Page 9 of Conveniently Theirs

As we head toward the hotel lobby, I ask, “Are we making a spectacle of ourselves by using that huge limo? Is there even room for such a big car in parking lots?”

Josh’s laugh rings through the wide, open space. “No, darlin’. No limo today. Keeping it low key.” He digs in his pocket and shows me a set of keys. “Rental. Just a plain, old regular sedan. I was just trying to impress you yesterday.”

Devin’s laughter joins his. “That’s bull and you know it, babe. Keni doesn’t need impressing.”

“True that,” I say. “If something like a fancy car is supposed to impress me it was wasted effort. I’m a sedan kinda girl, you know.”

Laughing, we join arms and make our way to theparking garage and a pretty fancy, late model, all the bells and whistles, four door car.

First stop is the clerk’s office. Getting the license is as easy as predicted. The clerk seemed bored by the whole thing and as we head toward a jewelry shop we make up stories about the different couples a clerk might see in a single day. That helps me keep my mind off my own story and what kind of ending we’re going to be able to write for ourselves.

Josh and I begin the ring selection process—difficult for me possibly because that’s one thing I’d never included in my wedding daydreams. I have no clue what shape of stone I like best, and Josh insists I have at least one large gem.

He stands facing me at the sparkling glass counter, hands on his hips. “What’s the point of having money if you don’t show it off at least occasionally. No man in my position would allow his bride to be bare fingered. Flash and a bit of glitz, darlin’. That’s what we need to pull this off.”

“Fine,” I grumble. “But no big diamonds.”

“Pick a gem you like, Keni. It’s not the ring itself, but what it stands for.”

Wondering what kind of meaning he’s assigning to the ring, I study the velvet tray of stones thesalesman sets on the counter. He points to gems of a variety of colors at one side.

“Most people don’t realize that sapphires can be more than just blue. They’re naturally occurring in every color except red.”

“Why not red?” Josh asks as he pushes the stones around with the back of his knuckle.

“Ah.” The salesman lifts one finger in a didactic manner. “The red form of corundum is the ruby.”

I shrug one shoulder. It really doesn’t matter to me about the ring. “I like sapphires.”

Devin escapes the woman flirting with him at another counter and leans over Josh’s shoulder to study the stones. He separates a large pink stone. “This one,” he says before stepping away again.

The salesman nods. “This is a high quality fancy sapphire in a pink coloration. Excellent choice.”

“How long will it take to set in a ring?” Josh crosses his arms like he’s ready to do battle. I bite back a grin.

“Our designer is in house. Depending on the number of stones, and the setting, no more than a couple hours.”

Devin’s presence at my side is instantly calming. I don’t know why picking shiny pretty things is making me so uptight. Okay, yeah, I do know why. Ijust don’t want to recognize the longing and give it a name. “What do you think?” I ask him.

His smirk makes Josh laugh. “Come on, Devin. You know you’re the one with the best fashion sense of the three of us. Don’t hold back now.”

He holds Josh’s gaze as he speaks and takes my hand so I’m included. “I think three stones. All of a similar size. The color doesn’t matter so much. Pick what you like and see how it goes with the pink sapphire.”

“Ladies first,” Josh says and I give him a dirty look.

“I don’t need to choose. Devin did that for me already. The pink.”

Devin moves a yellow gem next to the pink. “How’s that?”

With a fake groan, Josh leans closer to the stones making the salesman hover his hand closer to the tray. “I like the traditional blue sapphire, but since the other stones are more pastel…” Chewing on the inside of his cheek, he carefully separates the gems. “How about this lighter blue?”

Once he pushes the three stones together I know it’s right. This ring isn’t just about me and him. This way we include Devin as well. Probably soundinglike the bride I’m going to be, I sigh. “I like that. It’s perfect.”

We take a few more minutes to pick out an appropriate setting, then while the designer gets to work, we choose three narrow, platinum bands, two with a brushed surface and one shiny to match my ring. The salesman’s confused frown at our purchase doesn’t surprise me. I’ll be fake marrying Josh. He’s committed his life and his love to Devin. So in a way, I’m also committing myself to Devin. The rings will remind us all of what I can’t say out loud.

We grab a quick lunch then drop Josh back at the hotel. He claims he’s got stuff to do, but I know the only reason he isn’t tagging along on the shopping trip is because Devin has told him repeatedly he’s not allowed to see my outfit until we’re ready to go to the chapel.

Parked outside an exclusive dress shop, I close my eyes and lean my head back against the seat. “There’s no way there will be anything to fit me in there, Devin. Can’t we just forget about a fancy dress?”

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