Page 118 of Never To Suffer

“She told you about that?”

“Doc, she’s used it on me.” He laughs again, shaking his head until I leave a dozen more kisses on his lips. He tastes like coffee and caramel, his drink of choice. “So, what is it?”

His hand dips under the couch cushion that’s holding his head up, pulling out a small red box. It’s worn and tattered, traces of velvet clinging on in a last-ditch effort to remind people what the box had once looked like. He opens the box, but it’s facing him so I can’t see what’s inside, only the glimmer of tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

The second he turns the box around, I’m pretty sure my heart stops. I’ve seen the ring before on the man who wore it last. I can’t take my eyes off it as my mind goes blank and eyes well with tears.

“Xander, we haven’t been together long—six months—but it doesn’t need to be long when you know the person is right. You’ve brought back a spark I didn’t think could ever catch again and turned it into a raging fire that could swallow the sun.” He licks his lips, and I swipe away the tear from his cheek. “I don’t care how the presentation goes tomorrow. I don’t care if you come back with promises of millions, or a rejection and months more work ahead of you. I just want you to come back. Always.”

“I… We…”

He takes the ring out of the box and slips it over my finger. It fits like it was made for me. Maybe he’s right, maybe his lost love’s ghostisinside of me. Reincarnation, but well after I was born.

“I don’t care if it’s official or only between us, just say yes. Please?”

“Yeah. I mean, yes. I mean, fuck yes!”

He pulls my face to his and we clash so hard we lose our balance and fall off the couch, still kissing. Still laughing. Still so deeply in love.

“I can’t wait to show Dani.” My face drops and panic comes rushing back. “Shit, what if this pisses her off again?”

“I already told her about it. Sky knew first. I hid the ring up high and that shit saw it. Both of them were over the moon happy. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re waiting in the other room for you, or listening in on us right now.”

I hurry to my knees and peek over the top of the couch, and sure enough, they’re at the doorway, waving and giving me a thumbs up.

“Well, come over here, jerks. I’m pretty sure I just got engaged!”

Why the hell did nature decide an appropriate response to stress needed to involve sweating? That only makes it worse, and yet that’s the response evolution decided to keep around instead of adapting to produce the scent of lavender or something relaxing? Sometimes, I agree with Skylar’s concept when they wax on and on about Loki being the true god of the universe we live in. It explains so damn much about anatomy and bodily functions. I wipe my hand on my pants for the tenth time when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance up at the door. Maybe I should walk out, maybe this was a terrible idea. Pulling it out and trying to check without looking like I’m playing on my phone is difficult, but I pull it off. It’s worth the risk as I stare down at a picture of the people I love holding a sign that says, ‘You’ve got this, baby!’

It couldn’t come at a better time.

“You must be Xander Maxwell.” A tall guy with a goatee and glasses says as he heads toward me. I stand up, taking his hand when offered. “I’m Miguel. Come on up, we’ve got the team ready for you.”

“The team? Great, that’s…good.”

“Hey, I wanted to ask, are you related to the Maxwells?”

“Uhm, will it help or hinder this presentation?”

“Neither.”

“Okay, yeah. I’m their son. Sort of.”

He stops, turning to give me a look I’ve seen too many times in my life. “Are they not interested? I assume you’d give them first denial?”

“I didn’t. I didn’t give them anything, honestly. They’re in the dark about the project, and I don’t want them involved in any way. Long story, but we're kind of estranged.”

He smirks, swipes his badge, and presses the button. I’m expecting him to tell me to leave, to say I’m an idiot and toss me out. “Ballsy. I like that. Sorry to hear about the family troubles, but it happens to the best of us.”

“Yeah? I’m thinking of a name change, to keep it separated.”

“Oh, yeah? Probably a solid move. What are you thinking?”

“Not sure.” My finger brushes against the phone in my pocket. “I've been playing around with Clay and Silva.”

He thinks it over as the elevator climbs to the top of the high-rise, and as we walk toward the conference room, he turns. “What about Silva Clay Enterprises? There’s a ring to it, and it flows better as a name with Silva reference first.” He winks and holds the door open for me.

“Yeah, it does.”

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