Page 74 of I Think He Knows
“Just sayin’.”
I look at my left hand and twist the diamond ring on my finger around and around. “Carter is one of the most important people in the world to me, but this fake engagement thing is all an act for him. If anything, I’m worried that I’ll blur the lines of this whole thing and start thinking it’s real when it’s fake. And then, it’ll be over and he’ll leave again.”
“Lana Mae, that man absolutely adores you, fake engaged or not. He’s notthatgood of an actor—nobody could possibly fake the way he looks at you.”
“Even if that was true, it wouldn’t matter,” I reply, still twisting my ring. “His job, his life… they’re thousands of miles away.”
“But I bet he’d move back for you in a heartbeat.”
“I’d never want him to give up who he is for me. That’s ridiculous.”
“Your job doesn’t make you who you are, dummy.” She rolls her eyes in a veryduhmanner that I’m not sure I appreciate. “I’m sure he’d stay for you, if you asked him to.”
And there it is. The sting of the next memory—him moving to LA—makes my chest constrict.
The thing is, he already left. And I’ll keep on encouraging him to pursue his dreams, because that’s what friends do. I’d never hold him back.
“I felt bad and got you a latte.”
I look over my shoulder to see Luke walking our way. Allegra is trotting alongside him while stuffing a huge churro in her mouth, and Annie and Liam are hanging back a bit, holding hands, whispering, and giggling—yes my big, tattooed, macho brother isgiggling—about something.
“Told ya,” says Mindy.
“Thanks, Lukey.” I accept the delicious beverage and inhale the coffee scent. “Mmmm.”
“Also got you this.” He throws a newspaper down on my lap.
“Um, thanks, but I’m not really a bigUSA Todayreader.”
He smirks at me. “Turn to the entertainment section.”
With a slight frown, I do as he says.
Andho-ly,there we are.
An almost full-page photograph of Carter and me, dancing for the photographers last night. Our faces are mere inches apart, and the look on Carter’s face is, well,devastating.
He’s staring at me like he’s looking at the most beautiful thing in the world. Like I’m priceless. Cherished. It’s an expression of such abject love and tenderness, a literal chill runs through my body.
“Holy hell,” I say.
“I KNOW!” Luke yells. “Literally cost more than my brand new car.”
“Wait, what?”
My brother rolls his eyes. “Third line down, slowpoke.”
And that’s when I see the words “custom-made, ethically sourced, three carat diamond ring from Tiffany.”
I look down at my hand. Could this beautiful rock on my finger be the real freaking thing?
Whoa.
“Whoa,” Annie says the word out loud, her straw lolling out of her mouth, and for a moment, I think she’s reading my mind.
But then, I notice that she’s staring across the park, slightly starry-eyed.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” Liam grumbles.