“Hayley Evelyn Sawyer, I’m certain you acknowledge this ring. I had a non-public chat with Evie earlier this week. That is the diamond Pops proposed to her with. I had it put in a brand new setting. Simply so I can hear it once more… simply so I can be sure to haven’t modified your thoughts. Will you marry me, Merlin?”

I noticed this ring inside my grandmother’s jewellery field my total life. The elegant princess minimize is now magnified by the gorgeous halo setting in rose gold. There are such a lot of diamonds across the middle stone and down the channels. I’d swear there’s one for yearly I’ve been alive.

I attain throughout and gently lay my hand in his. My fingers tremble as he slides the ring gently to the foundation. It shimmers and sparkles on my pores and skin, simply above the place my sweater sits. The scale couldn’t be extra excellent.

“Hayley? Aren’t you going to say one thing?”

I give him my softest smile. “Sure. My reply won’t ever change. Oh my God, Wes. This ring is essentially the most lovely factor I’ve ever seen. It’s every little thing I didn’t know I needed. I really like you a lot. Thanks. That is what I wanted.” I take a deep breath and drive the tears again which might be slightly below the floor. “Whew, okay. I would like you to know that at this time and going ahead will probably be effective. We’ve come up to now in simply the previous couple of days. That is only a formality. We’ve obtained this.”

We’ve obtained this.

I preserve chanting it time and again in my head all the journey up within the elevator. I preserve going over easy details in my head. I do know she’s lovely. I do know she’ll be very pregnant. I do know she’s the mom of his first baby. I’m his fiancée. I’m the one he loves. All of those are necessary, and apparent, statements. They’ll assist preserve me centered and centered on what is de facto necessary.

Wes takes my hand, main me down the hallway towards the tip. I stand shoulder to shoulder with him. He barely knocks, the door opens, and Hannah and I are lastly face-to-face. She’s extra lovely than I believed she’d be. Her thick wavy purple hair is pulled again right into a messy bun on prime of her head. She’s informal in a pair of leggings and a Harvard sweatshirt that doesn’t do an excellent job of hiding her stomach, not that it was the intent.

“Hey, Han.”

“Hey. Are available in.” Wes guides me at my again contained in the small entryway made solely smaller by Hannah’s stomach.

“Hello, Hannah. I’m Hayley. I’m glad we may lastly meet.”

“Yeah. Me too. Very long time coming. I’ve obtained some tea on. Would you want some? It’s chamomile. I’ve been a bit strung out recently, so my mother instructed it. Wes. There’s a beer or two at the back of the fridge in order for you it.”

“No thanks. I’ll persist with water at this time. I don’t suppose I ought to put an IPA within the combine.”

Wes kisses my temple earlier than strolling into the lounge. “Right here, Hannah, let me assist you.” I take the tray from her and observe behind into the lounge. There are two seats on the sofa and one in a close-by chair. Wes is already occupying it. I set the tray down on the desk in entrance of us.

The air within the condominium is heavy and awkward. I can inform by the best way Wes is bouncing his knee subtly that that is going to be as much as me to steer. “How are you feeling, Hannah?”

“Fairly good, all issues thought-about. I’m not sleeping a lot proper now, and my again has had it. To be trustworthy, I can’t wait to not be pregnant anymore. I suppose that sounds egocentric to you.”

“No. Truly I believe that sounds trustworthy. Look, I do know this situation isn’t straightforward for any of us. I simply need you to know the place I stand. If you happen to don’t thoughts?”

“God, no. I need to know. I’ve needed to know for some time,” she responds.

Wes shifts ahead in his chair together with his fingers folded between his legs. He seems like he doesn’t know what I’m about to say. He ought to although. “Wes and I’ve sorted by means of rather a lot personally within the final week. It truthfully felt like a yr.” We each almost chuckle as I proceed to speak to her. “I’ve moved again in with him in his new place. Issues will settle over time. We’re additionally going to be planning a marriage.”

“Oh. Wow. Shit. Congratulations. I suppose I didn’t anticipate that, contemplating the place issues have been left after we spoke final.” Hannah seems round me to Wes, truthfully, I do too. With each of us taking a look at him, he is aware of he lastly has to interact.

“Yeah. Once I left right here the final time, I went proper to Hayley at her dad and mom’. To make an extended story brief, I knew it was proper. I requested and he or she accepted. I hope she gained’t remorse it.”

“I’m actually pleased for you each. I don’t need to be the reason for any rigidity between you two. I…Wes informed you every little thing about our final dialog?”

I take a deep audible breath earlier than I proceed, “Sure. He informed me in regards to the kiss. I don’t prefer it, however I perceive the way it occurred. I simply want it to be clear that it gained’t occur once more.”

“No. It gained’t. I’m sorry that it did to start with. Wow. That is extra awkward than I imagined it could be.”

I sit up a bit straighter and take a sip of my tea. “It doesn’t must be. We is usually a crew, if that’s what you need. I do know that’s what Wes and I would like.”

He reaches throughout to put his hand on my knee. “She’s proper. I do know you haven’t seen it, however she and I are stable. We need to assist you and one another in any manner attainable. After we’re married, hell even earlier than, Hayley will probably be a mom determine to our baby. I would like… we need to all be on the identical web page. There isn’t any motive for bullshit. That gained’t be good for any of us, particularly the child.”

“I had almost this identical dialog with my mom and my finest buddy. I used to be going to have her be right here too, however she needed to fly dwelling to Georgia to be along with her household, sort of final minute. After my mom leaves, she’s going to be my backup. I’d like her close to the supply room if attainable.”

Wes motions to me to maneuver over on the sofa so he can sit beside me. “I believe that’s nice. The boundary factor we are able to work on as we go. I’m taking a number of weeks off as I transition jobs. I’m going to dwelling base from right here as a substitute of Seattle going ahead.”

“That needed to have been a tricky resolution. I hope that wasn’t due to me,” Hannah responds.

“It was for me, Hayley, and the child. I’ll nonetheless have to go to all of my purchasers, however then not having to additionally go to Seattle twice a month will make issues simpler. The nursery in our condominium is completed. Like we began to speak about final time, I’d prefer to be as hands-on as I can. I, or Hayley, or I suppose each of us, will come over in the course of the day so you possibly can bathe, sleep, get out…regardless of the case could also be. I don’t suppose it’s acceptable to remain the evening right here, nonetheless…”

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