No Reservations: Ryan's Version (A Romantic Comedy)

Chapter 24

2017

The engagement ring was burning a hole in my pocket. It had been for several months now.

I had bought it before we even celebrated a full year together - that's how convinced I already was that we were going to go the distance. Let's face it, I'd always known, deep down, if we managed to finally get together, Iona would be it for me.

And the past fifteen months had proved it over and over.

With Iona back in my life, and now in the place she should have been all along, everything had finally slotted into place. It made sense. It was perfect.

I remember the day after we finally got together, waking up alone in bed, and thinking "fuck, was that all another dream?" Had my brain really did the ultimate number on me, and finally blurred my subconscious completely with reality?

Then I'd realised I wasn't in my own bed, and Iona had quietly let herself into her room, with the bacon sandwiches she'd rustled up for us in the kitchen. And I knew that finally my dream had come true. She was actually mine.

We needed to work that Saturday, of course, but for the first time it didn't really feel like work for me. Sidelong glances and stolen kisses, as well as the anticipation of more togetherness later, made the day seem far easier and brighter.

I know, I'm a massive sap. But finally I was where I wanted to be.

After a lifetime of hiding feelings, of not being honest, all of our truths were now spilling out. I told her about the many dreams I'd had about her, and it turned out she had also dreamt of me. Curled up together in bed most nights, we filled each other in on the parts of our lives we had missed out on.

We also spoke in far more detail about all the interactions we remembered from over the years. "Imagine if we had kissed at David's party all those years ago," Iona had said dreamily. "If I'd got there earlier, and Christine hadn't already kissed you."

I'd laughed. "I sometimes wonder if I'd actually have had the guts to make a move that night, if things had been different," I admitted. I'd had a lot of time to muse about that over the years. "I'd definitely have told you how I felt at prom though. The words were so close to coming out."

"Fucking Martin," she had muttered. That phrase was bandied about a lot over those first few months. You'll be glad to know, by the way, that he shot off with his tail between his legs the morning after our confrontation . . . And his girlfriend Monica dumped him shortly after for a semi-famous actor. Karma in action.

Anyway, back to the ring. As soon as I'd spotted it, I knew it was perfect. Platinum, set with an amethyst stone. The grown-up equivalent of the purple pen. A gesture far more massive than the pillow fort. That ring was absolutely made for Iona Stewart . . . Or Iona Thorne, should she choose to take my name.

I just needed to find the perfect moment to propose.

And yes, like I've said before, I know waiting for such a moment had ruined my life in the past, but this time I knew I didn't need to worry about that. Iona and me were together, regardless of that ring . . . We had all the time in the world.

I stopped walking, and Iona turned to look at me questioningly.

"You okay?" She asked, brown eyes sparkling.

We were in Sidari, on the Greek island of Corfu. Our first holiday abroad together. The sandy beach was deserted, and I couldn't have designed a more beautiful sunset for this moment.