Page 22 of Ring Me

“You're saying you'd turn down dessert?”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I laughed heartily. “We definitely need to get to know each other better. I never turn down dessert.”

He tapped his temple. “I'm taking notes. I'll know everything about you soon enough, Maya.”

My damn heart kicked my ribs. “Fontine. That's my last name.”

He slowed down, holding the door open for me. “Whynn.”

“Win?” I giggled. “Your last name is Win?”

“W-h-y-n-n. But yeah.”

“That's ridiculous.”

“Don't knock it too hard. It'll be your last name soon enough, remember?”

The blood drained from my face; I saw my pale reflection in the glass doors as they swung shut behind me, the cool air outside a massive relief. “Not really, though,” I mumbled.

Conner watched me closely as we walked towards his yellow Mustang that he'd driven us to the mall in. It was parked on the curb, the setting sun turning the vibrant paint orange. “Right,” he said, opening the door for me. “It's just pretend.”

I was trembling when I sat in the passenger seat. Suddenly, dessert didn't sound so good. I'd been worrying about convincing Conner to play along for my mother's sake... but what if I was the one who couldn't keep the lie going?

****

HE DROVE US TO A CUTEice cream shop that overlooked the Cumberland river. There were tiny lights strung up on the white roof, around the outdoor seating area, and around the trunks of the potted red maple trees. The crisp breeze, normally a relief in the humid weather, made me shiver.

“Here,” he said, draping his heavy jean jacket around my shoulders. I tugged it close, smiling thankfully. “I hope it's not too cold for ice cream.”

“Never,” I said flatly.

He laughed as he propped an arm on the outdoor window of the store. “Hey there, can I get a caramel-chunk scoop on a dunked cone, and then whatever the lovely lady wants.”

“Cherry and lavender, mixed in a cup,” I said.

He sat next to me at a tiny table. The wind brushed through his hair, moving the thick pieces that weren't cropped short. I loved his hair. It managed to be both wild and stylish at the same time.

“Is that your favorite flavor?” he asked.

I dipped my plastic spoon into my ice cream, sucking on it hungrily. “Guilty. What about you?”

Conner leaned towards me, licking the pink scoop, holding eye contact with me as he did it. “Cherry is quickly becoming my favorite, too.”

Overwhelmed by his flirting, I fumbled with my cup of ice cream. “Ah! Dammit!” It toppled to the ground at my feet but amazingly it didn't spill.

“I'll get it,” he said, crouching down on the wooden floor boards.

“Thanks. Sorry.” I hoped he didn't think my reaction was stupid. The little compliments he made were harder to handle than the dirty things we'd done in the hotel room.

Why was he still on the ground?

“You okay down there?” I asked, watching his bent head and flexing, broad back. It was all I could see.

“I was just looking for something. I found it.” Settling onto one knee, Conner grinned up at me. His blue eyes were smoldering so intensely I didn't notice the ring box in his hands at first.

My muscles went stiff. Around me, I heard the happy murmur of the other guests. They were in the middle of a show. I remembered the times I'd been out dining, and I'd witnessed a young man propose to his girlfriend, watched her jump up and down cheering out Yes yes yes!

“Maya?” Conner whispered.

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