The Christmas bride

Ch. 3

A couple days later, Nini finally works up the courage to talk to Ethan and to return the ring. When she pulled up to his house, she noticed he was in the garage fixing up his dad's 1961 Chevy Impala. Sighing, she gets out of her car and makes her way to the garage.

"Uh, hi." Nini said, startling him, causing him to hit his head on the cars hood.

"Oh sorry! We're you busy? I can come back. I just-"

"It's fine." He said. "Just trying to get this stupid engine running for my old man. What are you doing here?"

She stared at him for a moment to collect her thoughts and then sighed. "Ethan, I am so sorry. I know! I never should've let it get this far. You, and my family, and everyone went through so much trouble, and- your proposal... wow. In a stadium in front of 50,000 people. I mean, how could a girl say 'no' right?"

"You didn't." He interrupted.

She sighed and walked closer to him. "You're right. But I should have." She reaches into her purse to grab the ring. "Here."

"Keep it." He said automatically, looking from the ring to her.

"Wha- no, Ethan I can't." She told him.

"Just- hang onto it. You don't have to wear it if it freaks you out too much, but just keep it. Who knows, maybe a little time will change your mind." He told her, hopefully.

"Ethan, I'm pretty sure we're not meant to be together." She said.

"But, you can't be that sure. You almost made it down the aisle. Well, I mean you did. You just didn't stop." He said sadly looking down at his feet.

"Yeah." She said, hesitantly.

"Listen, my company just got a contract for the city. Do you know what that means? Foot in the door... security... more contracts. Eventually a health plan. I start downtown next week" He tried to persuade, excitedly.

Nini raised her eyebrows. "Wow, that's really great! I'm happy for you." She said.

"Me? We're a team, Nins. We-we're like this socket set! We just go together!" Ethan said.

Nini stared at him like he has two heads and chuckled.

"Right. Well, I have to go so I'll see you." She said, waving and then walking away before he could respond.

LINE BREAK

"What can I say? We sold at the right time!" Ricky said to his client on the other end of the phone, chuckling. "It's what I do. I make you money!" He said, jokingly... "Sure thing. We'll talk about that dividend fund next week... alright...see you then" he hung up just as Ej walked to his door.

"Nice view! You know, they have these things called windows in my office. Really lights the room up." Ej said comically.

"Hate to break it to you, Caswell but I'm gonna have those in four weeks. I'm looking forward to it" He retaliated.

Ej chuckles. "Any luck finding your girl yet?"

"Oh, no but I haven't really looked. Been a little busy doing my actual job." Ricky said pointing around his small office.

Ej laughed and looked in the middle of the company office where the cubicles were. "What about, uh... Veronica?" He asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"The vegan? No. She eats seeds for lunch. Where would I take her for dinner?" Ricky joked.

"Fair enough" Ej said nodding. "Well, maybe you'll meet someone at the Baloo exhibit tonight." He said.

Ricky chuckled and threw his head back. "It's Baulieu" he told Ej.

"Yeah, whatever. There's gonna be a lot of girls there tonight, so bring your a-game, pal." Ej said with a wave. "See you."

"Always do." Ricky agreed with a light laugh. "Later, buddy."

LINE BREAK

"Wait a minute!" Kourtney said as they were walking down the steps to the exhibit. "You kept the ring?!" She exclaimed.

Nini shrugged. "I didn't want to but her refused to let me give it back to him. Plus, I've hurt him enough already."

"Oh my god, Nini. You have got to stop saying yes to these guys just because you don't want to hurt their feelings because guess what? You're gonna hurt them anyway." Kourtney told her best friend.

"You know me, Kourt. You know I hate confrontation." She said.

"Look, if a guy asked you to marry him on a 100ft Jumbotron, the risk he's willing to take is public humiliation." Kourt told her.

Nini nodded her head. "Yeah. I guess you're right."

"You've gotta learn how to be more assertive, girlfriend. You just gotta say no."

"No."

"Good. So you're gonna give Ethan the ring back right?"

"No." Nini said.

"Wha-"

"Yes! I'll do it next week." Nini laughed as both girls walked into the exhibit.
________________________________
Any guesses on who she'll meet at the exhibit? 🧐 I wonder...