Bring it on

Chapter 27

The crisp winter air nips at my skin the minute I step out of the car, making me ignore the gnawing tension which has been building up in my chest all morning. I've never been good at this sort of thing. On the ice, I know what to do-make the right moves, keep my focus, and everything else will fall into place. But today? Today is a whole different game.

Mark slams the door shut behind him, walking around the car with that usual cocky grin on his face. "So, ready to take the plunge?" he asks, nudging me with his elbow as he falls into step beside me.

I shoot him a look, half annoyed, half amused. "Don't make this sound like some huge disaster."

Why? It kinda is," he says, laughing. "I mean, you're buying a ring. You know, for her. For your future.

I roll my eyes, but deep down, his words hit harder than I want them to. I've never been one to talk about my future in big terms, but with Natalie... well, everything feels different. This isn't just another step in a relationship. This is the step. The one that changes everything.

"We're not buying a ring, Mark," I mutter, "I'm just looking.

"Sure, sure," he teases. "Looking for a ring that's going to have her saying 'yes.'"

I can't help but smile at that. He's right. I want Natalie to say yes, more than anything. I just have no idea how I ended up here, standing outside a jewelry store, about to make a decision that could define the rest of my life.

I step inside, the warmth of the store instantly wrapping around me. Mark heads straight for a display case filled with rings, like he's done this a million times. I, on the other hand, feel like I'm about to throw up.

The lady behind the counter greets us with a professional smile, her eyes flicking between Mark and me. She's used to guys like us, I can tell. The whole 'I don't know what I'm doing, just help me' vibe is pretty obvious, but she doesn't seem fazed.

"Can I help you gentlemen find something?" she asks, voice smooth.

"I'm here for him," Mark says with a jerk of his thumb in my direction. "He's the one with the big decision to make."

I groan under my breath. "I don't need an audience, Mark."

"You do, trust me," Mark says, grinning ear to ear. "It's your big moment."

The lady chuckles softly. "I'm sure we'll find something perfect," she says, guiding us toward a selection of rings. As she pulls out a few, she looks at me, knowing the smile. "Do you have any ideas regarding what kind of ring you want?"

Something that's... her," I say, trying to put into words what's going through my mind. "Something that feels like her. Not too flashy. Not too... I don't know, too much. She's not like that."

Mark leans in, winking at me. "She's not the kind of girl who wants a ring that'll blind her when the light hits it.

She nods slightly, having gotten the gist. "You want something that's subtle, elegant," she says, pulling out a few rings with delicate bands and simple, beautiful diamonds. "These might suit her taste."

I look at the rings, trying to picture Natalie's hand wearing one. It doesn't take long before I know exactly what I'm looking for. Something classic but different. The way she is. Strong, yet graceful.

Can we see that one?" I ask, pointing at one design in particular. It's a thin band with a little diamond centered into it, tiny other stones around the setting, nothing too big but just enough to catch the light right.

She pulls it out and holds it up for me to see. I know right then and there-this is it. This is her. I can see it on her hand as she walks through the rink with me, laughing, her eyes sparkling just like the stone. She'll wear it like it was made for her, because it was.

I think this is it," I say, my voice a little quieter than I expected.

Mark leans in, giving me a nudge. "Man, that's perfect. She's going to love it.

I smile, but my nerves are still there-a knot in my stomach. I keep picturing her face, the way her eyes light up when she's excited, the way her lips curve into that soft, warm smile she saves just for me. I want to make this right. I want this moment to be everything she deserves.

The lady wraps the ring up and hands it to me, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she watches me pocket the small box. "Congratulations. I'm sure she'll be thrilled."

I say nothing, exiting the store as the weight of the box in my jacket pocket feels heavier than expected. I turn to Mark, who's half amused and half-something-else expression greets me.

"So, what now?" he asks, clapping me on the back. "You going to keep it a secret until the perfect moment?

I nod, feeling a sudden rush of excitement. "Yeah. I want to surprise her. Make it special."

Mark gives me a grin. "You're going to do great, man. You've already nailed the hard part."

I laugh, but inside, I'm still shaking. "We'll see about that."

It's weird, you know, how something as small as a ring can feel so big. But with Natalie, everything I do feels big. Everything we do feels important. And as I walk away, thinking of the surprise I'm planning to pull off for her, I realize it's not just the ring that matters, but it's her, the person I want to spend each and every day with, the one I want by my side in all those moments-big or small.

And when the time comes, I want to give her all that I have. Including this one.