Page 123 of Rules Of Engagement: St. Louis
“And if she’s never ready?”
I ran my tongue across my teeth. “Then I guess I’ll have to decide if loving her is enough without the promise of forever.”
Xander reached for the ring box, studying the diamond. “This is a serious ring, Christian. This is a ‘spend the rest of our lives together’ ring.”
“I know what it is.”
“You’re in love with this woman, you want to marry her, you’ve bought the ring, but you’re not telling her any of it because you’re afraid she’ll run.”
“I’m not afraid she’ll run. I’m afraid she’ll say no before she’s had enough time to realize she might want to say yes.”
“Time for what?” Elijah asked. “What are you waiting for? Some magical moment when all her fears disappear?”
“Maybe.”
“Brother,” Xander said, “that’s not how healing works. She’s not going to wake up one morning completely over her ex-husband’s damage. She’s going to work through it day by day, choice by choice, while living her life and loving you.”
I closed the ring box and slipped it back into my pocket, where it had lived for the past three weeks. “She’s been hurt before by someone who promised forever and delivered heartbreak. I won’t be another man who pushes her into something she’s not ready for.”
“Okay, it’s your decision, but you should consider that she might be waiting to see just how serious you are about her, and waiting won’t give either of you those answers.”
My brothers were right, but still, I was hesitant.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
NAOMI
“Adrian’s wedding is next Saturday,”Christian said over breakfast, scrolling through his phone while I nursed my second cup of coffee. “It’s a black-tie reception at the Four Seasons. It’ll be a nice event.”
I nodded, buttering my toast while my mind wandered to my lunch with Journey and Frankie yesterday.
“Naomi?”
I looked up to find Christian watching me with concern. “Sorry, what?”
“I said the wedding starts at four. We should probably leave around three to account for traffic.”
The casual assumption that I’d be going with him made my stomach flutter with anxiety. “Do you need me there?”
“I was hoping you would attend with me, unless you don’t want to go.” He set down his phone, giving me his full attention. “You don’t have to if you’re not comfortable.”
The reasonable response would be to say yes, of course, I’d go. We were in a committed relationship. Going to weddings, games, cookouts, and funerals was a natural step. But the idea of sitting through a wedding made my head hurt.
“No, I’ll go,” I heard myself saying. “It’ll be nice to meet more of your family.”
“Are you sure? You look like you’d rather have a root canal.”
I forced a smile. “Wedding nerves. I always get emotional at weddings.”
“Good emotional or bad emotional?”
“We’ll find out.”
The Four Seasons ballroom had been transformed into a beautiful, luxurious space. White roses and baby’s breath adorned every surface, candles flickered on round tables covered in ivory linens, and the people were dressed to the nines.
Adrian looked radiant in her strapless gown, her dark hair swept into an elegant updo that showcased the diamond necklace that had belonged to her grandmother. She was marrying a man named David who worked in finance and looked at Adrian like she was the woman of his dreams.
