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Chapter Twenty-Two
BRETT
“The ring looks beautiful on your finger,” I say to Rosie as we board the ferry to Catalina Island.
“Thank you. It’s a beautiful ring.” She stares down at it. “I know it’s not ostentatious and didn’t cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, but if I were really engaged, this is the sort of ring I’d want.”
“I’m glad. How have you been? Packing for LA?” I peer into her eyes.
I’m desperate to know what’s happening with NBC, but she’s never brought it up.
“I’ve been good. Just working. Sage and I went out to eat the other night, and I’ve been working on some new material and all that good stuff.”
She doesn’t mention LA, and I’m not going to push it.
“Have you ever been to Catalina Island before?”
“No, this will be my first time.”
“I’m sure you’ll love it. It’s really lovely, and I’m excited to show it to you.” My words sound stiff. I feel like a stranger, but I don’t know what to say.
My heart beats with love for Rosie, and I can’t express it. I don’t want her to have any inkling of my feelings because I know she’s the sort of woman who’d change her plans to stay with me.
“I brought a book actually,” Rosie says, holding up a paperback. “I thought I’d read, if you don’t mind, so you don’t feel like you have to chat with me the whole boat ride.”
“Sure,” I say. “Sounds good. I need to go through the architect’s plans for the building anyway.”
We take our seats, awkward with each other. There are so many things I want to say to her, and I can’t.
* * *
“Okay. Time to put on a happy face,” I whisper in Rosie’s ear.
She beams at me. “Nicole Kidman, at your service,” she says, throwing her hands up in the air.
“I guess that makes me Tom Cruise,” I say, and she frowns.
“You know they’re not together anymore, right?”
“I did.” I shrug. “But let’s pretend that they are.”
We make our way off the ferry, and immediately, I see my grandparents waiting.
Here goes nothing.
“There you are, Brett.” Grandfather steps forward and wraps his arms around me as Grandmother hugs Rosie.
“Darling, it’s so good to see you again,” Grandmother says to her.
Grandfather turns to Rosie. “I’ve got a deck of cards waiting for you, but we’re not gambling. No twenty-one. I don’t want you taking all my money.”
“I’ll try not to,” she says with a laugh.
“So, there’s something I want to tell you both before we get in the car,” I say.
Rosie looks at me in surprise, and I shrug. Best to get it out of the way.
“Oh? What’s that?”
