Finding myself (18+)

Chapter 46

Andrew's POV

The bedroom is dark and silent when I slip in, letting the door open to provide a source of light. Kelsey's eyes are closed, and the slow, rhythmic pattern of her breathing suggests she's in a deep sleep. She's curled up in the covers, one hand holding them and just her head sticking out. I kiss her temple before kneeling on her side. Letting her know I'm back and she is no longer alone is a habit of mine.

Her hand is warm when I take it, as I have done many times before. The first time I measured her finger, I used a wire. It was Alicia's idea since my girlfriend is the only woman I know who doesn't wear rings. She doesn't have one I could use for her size, which complicated the whole thing.

Fortunately, the ring is the perfect fit and enters her finger smoothly. I grin, staring at it. With her hand above mine, I shifted hers to see it from different angles long enough until I was satisfied with how it looked on her. Warranty that I chose the right one, that she'll adore it.

I pull it slightly to take it off, but to my horror, it gets stuck on her tendon instead of sliding out.

Carefully, I rotate it around her finger, pulling it as steady as possible to avoid waking her up. My eyes were on her finger, and I chewed my lip, holding my breath at this crucial moment. When Kelsey sighs, I grimace. My shoulders hurt from the tension.

I scrutinized her face, afraid she was waking up. What the fuck do I do now?

Kelsey moves abruptly, and I hold her hand to prevent her from catching the ring and ruining the plans. When she attempts to pull her hand off my grasp at the moment her eyes open, I hold her hand tighter.

I'm sweating, shaking, and so fucking anxious it's shameful. The fact that my nervous fiasco might help Kelsey to slide her hand out of my grip only increases my concern. Shaking and sweating hands aren't known from their firm grip.

"What's going on?" She asks, her voice low and sleepy. I squeeze my eyes shut for a second. As if when I open them up again, Kelsey would be miraculously sleeping, and the surprise wouldn't be ruined.

"You're supposed to be sleeping," I caressed her knuckles with numb fingers, worried if I held her hand too tight, it might crush it.

Now would be the right time to get the magician's trick I wanted to learn as a kid, so I could make the ring disappear from her finger and appear inside my pocket.

She frowns, disturbed, half asleep, half awake, keeping her eyes on our clasped hands.

Other than a sigh here and there, she always sleeps like a rock. I frown, thinking about how the hell I'm going to rectify the situation.

I measured her finger many times before during her sleep. Considering every opportunity she got to catch me in the act, of course, it had to be the one I was actually doing with the engagement ring.

"Give it back to me," she yells, then pulls her hand with an unexpected display of strength, but I maintain my grip, refusing to let it slip even slightly.

"Could you please close your eyes for a minute?" My gaze remains fixed on our intertwined hands, paying attention to any slight movement as the intensity in her eyes flushes my cheeks. I hope she doesn't notice how my hands are sweating and trembling. I can't spoil what I've been preparing for such a long time.

I'm not ready. We were supposed to go to a Greek island, in a perfect hotel and a romantically ideal setup.

That's not how it should go.

"No!" Her eyes narrow at me, and I raise my eyes and stare at her, taken aback by her reaction. Her body leans away from mine.

I tilt my head, eyebrows furrowing while gazing at her, finding her eyes red and puffy.