Page 115 of Resisting Isaac

That perks her up immediately. “Can we go now?”

An hour later,I’m somewhere I never imagined I’d be. Like not in my entire life.

At a jewelry story looking at engagement rings. Because I now live in an alternate universe.

Ivy holds two velvet ring boxes side by side. One’s simple. Classic solitaire, she tells me. The other’s vintage, some kind of signature piece with delicate scrollwork and a large rose-cut center stone surrounded by smaller ones. The matching band has diamond petals intricately wrapped around it. They’re pointy at the ends, almost like thorns and they make me think of my guarded girl with barbed wire around her heart.

Good thing I have rough hands that can handle it.

Ivy and the saleslady say some shit about cut and clarity that makes zero sense to me.

I should be thinking about budget and believability.

Instead, I’m thinking about how the vintage one looks like something Elena would choose to wear and I would prefer she never take this off.

Ever, if I can help it.

I stare at it a little too long.

“Ding ding ding,” Ivy mutters, lowering the box. “We have a winner.”

“Perfect.” I motion to the lady who’s been helping us andlet her know I’m ready to pay. It’s about three times what I’d planned on spending, but thanks to the cowboy training camp, I can afford it.

Once we’ve listened to her spiel about the ring I chose, which apparently has a name—who knew diamonds had names? Not me.

It’s not like I’m ever doing this again. Hell, the one time I am doing it isn’t even real.

“You okay?” Ivy says as we leave the store. “Want to grab some food and talk about it?”

I blink. “What?”

“Don’twhatme.” She nods at the very small, very expensive bag in my hand. “You love her.”

“This isn’t about?—”

“Love? Yeah, okay. You might have everyone else fooled, but you’re giving off emotionally compromised energy.”

“I’m just trying to make this easier on her. That’s all. At least if the ring is decent, she won’t feel like she’s getting a cheap imitation of a husband. Even if she is.”

Ivy’s eyes soften before she glares at me. “You’re not a cheap imitation of anything Isaac Logan. Maybe this isn’t the future either of you saw for yourselves, but you both need to admit how you truly feel. I’m begging you. When you give her that ring, be honest with her and with yourself about what it means. For both your sakes. And mine. And Wyatt’s. We have to live with you if you spend the rest of your life moping.”

I shake my head. “I’d hate to inconvenience the two of you with my despair.”

She nods. “Then don’t. Please.”

I exhale. Hard. “She’s leaving, Ivy. Even if the production company doesn’t fire her, she’ll leave when filming wraps.She’ll go where her career takes her.” And take my heart and my child with her.

It hits me then: there will be two of them to miss.

Fuck me.

“She hasn’t left yet.”

“She will.”

“So, ask her to stay. Preferably before you have to chase her down on horseback like Wyatt did with me,” she says with a wry smile. “Though, for the record, that was wildly romantic. Inconvenient and impractical, but romantic.”

I glance back down at the bag in my hands.