Page 70 of Forever Fallen

“You’ve got it bad, don’t you…” the other man laughed, elbowing him.

“Oh yeah,” Ryan admitted, smiling shyly. “I fell hard for her.”

* * *

Hours later,Ryan texted Sophie and said he would be home a little late because of some work at Flyboys. He took that moment to run all the way to Tyler for some things, picking up several pillar candles and other items… before stopping at a jewelers.

Walking inside, he felt his heart thudding in his chest as he realized that this was almost overwhelming to see case-after-case of settings, diamonds on velvet beds, and some ready-to-go wedding sets.

“Can I help you, sir?”

“I’m looking for a ring for my wife.”

“Ahhh,” the woman smiled. “Upgrading her – eh? Well, do you have the ring with you, and we can see what…”

“No. Not upgrading,” Ryan said, feeling almost mortified as he realized just how strange this was. He’d married Sophie and completely ignored one of the symbols of their union… because he was cold-blooded about the entire transaction between them at the time.

Not anymore.

“I see…” the woman breathed. “Okay. Let’s start with a few basics then. Do you know if she would prefer a round stone, oval, heart-shaped, square…”

“Simple.”

“Simple? As in ‘simple-classic’?”

“Yeah…” he muttered distractedly, looking through the glass on the cases. Every single one of these rings looked almost gaudy, clustered with stones, or mounted boldly, standing high from the band.

“Do you see something that would maybe catch her eye?”

“My wife is very simple, classic, and elegant…” Ryan said and hesitated. “She’s elegant and graceful.”

“I’m sure she’s very lovely.”

“She’s breathtaking,” he admitted, peering into another case. “Do you have anything without all this garbage on it?”

“Garbage?” the woman sniffed, looking supremely offended, and Ryan winced as he realized what he’d said aloud.

“My wife would like something clean, unassuming, but sentimental,” he began and nodded. “I want something that she can proudly wear – but won’t be afraid to lose.”

“I see.”

“Where are the wedding bands?”

“Diamond, platinum, silver, gold, or…”

“All of them…” he interrupted, feeling supremely overwhelmed now. He had no idea that there were so many different styles, cuts, settings, or types of bands.

As the woman led him to a case, Ryan’s phone went off alerting him that he had a text message.

Location set…

Cake is arranged…

How does Friday night sound?

Looking up from his phone, he spotted a set of wide wedding bands that had a small row of diamonds in the very center. It looked clean, elegant, and he could see that on Sophie’s finger as clear as day.

“That one…” Ryan said, pointing.

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