So what was going on with her now?
Back at his condo, he led her over to the sofa, pulling her onto his lap. “Is your mom okay, Naya?” he asked, worried for her now.
Her startled eyes met his and she smiled. “She’s actually doing great. She’s met a wonderful man and,” she hesitated, still having trouble believing this part, “she’s thrilled to be engaged.” She looked away, trying to come to terms with that fact. She’d spent the weekend with them and still couldn’t believe her mother was getting married again.
“And do you not like your mom’s future husband?” he asked, trying to figure her out.
Naya looked back at him. “No! He’s a great guy. Jeff is exactly what she needs.” She smiled slightly. “And exactly what her yard needs. Jeff loves to garden and my mother’s yard suffers from neglect. My mom can’t keep a cactus alive.”
Luke smiled slightly, searching for another reason. “Are you upset that she’s getting married?”
Naya considered that possibility. “Yes. I think I am.”
“Because you don’t believe in marriage?”
She swung her head in his direction. “I believe in marriage,” she came right back, even though she knew it to be a lie. “Why would you think that?”
He breathed a bit easier, thinking about the diamond in his pocket. “I just thought you didn’t want to even consider that possibility.”
Naya wasn’t sure what to say. Did she want to be married to Luke? Absolutely! Was she willing to risk both of their happiness on that dream? No way! She loved this man too much.
She knew that he was waiting for her to say something else. Not sure what he wanted from her though, she said carefully, “I think there are some couples that can make a marriage work.”
Luke stared at her. “Do you think we’re one of those couples?”
Her head snapped up, eyes wide with fear. “What do you mean?” she choked out, feeling trapped and terrified.
Luke took her hand and slipped the diamond ring out of his pocket. “I love you, Naya. I knew it before you left this past weekend but, being without you for even a couple of days, I realized how much I hated not having you in my life.” He watched as her eyes glanced from his to the ring, then back again. “I won’t ever stop you from having your own life and going off to different places without me, as long as I know that you’ll come back home to me. Will you marry me?”
Naya’s mouth fell open with those last four words. She’d suspected that was where he was going with his speech, the diamond ring a big clue, but she’d still held out hope that he wouldn’t say the words, wouldn’t mess everything up.
He was waiting for an answer. He even slid the ring down her finger…and she let him! Oh goodness, the ring felt so good and looked perfect on her hand! But marriage? No! She couldn’t do it! They’d fight all the time! They’d argue and then they’d mess up what they had together! It would ruin everything! Marriage was for other people! Not her! She wasn’t one of the lucky ones!
Standing up, she stared at the incredibly beautiful diamond ring, her throat tight with the emotions welling up inside of her. Backing up a step when he stood as well, she knew that she was hurting Luke so she didn’t look him in the eye. “I love you,” she choked out. “I love you so much, it hurts.”
She looked down at the ring again, and curled her fingers around it so she wouldn’t lose it. She’d have to take it off, give it back to him, but she wanted to wear it for just a few moments. She wanted to savor the dream.
“I love you too,” he replied, laughing slightly. “I guess I should have started with that, huh?” He took her hands in his, pulling her closer. “Naya, you look like I’ve just slapped you instead of proposed to you. Are you okay?”
Was she okay? Nope. Her dream of being with Luke was being thrown in her face and she knew that she could never have it. Was she being irrational? Probably. Her only understanding of marriage was her mother and father’s relationship and she never wanted to live like that. She never wanted to hate Luke that deeply. She loved him so much!