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But I also know it’s because of Clara. And if I can offer even a small amount of comfort, then I’ll gladly do it.
When the song ends, when our voices go quiet, Winter opens her eyes. “Hold me?”
I place the guitar on the carpet and crawl over her, wrapping her up tight. Winter’s rarely emotionally needy, but I love that it’s me and not always Brecken who gets to be the salve. Somehow, I soothe away her glum mood.
None of what we offer Winter is mutually exclusive, but by and large Luca meets her intellectual needs. Brecken is there to protect and adore. I play with her, whether that’s in memory of a sister, telling shit jokes, or teasing her so hard she’s beyond distracted.
Winter needs an empire of kings to care for her, and together, that’s what we’ll deliver.
Burrowing her face in my neck, she inhales my cologne. “I can’t wait to marry you all,” she whispers.
Gently, my hands splay across her back, holding her close. “Same.”
“What about this one?”I ask Winter, pointing to a different, but very similar eternity diamond ring.
In my opinion, we’re in the best jeweler Aspen has, and while I thought about surprising her, I think she should at least point out a few favorites. After that, the final decision can be mine.
“Haven’t you shown me that one already?”
“No,” I answer, smiling. “That was this one,” I say, pointing to the seventeenth ring we’ve picked up and looked at on her ring finger. It’s a tough decision because we need all three rings to fit on her finger permanently. There’s no point in having a ridiculously large, pear-shaped engagement ring if the wedding band and eternity ring can’t fit on her finger alongside it. And there’s no way I’m not being represented on her hand.
“I like them all,” Winter murmurs.
“Unhelpful,” I deadpan.
“Sorry,” she says giggling, the sales assistant—Andy—grinning toothily. If the guy’s on commission, he’s going to make one hell of a sale today. Naturally, he’s been showing us rings with the best clarity, cut, color, and all that jazz. I really don’t think Winter cares, but I do. I want it to be the sparkliest bling on her hand.
“We don’t have to decide today,” she reminds me.
“Yeah, we do,” I respond. I might have to wait until I get it on her finger, but I can at least have it bought and paid for, tucked away inside our vault. It can sit next to her and Brecken's wedding rings.
“Why don’t you go wait outside for a sec? I just want to finish up here.”
Sweeping her eyes across the rings one final time, she stands from the luxury, cushioned seat. Leaving the booth where we’re tucked away, a kind of private sales room, a security guard opens the door for her. Exiting, she peers at me over her shoulder, and then she turns right, heading towards an adjacent boutique.
I finish up with Andy, choosing the best ring he has. Once he’s boxed it up, I collect the birthday present me and my brothers commissioned for Winter.
I hope she likes it. She should. Aside from it being totally unique, we’ve never bought anything remotely expensive for anyone else.
Outside, Winter has pulled on a gray woolen hat with a powder blue bobble. I know why she wears them. Buys them. I understand the huge significance each hat brings her.
The gifts are tucked up in a rucksack on my back, so Winter’s none the wiser about what I may or may not have bought her.
While we walk back to the hotel, I call Luca. He answers immediately.
“You on your way back?”
“Yup. Five minutes out.”
“Did you buy a ring?”
“Affirmative.”
A soft laugh. “Did she pick it out?”
“Like hell she did,” I grumble into the phone, hoping Winter can’t hear me.
A soft laugh. “Figures. She hates us spoiling her.”
