and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Give Murph your credit card, and you and I will go to the pub for the afternoon. I’m sensing this is going to be hell.”
“Tempting.” I smirk. “Nope, I’m doing this right. And we need to think of a way for me to pop the question.”
Adrian narrows his eyes as he thinks. “Yes, it definitely has to be perfect.”
“Remember those fucking lights you had me stringing up for hours, Stan?” I ask as I open the door for us to leave.
He smiles. “They worked.” We walk out through the doors.
“Yes, fairy lights are the only reason Natasha said yes,” Adrian mutters dryly. “You two are so stupid.”
“We’re going shopping for the afternoon,” Joshua tells the two bodyguards who are waiting by the door. “Have the cars follow us at a distance today, please.”
“Of course, sir,” the bodyguard replies as he gets on the phone to the other guards downstairs.
“I’m driving,” I say, and we walk out and get into the elevator.
“You brought the Audi?” Adrian asks in surprise.
“Yep.”
“But… you don’t have Owen.”
I shrug happily. “I’m a family man now. I don’t need to drive a flashy car anymore.”
Joshua smirks. “Who are you and what have you done with my brother?”
We walk into the hundredth jewelry store in four hours, and I exhale deeply. Murph and Joshua peer into the cabinets while I walk around with my three gift bags safely in my hand.
I haven’t found Ash an engagement ring yet, but I have bought her a pair of diamond earrings, a bracelet with a diamond ‘O’ pendant, and I got Jenna a necklace for taking such good care of Owen.
I never bought a girl jewelry before. It’s kind of fun, to be honest.
“Look, will you fucking concentrate?” Joshua snaps. “This is the last shop we’re looking at today. I want to go home. I’ve had enough of this shit.”
“Hmm…” I hum as I look around.
“Just find the style you like and then we’ll get one made. I think that’s the best idea,” Joshua suggests.
“What about this one?” Adrian points to a square-cut diamond ring.
“Yeah.” I purse my lips as I think. “I like the round ones.”
Adrian narrows his eyes. “Ashley wears rose gold, right?”
“I don’t know, it’s a different colour kind of thing.”
“Yes, she wears rose gold,” Joshua replies as he looks through the glass cabinet. “Her watch is rose gold.”
“How do you know about rose gold?” I frown.
“Because I looked for that ring of Natasha’s for ages before I found it, and now I know everything there is to know about everything.”
Adrian rolls his eyes. “Except how to get a golf ball in a hole.”
Joshua’s eyes flicker to Adrian. “I do know how to put golf balls in smart asses’ mouths until they choke,” he offers dryly.
“He’d like that. I’m sure it wouldn’t be the first ball he’s had in his mouth,” I mutter, distracted.
Adrian smirks.
We all continue to peruse the cabinets.
“Where should I ask her?” I think out loud.
Adrian puts his hands up, all animated. “Something so romantic that she’ll be swept off her feet.”
“Hmm.”
“You can go to Kamala,” Joshua suggests.
I cringe. “No, that’s your place.”
Adrian looks through the glass. “Why don’t you fly her somewhere exotic?”
I curl my lip. “I want something sentimental.” I narrow my eyes. “Something that only she will get.”
“Eiffel Tower?” Joshua raises his eyebrows. “You two do speak French to each other all the time like total wankers.”
I smile. “That could be cool.”
“Oh, what about New York in the library where you showed her the newspaper advertisement.” Adrian smiles.
“That’s a good one.”
“Why don’t you just put an advertisement in the paper?” Joshua shrugs.
I put my hands into my pockets as I think. New York reminds me of when she didn’t come home that night.
New York is forever ruined for me now. I feel my stomach churn at the horrible memory.
“Fuck this. Let’s go to the pub.” Joshua sighs.
“We’ll do some research and come back,” Adrian adds.
I nod. “Yeah, she might be getting a ring out of a bubble gum machine at this point. I fucking hate this shit.”
It’s Tuesday and I have just picked up Owen from preschool on my way home from work, and we jump into the car. “How was your day, buddy?” I smile into the rearview mirror.
“Good,” he replies as he looks out the window and we pull out into the traffic. “Can we have McDonald’s for dinner?”
“No,” I reply flatly. “I think we’re having pasta or something.”
Owen screws up his face.