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I shake my head. Just being in here is bringing back bad memories.
Elizabeth doesn’t seem all that bothered by my absence. In fact, she and the store clerk hook arms like long-lost best friends and skip through the rings on display.
I leave and head to the phone store. The technician is more than happy to prioritize my ticket when I slide an extra hundred over the counter.
With Elizabeth’s fixed phone in a bag, I head back to the jewellery store twenty minutes later and find her just about to walk out.
“You got what you wanted?”
She nods and hands me back the card. “Want to see it?” She lifts a hand, flashing a well-crafted, modest ring at me. It suits her. “Isn’t it pretty?”
For a moment, instead of her face, I see Lana’s. “Isn’t it pretty, Broge?”
Something cold washes over me.
Scowling, I hand her the bag and push out a gruff, “Let’s go.”
Elizabeth’s stare burns into my back, but I don’t care.
She can handle her feelings on her own and I’ll take care of mine. There won’t be any caring between us. No friendship. Nothing. I know where all those soft, seemingly innocent feelings can lead.
Getting stabbed in the back once was enough.
I’m not making the same mistake twice.
Eight
Elizabeth
I lift my ring hand as I lie in bed that night. The diamond sparkles beautifully. It’s stunning. Not too big and not too small either. I spent an eternity in indecision until I saw this. Then I just… I knew.
Rolling over, I stare at my empty bed.
My first night as a married woman has been… underwhelming.
Which is fine.
Great, really.
I’m a low-key person.
An introverted extrovert. I like being social and having company in small doses, but I am equally at peace with being alone.
Of course.
I’ve been sleeping alone most of my life.
It’s just…
In my heart of hearts, when I imagined getting married—on the off-chance that I ever did find someone who could keep it in his pants and be faithful to only me—it never looked like this.
Cold.
Empty.
Gruff.
So… so gruff.
