I wanted his approval so badly.
As much as when I was a kid.
It killed me that I couldn't have it.
And now—
I still crave his pride. He was practically my father.
Now that our father is gone, he's all I have.
"She won't admit it," Ian says. "But she was jealous."
"I was not." Eve rests her hand on his forearm. "Okay, maybe a little."
"I was too," Indigo says.
"Can there only be one woman with fantastic hair at a time?" Ian asks.
"No, but it becomes your thing," Indigo says. "Suddenly, someone else has your thing. Then what do you have? It's a little threatening."
"A little," Eve says. "But women support women. Even when it comes to upstaging their hair."
Indigo smiles. It's relaxed. Easy.
They like her already. She can tell, but she isn't looking at them.
She's staring at me.
"Hey." She moves around the table. Wraps her arms around my waist. Looks into my eyes. "You look gorgeous."
"Gorgeous again?" I ask.
She nods. "Always." Her hand slips beneath my suit jacket. Her fingers curl into my side, pressing the fabric of my shirt into my skin.
I bring my hand to the back of her head. Pull her into a soft, slow kiss.
A proper kiss for greeting a fiancée.
Then her lips part and I forget about proper.
I forget we're in an exclusive restaurant in front of my brother and his girlfriend.
I kiss her like we're alone, in our flat, about to fuck on the couch.
She melts into me, kissing back like she's desperate to be claimed.
Her left hand goes to my chest.
Eve lets out a gasp.
Then Ian.
"Holy shit," Eve says. "That's a huge rock."
Ian says, "Congratulations."
But when I pull away and turn to my brother, I find doubt in his eyes.
It brings me back to that moment, when I told him I was going to propose to Rory. When I showed him our mother's ring. Explained the plan.
It was simple. Classic. What she would like. During dinner at her favorite restaurant.
Ian tried to encourage me. He tried to congratulate me.
No, he did.
But his heart wasn't in it.
He didn't believe in it.
Now—
His eyes are filled with the same doubt. But, somehow, it's different.
It must be. He's still cagey about the subject of marriage, but he believes in love now.
He wants to spend the rest of his life with her.
I tell myself that's all it is. That he's doubting himself, his intentions, his desires for the future.
But I don't believe it.
"That's one way to drop news." Ian's chuckle wipes the apprehension from his eyes.
"Oh. Right." Indigo turns to them. Holds up her left hand. "Is this what you do in the situation? Show off the ring?"
"Usually, but I'm not sure you have the right audience," Ian says.
"It's beautiful," Eve answers diplomatically. With no mention of her hatred of the diamond industry. "It suits you." She turns to Ian. "Should we order champagne?"
He nods. "Now or after dinner?"
"I'm starving." Indigo squeezes my hand then takes her seat. "After dinner."
I sit next to her.
The two of us across from my brother and his girlfriend. A normal family dinner. A normal double date.
"So, um, how did it happen?" Eve glances at her menu. Nods as Ian points to an entrée.
He usually orders for her.
He tries to take care of her.
But not in front of other people. Not usually.
"Well, uh." Indigo blushes. "It was right after we—"
The server interrupts with our next round. "Are you ready to order?"
I nod. Order for her.
Ian notices. He shoots me a look, but I'm not sure what it means.
It could be a playful you're stepping on my turf.
Or it could be an accusatory you're so full of shite, Ty. You think you're fooling me with this?
I'm not usually this nervous.
But this is the only place our ruse really matters. The rest of the world will believe we're in love when they see photos of our wedding.
Ian knows me.
Ian cares.
He cares if I'm happy. If I'm full of shit. If I'm lying to him.
"It was after you fucked?" he offers.
Indigo blushes. "Yes. I was cleaning up in the shower. I stepped out. My clothes were arranged on the bed. And the ring box was on top of it."
"Had he made the bed?" Eve asks.
She laughs. "How did you know?"
"Ian's the same way. Makes the bed every day," Eve says. "I thought it was his military training."
"It was," Ian says. "And our father's."
"He checked every day when we were kids," I say. "When he was home."
Under the table, she offers her hand.
I take it. "And she said yes, because I'd just made her come."
Indigo flames red. "I said yes because I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
"But it didn't hurt," I say.
"I don't see how it could fail." Eve smiles.
"He's always been the smart one," Ian says.
Indigo turns to me. "I didn't say I wanted to spend any of that time dressed."