|65| • Everest
I couldn't possibly admit the reason for turning down her offer on Tuesday was because of my therapy session.
On countless occasions, I tried imagining telling her that I was seeing a therapist, but the words wouldn't come out of my mouth in one piece, even when I was alone in my room.
I didn't want to hide anything from Amelia, but, this was a different case.
I felt my throat constrict whenever the words almost slipped out, I bet she'd already noticed but chose not to say anything.
I felt bad.
But I did promise myself that before I proposed, I'd let her know about it, and tell her everything I hadn't been able to, even if I became a stuttering mess when doing so.
I just hoped she wasn't imagining the worst. The other reason was that I was really going to see Gabe today, he offered to help me choose a ring for my little lady.
Perhaps I was moving too fast, but I wanted to have it until I was ready to propose.
I guess this step was for me to know how serious I was about this.
We were going to see her father on Sunday, and that was when I was going to ask his permission. I probably should be doing that first instead of buying a ring, but I'm a hopeful man.
I saw Gabe standing outside his apartment, looking through his phone, I honked twice, startling him. He glared at my truck before jogging over to meet me. "Took you long enough man. How are ya?" He asked once he was in, I shook his hand, nodding. "I'm alright, just ended the therapy session."
"Right, how has it been? She's been helpful right?
" He teased, leaning closer with a grin on his face.
I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, yeah. She has." He sat back in triumph.
"I know, I have the best advice. You're just a hard head.
" Gabe said, tooting his own horn. He did have some good words to spare when I needed them, I'd given him that. Cocky one, isn't he?
"And how's the lady? I hope you haven't drowned her in your affection since you two started living together.
" Gabe asked while wiggling his eyebrows.
I honestly wished there was time to do that.
In between her school and our little misunderstandings, we rarely had time to just..
.be together. Sighing, I drove into the main street, where there were different jewellery stores lined up.
"She's good, learning to speak her mind every day.
It's just, that guy I told you about. The one that gets on my nerves.
He's been the topic more than once with us and frankly, it pisses me off.
" I admitted I didn't want Ron or whatever he was called to be the topic of discussion.
It was as though we had those misunderstandings because of him.
Amelia said he was just a friend. But Darrick was just a friend and still managed to get a kiss from her.
But that was a while ago.
She's matured more than that now.
"Raul again?" Gabe asked. Yeah, that was his irksome name.
Raul. I nod, parking the car at one of the jewellery shops.
"Every time I mention him, she's like 'he's just a friend, he's just flirty' and damn it, Gabe, I can't just tell her not to hang out with who she wants just because I'm a little jealous. You know?"
Gabe smiled, looking at me.
"What the heck is so funny about that?"
He shrugged. "Therapy is working, you're more expressive than before."
This made me roll my eyes, out of all that, this was what he took notice of.
Gabe laughed as if he'd read my mind. "Anyways, if you're so uncomfortable about it and you've told her before, I trust she'd keep her distance.
You can't get jealous of any guy that shows interest in her, you'd grow old super fast if you do that. "
I huff, agitated.
"So what? I should just watch as the guy openly flirts and ogles at her?"
Gabe shook his head, "I'm saying to trust her. You said her last best friend scarred her, right? That ought to have wisened her up by now. Even if she's acting oblivious, I'm sure she'll set her boundaries." His words were calming, they really were. "I guess," I said, putting off the ignition.
We both came down from the car and walked into the jewellery store.
"You know, I never imagined I'd be accompanying you to get a ring for a woman, your woman no less.
You seemed as though you were planning to die a single man.
" Gabe said, sighing dreamily as though he was reminiscing of the past. I snorted, elbowing his ribcage.
"Life happens I guess."
"Darn right, it does. So when are you proposing?"
"I...I haven't thought that far yet." I admit, rubbing my nape with a nervous laugh. Gabe looked at me with wide eyes, "So the ring would just be lying around? What if she sees me before you decide on when?"
"She won't."
"Okay, man. Whatever you say. Ouu, look at this baby.
" He mused, pointing over at a sparkling diamond on the mannequin's finger.
It was pretty, but too big. I wanted something that would fit her petite yet chubby fingers and wouldn't look like a large stone on it.
Perhaps a smaller diamond. "I'd get that, but I'm not planning on proposing just yet," Gabe said with a small smile on his lips.
"Yeah?"
"We're just settling in as a couple, I don't want to move too fast."
"I get it," I say, looking over at the woman heading over to us with a wide smile on her face. She wore a suit with red bottoms, "Good afternoon, gentlemen. May I ask what ring you're looking for today?"
"Oh don't look at me, he's the groom.
" Gabe pointed towards me, I scowled at him before smiling back at the woman.
"I'm looking for something...small but pretty.
An engagement ring." I clarified, those words seeming familiar on my tongue.
I'd done this before...but that was all in the past now.
"Small and pretty? I see, diamonds then?" I nod. She clapped her hands together. "I think I have the perfect ring for your woman. Come with me." We followed her to a section, there, she brought out a ring from one of the boxes inside the glass compartment.
Oh, the ring had the pretty part down.
It seemed to have the pretty part of it down.
It was a diamond ring which had pink sapphires at the centre.
It wasn't as big, so I preferred this. Would she like this ring?
I mean, Amelia did love the colour pink, that was the colour she wore the first day I met her, so, I guess this had a bit of story to it.
"Pretty, isn't it?" Gabe said, looking as taken away as I was. I hummed, seconding that. The woman nodded, "Do you have her ring size, perhaps?" She asked.
I dug my hands into my pocket, bringing out one of her casual rings. I may or may not have gone to her room to take this. I had to, alright? I'd seen her wear the ring on her index before, so I guessed it would be roughly the same size as her ring finger.
"Here."
"Oh, he came prepared." Gabe teased, poking my sides. I laughed, shrugging my shoulders. "I have to, don't want to screw this up."
"Okay, we can have the ring made to this size, would you be willing to wait?
" I was in no rush after all, so I told her it was fine.
I paid a deposit for the ring, agreeing to pay the rest when it was done, which would take a week at most. I and Gabe went out of the shop after he bought a necklace for Pen, saying even though he couldn't get a ring, he'd have to get her something else.
Whenever I thought of both of them, a smile crawled to my lips.
She waited for him all those months, visiting and staying by his side as he was in that coma.
Even if they were just friends. Now here she was, with the man of her dreams if I may say.
How adorable. I wondered, would Amelia wait for me if I was in a coma myself?
I shook my head and got back into my truck. Would I even want her to wait for me if I was in a deep sleep for so long? Goodness, why was I thinking of such a thought?
"You okay, there?" I heard Gabe ask, his elbow pushing my arm slightly. Blinking back to reality, I pursed my lips, nodding to his question. "I was just thinking," I said. "Not having second thoughts, are we?" He asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. I scoffed at this.
"Never."
"That's more I like it. I'm in the mood for some day drinking, or well, afternoon drinking."
"Drunkard, I'll tell Pen."
"Hey! It's just a few bottles, I'm not a lightweight.
" Gabe defended with a playful pout. Come to think of it, I could really use a drink.
"Fine, just because you insist. I have this sushi place in mind that sells some good alcohol.
" I remembered, referring the engine back to life. "Sushi? Sounds good, let's go."
Amelia must have gotten home by now...was she doing okay on her own? I wondered with a frown. Pulling out my phone, I decided to text her.
As we made our way to the Asian restaurant, I heard my phone buzz, making me pick it up in haste. "Eyes on the road, man!" Gabe scolded, "Yeah, yeah." I muttered back, looking at the message she had sent back.