You Love Somebody

49 (Eddie)

When Anna said she would stay if he asked her to, he knew it was time to find a way to tell her that he wanted to marry her. Her dad had given his blessing, and he was fairly sure Alice had meant the same. They hadn't known each other that long, but he knew it was right for him. The way she worried about losing him was a telling sign that she needed to know that this was it for him. He wasn't going anywhere and he wanted her by his side for the rest of his life. He wanted to buy her a ring and propose to her, not making a giant spectacle of it, but a romantic intimate proposal between the two of them. He knew he was going to need his mum and Emma to help him out. They would definitely give him the right advice.

Anna was exhausted and wanted to rest for a while. He cuddled her until she fell asleep and then he texted Emma.

'Are you around?'

'Yeah, room 304.' She replied.

He gently slid his arm out from under Anna and tip-toed out of the suite and down to room 304. He knocked on the door, and his mum opened.

"Sweetheart!" She exclaimed and hugged him and kissed his cheeks.

"Hi mum," he said and squeezed her tightly.

"Hey fam!" Emma called from the room.

Eddie sat down in one of the armchairs in the room.

"Where's Anna?" Emma asked. She was scrolling on her phone.

"She's resting upstairs. She was knackered. It was really difficult for her sending her family back yesterday." He scratched at a mosquito bite on his arm. "I need your help. Both of you."

"What's up sweetie?" His mum said and sat down next to him.

He let out a long breath and ran his fingers through his hair. "I... want to buy her a ring."

The silence in the room was piercing. It almost felt eerie. Until his mum and Emma shot up at the same time and started laughing and jumping around. They both sat down on either side of him and hugged him.

"That is wonderful, Eddie. She's so lovely," his mum sniffled. "Her dad and I agreed that it probably wouldn't be long before the two of you figured out that you belong together." 

Eddie smiled at the thought of their parents agreeing they should be together. That only meant that everything he was feeling wasn't just in his head. People around them saw how they were together.

"So how can we help you?" Emma said and squeezed his shoulders. She was smiling from ear to ear, obviously happy with his decision. 

"I'd love to pick out a ring, but I can't go anywhere. There's too many people outside, and I can't walk into a jeweller without it being all over social media. That won't exactly surprise her," he grimaced. 

"We'll handle it, don't worry," his mum said and patted his hand. "We'll arrange for someone to come here, and you can look through their selection." 

"Thanks," he said and took his mum's hand in one hand and Emma's in the other. "I love her."

"So do we," Emma said and giggled.

***
Anna was still resting when he came back up to the suite. She was lying on her side, her head resting on the pillow with a soft, peaceful look on her face. Her hair fanned out behind her, creating a halo of dark-auburn strands against the pillow. The gentle rise and fall of her chest showing her calmness. She was wearing a cropped halterneck top and very short shorts, showing off her tanned skin, kissed by the summer sun. Her beautiful shoulder like an elegant curve leading down to her arm and her hand, resting on the bed. He sat for a moment and looked at her hand, imagining what it would look like with a ring on her finger. What ring could he put on that finger that was worthy of the love he felt for her? Her hand looked so small and soft as she laid there and he desperately wanted to take it, but he didn't want to wake her.