AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He chuckled. “All right. Ring first. Food second. And in that case, maybe we’ll head back over to Old Town and celebrate at Gadsby’s.”
“That sounds perfect.” And it did. What could be more celebrational than fancy peanut soup at a restaurant that had served George Washington?
“Then that’s the plan.” He backed the car out of the parking space and started out of my apartment complex. He kept glancing over as he made the turns that would get us to the Beltway.
“What?”
He laughed and shook his head. “I just wondered if you knew what you wanted for your ring. I’m fine with whatever. And obviously price doesn’t matter, so I’m not worried about that. But I don’t even know where I’d begin if I was going on my own to pick something out for you. I don’t think I would have gone with a diamond, for all it’s tradition.”
Hmm. I wouldn’t mind a diamond. They were, like he’d said, traditional. But… “This might be a cliché. And if you hate the idea, it’s okay to tell me.”
Austin shook his head. “I really don’t care as long as you love it and it’s on your left hand’s ring finger.”
“I always loved Princess Diana’s sapphire. There’s something about it that just seems so much friendlier than a diamond. I wouldn’t mind finding something along those lines. It could even be a different stone. It doesn’t have to be a sapphire. Although, I do love blue.” It sounded silly when I said it aloud, but I couldn’t take the words back. I didn’t even want to, honestly. Maybe, when we were walking along a row of sparkling glass-topped cases, I’d change my mind.
“Okay.”
I glanced over at him. That was it? Just “okay” like I hadn’t essentially asked for some of the crown jewels? “We should look at wedding bands while we’re there.”
He grinned. “Sure. Although I was thinking that I’d be happy with one of the cool silicone ones.”
I snickered. “No. I’m not walking around with Diana’s sapphire while you sport something I picked up for thirty bucks online.”
“Maybe I want aStar Warsone. Those cost more.”
I shook my head, laughter bubbling up in my chest. “No. Come on.”
“What? It could be fun. We can get matching ones for days you don’t want to wear a fancy ring. Yours can have Leia and say ‘I love you’ and mine will have Han and say ‘I know.’ It’s perfect.”
I looked at Austin’s smirk and tried to decide if he was serious. “Why don’t we hold that in reserve for our fifth anniversary. That’s silicone, right?”
“Pretty sure it’s wood.” He winked at me.
“Why would you know that?” Seriously. Who even knew there were traditional gifts these days? It wasn’t something my parents had ever bothered with. Or mentioned. I think I only knew because I’d stumbled down a Wikipedia rabbit hole one night and, one thing led to another, and I was reading through the traditional anniversary gifts.
But I hadn’t committed them to memory.
Apparently, Austin had.
“Dunno. I like random facts. That just happens to be one I have in my reservoir.”
“Well, we’re still getting you a real wedding band. I’m not exchanging aStar Warsband with you in church.” I paused. Was it too soon to start talking about the wedding? Nah. Just because we kicked around ideas didn’t mean we had to stick with them. “We’re getting married at church, right?”
“I was hoping, yeah. I’m not into the Elvis impersonator idea. But it also doesn’t have to be a big, fancy thing. Unless that’s what you want?” He looked at me, one eyebrow lifting. “What do you want?”
I sighed. That was a question. I wasn’t completely sure how to answer it. Like most little girls, I’d certainly spent time thinking through and dreaming about my wedding. But that was all abstract. Now? With the prospect of marrying Austin becoming a reality? I didn’t know what I wanted.
“That’s a long pause.” Austin took my hand and drove with the other. “You having second thoughts already?”
“No!” I shot him a concerned look and rolled my eyes when I saw the smirk on his face. “No. I just don’t know. It seems like the bigger the wedding, the longer we have to wait.”
“We can wait. If that’s what you want.”
“Maybe we can find a way to some middle ground. I do want a church wedding. And a white dress. And a party with my friends. But I don’t want one of these massive affairs for hundreds that cost more than teachers make in a year. Even though you could afford it.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. We’ll find middle ground.”
I smiled. Middle ground sounded good. “We have time. Ring first. Then dinner. Then, maybe a late night stop at the bookstore to share our news.”
