gold and called to him.
When he went to try one on, it fit perfectly. The second one fit his pinkie, and he knew that was the size of Ethan’s ring finger.
“Do you need them sized?”
He shook his head.
“No, they are perfect. I’ll take them,” he said, his heart thumping in his chest. The universe was driving this bus, and he wanted nothing more than to stay on that ride.
Right to Marriage-ville.
“I don’t need them sized.”
She looked confused.
“They seem to be both male sizes. That’s a pretty big ring. Maybe you should bring her in and…”
He stopped her.
“It’s not a she. It’s a he, and I know what his fingers look like. It will fit him.”
She blinked.
“Oh, okay,” she said.
Gene didn’t care what she was thinking. This was a defining moment in his life.
So, he dropped his credit card onto the counter and waited for her to ring them up. Then, he signed, slipped the box into his pocket, and then headed out.
He’d be lying if he said there wasn’t a spring in his step as his heart overflowed with joy.
Now, all he had to do was give the ring to Ethan and see if he felt the same.
Words were one thing, but action…that would say it all.
Outside of the shop, Gene kept heading toward the fax place. All in all, it took twenty minutes, and he might just be able to get back to Ethan without him suspecting anything.
