I didn’t let Michelle know, but Lincoln flew out to Vegas for the afternoon to help me go look at a ring for her. It’s the only time he has available, and with our parents down in Florida for the time being, it gives Presley some help while Lincoln and I hang out for a few hours.
“Mr. Anderson, we still haven’t gone over everything,” Bill bristles.
“Send me an email. I have an appointment this afternoon, and I’ve already missed one.” I stand, grab my papers, give a wave, and head out the door. If Bill wasn’t so good at his job, I swear he’d be replaced. No one needs a two-hour meeting over something as simple as quarterlies. You go over the money, the return on investment, how we’re doing, what we need to do, and that’s it. Nothing more, nothing less.
I reach for my phone the second I’m back in my office, only stopping to throw the papers on my desk and grab my truck keys. I look down, and my girl has left me a text, which makes me smile. Apparently, she and her dad ate lunch out. I read the next one, and it looks like we have plans with her parents this weekend. I send her a quick reply, letting her know I’ll call her dad to get the plans for what her mom wants before leaving to go meet Lincoln. Hanging out with them this weekend will give me the perfect opportunity to ask her dad for his daughter’s hand in marriage.
“Hey.” I pick up the phone, seeing it’s Lincoln calling.
“Where the hell are you?” he questions.
“One word: Bill,” I reply.
“Not that cocksucker again,” he replies. I was meant to meet him fifteen minutes ago.
“No kidding. I’m almost to my truck. Hopefully, I’ll be there in twenty minutes. You can even whittle me out of lunch after this.” It used to be we’d have a beer, maybe a mixed drink or two, but when I went through my party days, I drank way too much. It made me realize just how out of control I was. I hated that feeling. I decided alcohol and me no longer mixed, so now I stick with water or the occasional soda.
“Whatever, just get your ass here. I’ll go in and look for something for Presley while I wait.” That man is so gone for her.
“Like you weren’t going to buy her something anyway.” We hang up as I make it to my truck. There’s something our father always said: “If you’re going to treat your woman and you have the means to do it, you go to the best of the best,” which is why Lincoln and I are meeting at Christensen and Son Jewelry Company. If they don’t have what you like, they’ll custom make it for you.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m pulling into the spot next to Lincoln’s rented vehicle. I offered to pick him up, but he said he’d get a rental. You wouldn’t catch me dead in the ostentatious piece of metal he rented. I hop out of the truck with a chuckle, still trying to stop the laughter coming out when I walk inside the store and see Lincoln. He looks at me, giving me that ‘shut the fuck up’ look, and it makes my laughter bubble up.
“Could you have picked out something flashier?” I give him a hug; happiness sure does look good on my baby brother.
“What the fuck ever, I got my eyes on a pair of earrings for Pres. Do you have any idea what you’re looking for?” he asks.
“I looked at some online, but nothing really grabbed my attention. Figure I’ll look and see what they have and go from there.” We meander around the store until my eyes land on the perfect ring. It’s a yellow gold band topped with a solitaire diamond. It’s a show stopper by itself, but the smaller band that goes with it really ties it all together.
“Nice choice, brother.” Lincoln slaps me on the shoulder, leaving me to purchase Michelle’s ring while he makes his purchase. This ring doesn’t even touch the surface of the money I have in my bank account. I was worried if I went too big on the stone, she couldn’t wear it while working.
Once her ring is purchased and wrapped up, I head to Lincoln; he’s done, so the two of us walk out.
“Thanks for coming out here,” I tell him.
“No problem, I’m always here for you,” he responds.
“I’m here for you, too, man. I really need to get out to Florida to see the boys.” I wipe my hand down my face. It’s something I’ve been slacking on.
“You know we’d love to have you and Michelle, anytime,” Lincoln replies, the two of us walking toward the restaurant around the corner.