Chapter 6: Put a Ring on It

Brennan lifted the lid of the box, revealing a stunning ring with a large, princess-cut diamond. He took my hand and slid the ring onto my left ring finger.

“Is this the right finger?” he asked quietly, his fingers still entwined with mine. I nodded, unable to find my voice for reasons I couldn’t quite grasp.

I glanced down at the ring. It felt heavy on my finger, unfamiliar but not entirely unwelcome.

“It’s beautiful,” I said, smiling.

“It belonged to my grandmother,” he replied, a hint of sadness in his voice. “I inherited it. It’s another bone of contention with my parents.

“They wanted me to pass it on to my brother or sister since they were the ones planning to settle down. I agreed, but both of them refused.”

I swallowed hard and ran my other hand over the diamond. My fingers brushed against Brennan’s and we both pulled back, suddenly aware of our closeness.

“It’s not a fake?” I asked.

“No. My parents know I have it, and they’d expect me to use this ring. Is that okay?”

I frowned—his insecurity was showing again. I smiled and nodded to reassure him, even though I was nervous about wearing something that held so much significance for him.

“It’s beautiful, and it’s perfect for our pretend engagement. I’m just scared that I might lose it or something. It’s sentimental and…” I trailed off.

“You won’t lose it,” he said softly. “It fits you perfectly. I trust you, Grace.”

I nodded and adjusted my dress. Compliments from Brennan felt strange.

We weren’t the type of friends who complimented each other. We occasionally bought coffee for each other and had lunch together, but our conversations were usually work-related.

“I need to make a few calls and then we should leave,” Brennan said abruptly. He turned and walked towards his office.

I called my dad and told him I’d be away for the weekend, but I’d call him as soon as I got back. He told me to enjoy myself and that I deserved a mini vacation.

~Mini vacation~. If only he knew.

“Ready?” Brennan’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I looked over at his office door. He was wearing a black leather jacket and his keys jingled in his hand. I nodded and stood up.

I hadn’t considered the fact that there were still several people in the office. It was obvious that Brennan and I were leaving together, dressed in clothes no one had seen us in before, and I was wearing a huge diamond ring.

The office gossip would definitely be buzzing, and if I had planned to return to work, I would have had some explaining to do. Fortunately, the only one who would have to explain anything would just give a stern look to anyone who dared to ask.

We walked to the elevator, and I ignored the curious glances from the receptionist. Once we reached the car, Brennan unlocked it and we sat inside for a moment.

“Our flight isn’t for a while, but we can grab dinner at the airport,” Brennan suggested, turning the key in the ignition.

“Sounds good to me.”

I was actually quite hungry. I hadn’t eaten all day and my stomach was starting to grumble.

The traffic was heavy and it took us a while to find parking at the airport. We walked through the parking lot as the sun began to set, pulling our suitcases behind us.

“What are you in the mood for?” Brennan asked as we passed by the restaurants.

The smell of New York pizza wafted through the air. I pointed to the nearest pizzeria. “Beer and pizza sound good,” I replied.

Brennan laughed. “My kind of girl.”

I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I wasn’t Brennan’s type of girl. I didn’t flirt, I didn’t dress to impress him, and I was shorter and curvier than any of the women I’d seen him with.

So I liked beer and pizza. If relationships were based on a love of greasy food and draft beer, then maybe, but that wasn’t the case and I didn’t care. I didn’t want to be another one of Brennan’s flings.

“Lost in thought?” Brennan asked as we entered the pizza shop. I just nodded and looked around, hoping for a distraction to change the subject in my mind and avoid Brennan’s observation.

A waitress led us to a booth. She disappeared for a moment before returning with a notepad.

“What can I get you?” she asked.

“Three slices of cheese pizza and a large beer for me, please,” I said, smiling at her.

“Not a problem. And for you, sir?”

I glanced at Brennan, who was grinning at me. He shook his head and turned to the waitress.

“I’ll have the same, thank you.”

“Great, it won’t be long.” The waitress tucked her notebook into her pocket.

Once she was gone, I looked down at my hands, specifically at the spot where Brennan’s family heirloom rested on my finger.

“Brennan?” I asked. “We’re going to have to act like a couple this weekend. I’m not sure we can even hold hands without acting like idiots.”

Correction: ~I wasn’t sure if I could hold his hand without acting like an idiot.~

Brennan reached across the table and took my left hand in his. His skin was warm—softer, yet somehow rougher than mine.

I liked the feeling, probably more than I should have for a charade, but I pushed that thought aside. I didn’t start giggling or pull my hand away.

“Good, we didn’t spontaneously combust,” he joked, gently releasing my hand. I pulled mine back to my side of the table and clasped them together.

“Funny,” I replied.

“Relax, it’s going to be fine.”

I nodded, but I wasn’t as confident as he sounded. Brennan was used to casual flings with women.

Sure, he wasn’t great at the relationship part, but at least he knew how to act around someone of the opposite sex in a romantic way.

All I had was a failed relationship from college and my clichéd knowledge of romantic comedies.

The waiter brought our food and drinks over in no time, but my sudden nerves had pretty much killed my appetite. I downed my beer in one go and set the empty glass back on the table.

Brennan, already reaching for a slice of cheese pizza, looked at me. “What’s eating at you, Grace?” he asked. “Maybe I can help.”

I gave a noncommittal shrug, surprised that he’d noticed something was off. This attentive, caring version of Brennan was new to me.

“I’m not sure how to navigate a real relationship, Brennan,” I confessed. “And I’m even less sure about a fake one where I have to convince people I’m in love.”

Brennan put his pizza slice back down and leaned back in the booth, chewing on his lip thoughtfully.

“You’ve dated before, right?”

“I had a sort-of boyfriend in college. We’d study together during the week, maybe mess around a bit.” I could feel my cheeks heating up and I swallowed hard.

“But every weekend, like clockwork, he’d say he needed space, that things were moving too fast. Then come Monday, he’d be back, saying he missed me.

“It took me nine months to figure out what was really going on. After that, I pretty much gave up on dating.”

Brennan shook his head, picked up his pizza again, and took a bite. He chewed for a moment, then shook his head again.

“Sounds like the guy was a jerk,” he finally said.

“I should’ve seen it sooner. But aren’t you kind of the same? He liked to switch girls every weekend, you like to switch girls all the time.”

I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth, but it was too late to take them back. Brennan just nodded, took another bite of his pizza, and washed it down with a sip of beer. When he looked at me again, his brown eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them, and his face was completely devoid of its usual smile.