Page 125 of The Image of You

ALLY

Wrapped in Adam’s arms, I slept. He was beside me when I woke up, one hand busy on his laptop, while the other one rested on my arm.

“Hi,” I whispered.

His gaze flew to mine, and he shoved his laptop to the side. “Hey.”

“Don’t stop what you’re doing.”

“It’s fine. I just finished getting some documents from my lawyer. I’ll print them in a while.”

“What time is it?”

“Seven.”

I sat up, feeling more alert. “I slept that long?”

He nodded, smiling. “It did you good. Feel better?”

“Yes. Thank you for staying beside me.”

“There isn’t anywhere else I want to be.” He paused. “Are you up for this? We’ll leave soon.”

I drew in a deep breath. The truth was, I never wanted to see my mother again. Especially knowing the depths of her deception. Bradley either. He had lied to my face for months. But I knew I had to face them. Show them I knew the truth and they had lost. With Adam beside me, I could do it. “I have to be. With you there, I can be brave and do this.”

“You are brave. You always have been.” He tilted his head, his voice becoming low and soothing. “I have something that might help.” He furrowed his brow. “I think, anyway.”

“Oh?”

He pressed a small box into my hand. “This has been waiting for you.”

I stared at the tiny leather box. My hands shook as I opened it. The light caught the delicate diamonds that were scattered around the intricately designed ring. “How?” I gasped.

“Mr. Freedman dropped it off. I kept it for you.”

Tears filled my eyes. “You kept it?”

“Of course I did. I gave it to you the same way I gave you my heart. It’s yours. Forever.” He assured me.

“You still—” I swallowed “—you still want to marry me?”

He nodded firmly. “As soon as we can. I’d marry you tonight if I could.” He hesitated. “If that’s what you want. If you want to marry me.”

“I do, Adam. More than ever.”

He tugged on my hand and slipped the ring on to my finger. “Then wear this. We’ll face them together with you wearing my ring.”

We looked down at the shining symbol of his love. “It’s perfect,” I whispered.

“It’s not as, ah, showy as…” Adam’s voice trailed off.

“I don’t want showy. I was never comfortable with that one.” I rubbed my finger over the surface of the gold. “I would pick this ring over any other ring in the world.”

“Ally.” His voice was nervous—a tone I wasn’t used to hearing from Adam. I looked up into his anxious gaze.

“Did you know, hundreds of years ago—even longer—a marriage was a simple exchange of vows between two people? No pomp or ceremony. No other guests. It was a private moment.”

My breath caught in my throat. “No.”