Page 73 of Always Been You
Lawliss
Three days later, and I’m still sick. Sicker than I’ve ever been in my adult life. It's a good thing my sisters and I have our annual check-up today.
Eddie’s nagging is getting worse—he’s turning into Mum. I get it, though. He loves me. He cares. And after watching his parents die right in front of him, I know he’s terrified of losing someone else he loves. But I’m fine.
Probably just not eating well. Or drinking enough water. Nothing major. But tell that to Eddie. The broody, ruthless, don’t fuck with me man-child who runs boardrooms like a king is babying me like I might pass out at any second.
Not that I mind. I like being the center of his world. Actually, I love it. But I’m still scared. What if he lies? What if he betrays me? What if he does something I can’t forgive?
But then I look down at my hand.
The ring is ridiculous. It’s huge. Flashy. A massive emerald-cut diamond set in black ceramic because, of course, Eddie would make sure my engagement ring stands out. But it’s not just that.
It’s the inside of the band.
Ed & Lynx forever.
I rub my thumb over the engraving, and my heart does that annoying little flip thing. He calls me Lynx because of my eyes, because I remind him of something fierce. But if he knew how fragile I feel sometimes, he’d probably hold on even tighter.
I still can’t believe he proposed. The yacht. The purple candles. The way the city lights hit the water making it feel like we were floating in the middle of nowhere, just the two of us.
And Eddie—the Eddie Montgomery—one of the youngest chairmen in history, the man who doesn’t blink in the face of billion-dollar deals or enemies plotting his downfall, actually shook when he reached for the ring.
I breathe out slowly, turning the ring between my fingers.
I love him. More than I’ve ever loved anyone.
And maybe... just maybe... I don’t want to move back to my own place.
Maybe home isn’t a place at all. Maybe it’s him.
“You’re late.” The voice is all too familiar, and before I even look up, I instinctively raise a finger to my ear, signaling that she’s making noise. But Elisa doesn’t take the hint. Instead, she shrieks.
“OH. MY. GOD! A ring! You got engaged!”
I barely have time to react before she grabs my hand, eyes locked on the ring. I rush to pull her aside, lowering my voice.
“Elisa, we’re in a hospital,” I chide softly.
She nods, but she’s already dragging me down the corridor, her grip firm. “When did this happen?”
“Three days ago.”
She goes silent for a beat, just blinking. Then, suddenly, there are tears in her eyes.
“Hey…” I start, but she shakes her head quickly, wiping at her face.
“It’s just…” She takes a breath. “I was always so happy that one of us had found love. Out of the four of us, you were the only one married. And even though I had my doubts about your ex—he was kind of a douche, especially with the way he looked at Lauren and me—I really wanted it to work for you. And then he cheated, and you got divorced, and it felt like we were all back at square one, like none of us could get it right.”
Her voice wavers, and she wipes at her cheek again. “But now, seeing you with Edmund, seeing how happy you are..." She shakes her head. “Jeez. What’s wrong with me?”
“Come here.” I pull her into a hug, squeezing her tight.
“It’ll all be fine,” I murmur, and she nods against my shoulder.
Elisa’s been trying so hard to live differently since her breakup—the one none of us really know the full story behind. If she’s not traveling for work, she’s traveling for fun, always moving, always searching. But deep down, she’s still the romantic. And this moment, this speech just proves it.
“What did I miss?”
