Page 149 of Alphas Like Us

“Take some breaths.We’re going to figure this out,” my mom tellsme.

I’m breathing, but I’m too aware and laser-focused on the difficultylevel of what I’m about to do. And what I’m about to do isnormal.

So normal. It shouldn’t be this epicallycomplicated.

Janie offers a cup of hot tea to me as acalm downtactic. I shake my head stiffly, and she places the cup back on the oakdesk.

The three of us are huddled in my parent’s home office, facing a humongous desktop computer. My gangly mom sits close to the screen, the large leather chair making her appear even smaller. Jane and I pushed up two velvet, lilac armchairs to thedesk.

I control the computer’s mouse. Clicking through websites and scrolling along pages of wedding bands. Nothing jumps out at me. I thought it’d be obvious when I started looking, but…nothing.

“Let’s start with engraving,” my mom suggests. “Yes orno?”

My pulse speeds, and I narrow my gaze at the screen. Engraving? I think he’d like that, but it’d depend on what words are engraved. “I don’t know…I don’t fuckingknow.”

My mom squeezes me in a side-hug. “You don’t need to worry. Farrow will love whatever you pick out because you picked it. I know hewill.”

It’s a calming thought, mostly because it’s coming from my mom. I look over at her. She’s still beaming. Glowing. Her cheeks are red she’s been smiling and tearing up so damnmuch.

Like right now, she wipes the corners of hereyes.

Jane sniffs, misty-eyed too, her retro sunglasses blocking her tears, and my heart feels fucking swollen it’s so full. Thirty minutes ago, I told them both that I planned to ask Farrow to marryme.

Neither one of them thought I’d ever get married. Before I started a relationship with Farrow, I said I wouldn’t evendatesomeone. I’ve let myself be happy. Really happy, and their happiness for me just overwhelms metenfold.

My mom asked why I didn’t wait to tell her and my dad together. He wasn’t in the room. It’s pretty simple. My dad will spill the news to Uncle Connor and Uncle Ryke in a heartbeat, and at that point, it’ll start reaching my cousins, siblings and then security, Farrow’sfriends.

My mom is a certified secret-keeper. One of the damn best, and I trust her and Janie not to tell a soul. Because if I want this proposal to go as planned, Farrow can’tknow.

The media can’tknow.

You can’tknow.

So the only people allowed in on this right now are my mom and Janie. Done and done. I’ll let my dad, siblings, and the rest of my family in on it the day of the proposal. It’s a well thought-out plan, but I’m not going to lie, there are a fewholes.

Like this fuckingring.

“Oooh this one is nice.” My mom points at the screen. It’ssilver.

“No silver,” I declare. “He has a million silver rings. It won’t be specialenough.”

“It’ll be special because it’s from you,” Jane reminds me with a sappysmile.

I think it’s more complicated than that. “Janie.”

“Moffy,” she replies. “I’m with Aunt Lily here, take a deepbreath.”

My mom nods vigorously. “Oxygen is good foryou.”

I groan and click into a new website. “Alright, say I do find the perfect ring…” I glance at my mom while she cups aWolverinemug and takes small sips of coffee. “How am I going to actually getit?”

This is the part that’s been stumpingme.

“I don’t want to order it online,” I tell them. “And there’s no possibility of me entering a jewelry store without the press or security findingout.”

Jane perks up. “We could ask a jeweler to come to the house and bring a wideselection.”

“What if the jeweler says something to the media?” I ask. “What if he breaks his NDA or what if paparazzi catch him coming into the neighborhood and they startspeculating?”