Page 141 of Protecting You

And then, her sisters and cousins shifted out of the way, and Dad pushed through the throng.

He stopped in front of Callan, a little too close. “Why haven’t you told your daughter?”

Callan stiffened, glaring—actuallyglaring—at Dad.

Nobody stood up to him like that.

She jumped in. “His father had a heart attack, so?—”

“That’s my business, sir.” Callan squeezed her hand but didn’t look away from Dad.

Who stepped closer—far too close for a social situation. “Too cheap to buy her a ring?”

“Dad, we’re waiting until?—”

“Of course not.” Callan slipped his hand into his sports coat and pulled out a box.

What in the world?

He turned his back on Dad—another thing most people didn’t dare to do—and faced Alyssa.

What was happening?

He opened the box and…

Her hand flew to her mouth, covering her gasp.

Three diamonds. She didn’t know carats from carrots, but the center stone was big, and the two at its side were only marginally smaller. Baguettes adorned the band. The silver-colored metal was probably platinum.

It was the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen.

“When did you…?”

“It was my great-grandmother’s. If you don’t like it, we can get you a new one, but?—”

“No, it’s perfect.” Tears stung her eyes, as if this were real. As if it could ever be.

He slipped it onto her finger. It fit perfectly, which wasn’t a sign. Of course it wasn’t.

But in that moment, the smallest hint of truth slipped past her defenses.

She wished it were a sign. Wished it were real.

Mom and her sisters bent closer to look.

“It’s dazzling.” Mom’s eyes were swimming when she lifted her gaze to Alyssa. “Just like you.” She squeezed Alyssa’s arm, then pulled Callan into a hug, whispering something into his ear.

Meanwhile, Brooklynn was snapping pictures, capturing their lies for all eternity.

“Come on,” her cousin Derrick yelled. “That deserves a kiss.”

Alyssa’s cheeks pinked, and she looked up at Callan, unsure what to do.

His quick peck on her lips was met with boos.

“You can do better than that!” That came from the second-youngest cousin, Bryan. Weren’t they supposed to be grown men now? Derrick had a kid, for crying out loud.

Callan’s eyebrows hiked.

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