Page 138 of Rumor Has It

I miss him. I need him as I need air. I’ve fallen short in every aspect of our relationship. I don’t understand how he could still love me. I’m not sure it is possible.

I move to wipe my nose, and something under the chest catches my eye. I pull myself up, crawling over to it. I slide my hand between it and the floor, feeling around until I hit it.

I wrap my hand around it, pulling it out. Sitting up, I open my hand. I gasp, covering my mouth. “It can’t be? He would never? Would he?”

“What is it?” Rumor comes to my side, joining me on the floor. We stare at the little black box setting in my hand for an hour. “Are you going to open it?”

I shake my head. “No! I ca-can’t.”

“Then, we should take it to him and ask him too.” She glances at me, waiting for my reaction.

I close my hand around it. “But what if he wants it back? He might not want me to have it now.”

“I can’t think of another way to find out.” She lifts her shoulders, letting them fall freely.

***

I pull up, parking to the side of their office. I check my face again because I cried on the way over here. I glance at my partner in crime, taking her confidence and settling my nerves.

“Lock the doors. I can see you from the front office.” I point to the doors.

She wrinkles her nose. “I’ll be fine.”

“I know you will.” I hold out my hand for her to slap it.

I slide from my seat, chewing my lip every step of the way. I raise my hand and hesitate to knock. I jump back when it opens, and Boone’s standing there.

“Oh! I’m sorry.”

He motions to the truck. “I could see you. I thought you might run before I could open it.”

“It crossed my mind.” I twist my mouth to keep from laughing.

He leans out, looking toward it. “Is Rumor alright?”

“Yeah, she’s good. I mean, she misses you.” I swallow hard when my voice cracks.

“Do you need some water?” He turns to the desk behind him.

I hold my hand out, trembling like a leaf. “I-I actually thought you might want this back. So, I brought it back. To you. I brought it back to you.”

He glances back, stopping cold. He drops his head, spinning around. “I forgot about that, sorry.” He reaches for it, and I meet him half way. His fingers graze my palm, sending chills racing over me.

“Yeah, I figured. No need to apologize, I think I’m the one who owes it to you. Again. Times infinity.” I rub the back of my neck.

He leans against the desk, toying with the box. “When we’re young, you used to make me play house.”

“Except, I worked in the garage, and you took care of the kids.” I giggle, when he chuckles.

“Yep, you sure did.” He nods. “You even proposed to me.”

I lay my hand against my mouth, murmuring, “I remember.”

“This time, I was gonna do it right. I had it all planned out, just like our life.”

I tilt my head, trying to read him. “What do you mean?”

“That stupid house in Burbank, the one down the street from my parents. All of it, I did for us.” He leans forward, placing his hands on his knees.