Doubt: Sure…
I mean, there’s no way Theo expected me to stay in Italy, and this house he built and the car he got me were just for when I came to visit.
Doubt: Uh-huh…
And the ring…
Well. We’re doing long distance now, so maybe we’ll just continue that.
Doubt: Your level of delusion is sometimes amusing.
What do you want me to say? What do you expect me to do? The man proposed to me in a house he built for us. Then fucked me so hard my mind went into orbit.
Now we’re sitting in the hot tub—Yes, the house had a hot tub—after I swore I would never leave him.How am I supposed to ask him what he meant by that?
Doubt: Simple. Just ask.
I can’t…
Doubt: Why? Scared you won’t like the answer?
No. I know it was just pillow talk. But…
Doubt: Just ask, Carmen. You never know until you ask. Besides, you trust him…right?
The jets hummed gently around us, glowing in soft blue light from beneath the surface of the water. Theo lounged opposite me, head resting back against the tiled ledge. His eyes were closed, lips parted slightly, breath slow and heavy with exhaustion.
The curve of his throat was exposed, and I watched the subtle rise and fall of his Adam’s apple.
My fingers twisted around the edge of the ring, and a closer look revealed it was engraved on the inside with the day we met.
It was stunning.
Thoughtful.
A ring made for me in every way.
And yet, something sat heavy in the pit of my stomach.
My voice was small. “Teddy?”
His head didn’t move, but I saw his Adam’s apple bob. “Hmm?”
I hesitated. “Did you…”
I couldn’t ask at first.
“Did you do all of this—the house, the car, the ring—because you were hoping I’d stay in Italy?”
He lifted his head slowly, eyelids blinking open as his focus found mine.
He didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he asked, “Why would you go back to New York?”
My heart sank.
“Because, Theo,” I said quietly. “I have a job there. A life. I can’t just give that up.”
