This Cruel Love

“Okay. Ryley, will you marry…”

“Yes!” I couldn’t even let him finish, I was so psyched to say yes and jump on him. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He stood up and grabbed me, picking me up and swinging me round. “You won’t regret it,” he murmured into my neck. “I’m going to spend every day of my life trying to make you happy.”

“You don’t need to try,” I cried. “You already make me happy without even trying.”

He held me tightly and whispered into my ear. “I feel like everything that’s happened to me has led me to you. No matter what it was, what I did or where I’ve been, it’s all led straight to you. Every choice I made, every little mistake, all the good and the bad, it’s all been there, pushing me towards you. Now, when we’re together, I don’t regret my past or my mistakes because if I hadn’t made those, I might never have met you. It was always meant to be, you and me. We were always meant to be.”

How could I not fall in love with him even more after a declaration like that?

We stood, holding each other and lost in each other’s arms for ages before I eventually leaned back and frowned at him.

“Why do you have two boxes?”

He held them out in front of me again and then lifted the brand new black velvet box up.

“This one has been burning a hole in my pocket for weeks. I must’ve been to every jewellers in London and I couldn’t find the right one. I even dragged Cill along with me, although secretly I think he enjoyed it. So I had this one made, just for you. It’s my ring.”

He lifted the other box this time, a green and slightly worn velvet with an old-fashioned clasp on the front.

“This one I was given about twenty minutes ago by your father. It’s your grandmother’s engagement ring, which, according to your dad, was meant for you. He said he was waiting for the right guy to come along. Apparently, I’m worthy of it. Who knew?” He smirked, then with a puzzled expression, he looked between both boxes.

“I didn’t know which one to give you. So I’m letting you choose.”

Wow! I did not expect that. I didn’t even know my grandma’s ring was still with us. Dad hadn’t offered it to Justin, and I just assumed Grandma had been buried with it. My grandma was such a romantic, I knew she’d have loved Jackson. She’d have definitely approved of this proposal, but would she want me wearing her ring? All her little snippets of advice and tales about Granddad and how crazy she was for him made me smile.

‘Ryley, when you meet ‘the one’ you’ll know. You’ll know because nothing and no one will ever stop you loving them or wanting to spend every minute of every day with them. You’ll wish nights were longer; that days could be spent lost in them and nothing else. They’ll consume your whole body, mind, and soul. Your tummy will ache with excitement at the thought of seeing them, being with them.’

Boy, was she right. That was exactly how I felt about Jackson. He didn’t expect anything from me, only love. He never drained my energy, or took me for granted. I knew without a doubt he’d always be faithful. It wasn’t in his nature to be any other way. He said I was his sun. Well, he was my moon. He made everything right. Without him, my world would come crashing down, everything would fall apart. He was the key to all my happiness, and I needed him as much as he needed me.

I picked up the green box.

“I loved Grandma so much. I know my grandad had this specially made for her because she always told me that he didn’t think a shop bought ring was good enough for his girl. She told me a lot of things, and because of her I know not to settle for less than, well, everything. But this… this is her ring, not mine. If I had to choose any ring, I’d choose yours.”

I passed the green box back to him and took the black one instead.

“I’ll always choose you.”

He let out a breath I hadn’t realised he’d been holding and then I noticed he was nervous.

“Why are you nervous?” I cupped his cheek and he leant into me.

“I’m worried in case you don’t like it.”

“I’d wear a piece of string on my finger if you chose it. Relax.”

I clicked open the box and almost stumbled as I saw the gorgeous ring he’d had made especially for me. The diamond was huge, I mean, movie star huge. A baguette framed with tiny little diamonds all the way around. It was one hell of a sparkling ring. But it wasn’t garish or tasteless, it was perfect.

“Do you like it?” he whispered lightly.

“I love it,” I answered through my tears.

He took the ring out and slid it onto my finger.

“I wanted it to sparkle like you do. I designed it to be light and magical, all the things you’ve brought into my life. It’s special, one of a kind. Just like you.”

I had no words. For the first time in my life I was struck dumb, and all I could do was breathe and smile like a lunatic. I grabbed his face and pulled his lips down to cover mine, before he said anything else that would shatter me. Damn, I could kiss this man all day every day given half a chance. Jeez, I would kiss him every day. Every. Single. Day.