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I was accustomed to jealousy, the green-eyed monster that reared its ugly head whenever someone so much as looked at Courtney the wrong way. But this was different. This was someone from our past who knew us and could potentially harm us. The jealousy I felt was laced with fear, a potent cocktail that left a sour taste in my mouth.
My mind tumbled as I envisioned Courtney meeting Tyree. What if she had to go to Seattle? What if Tyree managed to convince her of his good intentions, and they actually hit it off?
The thought was unbearable, driving me to the point of desperation. I yearned for control, for a way to protect Courtney from this imminent danger. But the uncertainty of it all, the potential harm that could befall her—it terrified me to my very core.
I paced the room, the echo of my steps in the silent penthouse were annoying. I halted, my hands clenched and unclenched at my sides, my heart pounding. "Brad," I muttered, my voice resonating in the eerie quiet. "This place feels like a damn icebox." I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. It did feel like a cage, its opulence irrelevant against the coldness seeping into my bones. "It's as if I'm imprisoned, trapped in my own thoughts and fears."
A heavy sigh left my lips as I gazed out of the large glass windows at the city below, twinkling lights mocking the darkness within me. But even in this cold silence, there was one thing, one person, who ignited a spark within me—Courtney.
Midnight was approaching, and a realization hit me at that moment, crashing over me like a wave.
"I love her," I stated, the words solidifying my resolve and filling me with newfound strength. "And I will do whatever it takes to protect her." The quiet of the penthouse absorbed my vow, a silent witness to my determination.
Sitting on the leather couch, I let my gaze wander over to the small table beside it. There, tucked away in a drawer, was a small velvet box. It was a gift I'd bought months ago after our trip to Yosemite, but had never found the perfect time to present its contents to Courtney.
"It's time," I told myself, the words hanging in the void of my isolation. "She needs to know how serious I am about her... about us."
I went over to the table, my heart pounding as I pulled open the drawer. The box was just as I'd left it, unopened, untouched. I lifted it out, feeling the weight of it, the promise it held.
Inside was a ring—a simple yet elegant diamond ring. It symbolized my commitment to Courtney—a promise of love and protection.
As I gazed at the ring, rotating it in my palms, I made a firm decision and told myself, "It's time, Brad. You're going to pop the question to Courtney.”
As the reality of my decision sunk in, a rush of emotions overwhelmed me. There was fear, yes, but also a sense of joy, of anticipation. I was going to ask Courtney to be my wife. I was going to do everything I could to keep her safe, to protect her from Tyree.
While gazing at the ring, I vowed that Courtney would become my fiancée. “She will meet Tyree with this very ring on her finger.”
My thumb brushed over the diamond, its cool surface providing a calming effect. My heart beating in sync with Courtney's name. I couldn't wait to see the surprise and delight in her eyes when I asked her to marry me.
With a deep breath, I picked up my phone, dialing the one number that was etched in my mind when I had set up her flip phone. The ringtone echoed in my ear before it was replaced by the soft sound of her voice.
"Hello?" Courtney's voice came over the line, and even a single word was like a balm to my soul.
"Hey, beautiful," I said, my voice laced with the depth of my emotions. "I just... I wanted to say goodnight.”
A soft chuckle danced to my ears. "Well, goodnight, Brad," she responded, a soothing melody imbuing my solitude. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything is fine," I reassured her, staring at the ring in my hand. "I only…I wanted to hear your voice. I wanted to tell you that I love you, that you mean the world to me."
There was silence on the other end before Courtney's voice came over the line, soft and gentle. "I love you too, Brad," she said, the words resonating in my heart. "More than you know."
I closed my eyes, allowing the sincerity of her words to sink in. "I'll see you tomorrow, Courtney," I said, the anticipation of the future tingling in my veins.
"Goodnight, Brad," she responded, the call ending with a soft click.
Placing my phone down, I looked at the ring again. The soft glow of the diamond under the dim light was a beacon of hope, of love, of a future with Courtney.
After a moment, I placed it back in its box, tucking it away safely in the drawer. I'd present it to her soon, and until then, it was our little secret—a promise of a future that was yet to unfold.
I rose from the couch, walking out to the lounge chair, offering a panoramic cityscape view. The city's twinkling lights reminded me of the stars under which Courtney and I had spent countless nights dreaming of a future together.
Sighing I reclined in the chair, my mind filled with thoughts of Courtney, of love, of an engagement ring, and of a future that was a blend of fear and excitement. Sleep slowly crept up on me, wrapping me in a blanket of anticipation and an intensifying romance.
Before drifting off eventually, I felt excited about the future and the unknown. I was curious how Courtney would feel about moving in with me before I remembered she was going back to school after the first of the year—another hurdle to navigate!
ChapterThirteen
Courtney
