Page 111 of Cross + Catherine: The Companion

What even were they right now?

She didn’t know.

“You know I love you, C.”

Yeah, she did.

“Juan?”

“Hmm?”

“I want to marry you.”

His dark eyes widened a bit, and he lifted one brow high. “Is that a proposal? Because that’s not how it’s supposed to work—I ask you.”

“Yeah, well …”

“Is it, though?”

“What?” she asked.

“A proposal.”

“Have you ever thought about marrying me?”

Juan didn’t even think about it. “Every day since you turned eighteen. I even asked your dad just so I wouldn’t have to do it later.”

“Really?”

He nodded.

Huh.

“So … why haven’t you asked?” Cece asked.

Juan pointed to the necklace Cece was wearing. It was a metal pendant of a tribal-style heart that he had given to her for her eighteenth birthday. On the middle of the heart was a single diamond. She never took it off.

Ever.

“What?” she asked.

“Let me see that, babe.”

Cece took the long chain up over her head, and then passed it over. Juan closed the pendant in his hand, squeezed hard, and she heard it crack.

Crack like he broke it.

“Juan!”

He opened his palm.

The pendant was in two pieces.

In the middle, sat a ring.

The prettiest, most beautiful diamond ring. Her mother’s ring.

“All this time?” she asked.

Juan nodded. “All this time, babe.”