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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!
Chapter Thirteen
Courtney
Wrapped in the comforting embrace of my quilt, I was sprawled on the bed in my new loft, struggling to shoo away the relentless tide of thoughts. My mind was a carousel of past, present, and future, spinning around so fast it made me dizzy. One minute, I was ruminating about school. The next fretting about my dad, and in the thick of it all, there was Brad's soothing voice, a balm to my tumultuous thoughts.
The decision to drop out of school was daunting, like standing at the edge of a high cliff with no safety net. The fear was palpable, the future uncertain. The thought of an unpleasant conversation with my father was one thing, but I couldn't let myself forget the real bogeyman behind my fear was Clint.
I couldn't evade him forever! My racing mind was finally stilled when the early morning light seeped in through the window, illuminating the room and reminding me that I was another day closer to making that call.
On the branch of a tree just outside my window, a lone cardinal perched, its bright plumage stark against the grey morning sky. I watched, mesmerized, as it flapped its wings and took flight, disappearing into the dawn.
A pang of melancholy shot through me. The sight of the bird evoked memories of my mom, who'd been gone for 16 long years. She used to tell me that cardinals were messengers, guiding us to stay true to ourselves.
As I watched the bird take flight, I made a silent vow to myself. I would face these challenges head-on and stay true to my own path. And if that path led to some future misery, well then, I'd only have myself to blame for my poor decisions. But not today. Today was all about authenticity and my desire for—pancakes.
My flip phone buzzed, jotting me from my thoughts. I quickly looked for it on my nightstand and saw that Brad was calling me. Seeing his name on the screen made me feel a bit better and relieved some of my anxiety.
"Brad," I croaked out, my voice hoarse from lack of sleep.
"Courtney," his tone was soothing, a caress of warmth over my chest's cold knot of worry. "I thought we could have breakfast together there at your loft. I want to talk about...about your plans. Your future."
My heart skipped a beat. He wanted to talk about school, about my decision to leave, and possibly, my return. "Are you a mind reader?" I replied, giggling. "Breakfast sounds scrumptious."
