Page 113 of Loved

Saturday

The leaves crunched under my feet. I took a deep breath. I used to get sad in the fall, remembering all the horrible stuff that happened my senior year of high school. I thought the fall would always feel suffocating.

But now?

I took another deep breath. Now the fall would always remind me of Penny. And new beginnings. I’d never been able to breathe easier.

“Why are you smiling like that?” Rob asked. “You look like a psychopath.”

I laughed. “I’m just happy.” We walked past the coffee shop where Penny and I first met. God I loved this fucking street. Even with all the shit that had gone down the last couple days, I loved this campus. I’d always love this place. Because it’s where I’d met her.

“I’m going to be a lot happier when I get laid. Speaking of which…why are you suddenly fine with going to a bar right on campus?”

“We’re not going to a bar,” I said.

“Um…yes we are.”

“Nope.”

“I was kind of promised a drink,” Brendan said.

Why is he even still here?This was strange to do with him. But I didn’t really care. It was also strange that there was jewelry store on Main Street, but now I knew why it was here. Because I needed it. I stopped right in front of it. “You guys can go to a bar if you want. I need to go in here.”

“Why do you need to go in there?” Rob asked.

“Because I need a ring.”

He just stared at me.

“I told you last night that I was planning on proposing to Penny.”

“Oh. Right. Honestly, I just assumed you were drunk. You were serious?”

“Of course I was serious. We had that whole conversation about proposals.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t like any of my ideas. So of course I couldn’t take you seriously.”

I shook my head. “I’m going to propose to her. Tomorrow.” I nodded. “Yeah, tomorrow. If I can get everything done tonight.”

“What else do you need to do?”

“Buy that coffee shop we just passed. It’s where Penny and I first met and I don’t want them to ever change anything inside. And that includes cutting any holes in the ceiling or floors.” I glared at him.

“So controlling,” Rob said and turned to Brendan. “This guy,” he said and pointed at me.

Brendan cleared his throat. “Um. Maybe I’ll just catch you guys later.”

“Nonsense,” Rob said. “We’ll need your opinion. James has terrible taste.”

“I do not have terrible taste.”

“You do. Come on. We’ll help.” Rob opened the door and walked in.

Brendan shrugged and followed him into the jewelry store.

Yeah, this was really weird. But as long as I picked a good ring, I didn’t care who was with me.

The guy working there was very nice, but I didn’t exactly know what to tell him that I wanted. I’d know itwhen I saw it though. “I’m going to need it tonight,” I said. “Is that possible? I’ll pay in all cash.”

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