I closed my eyes, took a breath, opened them and said, “Aedyn, this is Chip—my boyfriend.”
Aedyn raised his eyebrows and then brushed the back of his hand across his nose. I had failed to mention this to Aedyn in our long conversation at the diner. Whether subconsciously, or purposely, who knew anymore, I said nothing about a boyfriend—of four years—who I wanted to marry.
“Of course, Chip Harrison. I remember,” Aedyn said graciously.
I watched as the two of them shook hands, though I surmised the handshake was not a sincere gesture, at least not from Chip’s perspective. They exchanged a few stilted pleasantries, an unwelcome tension growing between them. Chip sounded sarcastic and on the verge of being downright rude and my nerves tensed even further. He was annoyed that Aedyn was here. That was no great revelation.
Chip suddenly paused and asked, “So, Aedyn, why are you here?”
“I saw the accident and called the ambulance,” he replied. “I’m really sorry, Lauren. I saw the guy coming out of the bar. I knew he was drunk and I should’ve stopped him. He was walking so I didn’t know he had parked behind the bar. I thought he was hoofing it home or heading to the park. I’m really sorry.”
Chip’s jaw shifted like he was grinding his teeth and his eyes narrowed while Aedyn fumbled with the button on his jacket.
“It’s fine. Aedyn. You couldn’t have known. It was just my unlucky day.”
I expected Aedyn to excuse himself and say he needed to go, but he just stood there. He had no idea what he was mixed up in here. If he knew what was good for him he should just go. The tension in the room was increasing with frightening intensity and the presence of Chip and Aedyn in front of me at the same time wasn’t helping the knot in my stomach or the pounding in my head.
Aedyn looked to the ceiling and then his blue eyes pierced me with a look I’ll never forget. He ran his tongue over his upper lip and said, “Lauren, you didn’t mention you were in a relationship.” He looked so betrayed; you would’ve thought I stabbed him in the back with a knife. Not only was my head pounding out of my skull now, but I couldn’t breathe either. What did he care? He was just in town for his father’s funeral, not for me.
Without waiting for a reply Chip, pinned him with a hard look. “Well, she does. And I’m the one. So you can leave now, Aedyn. Thank you for your help, but goodbye.” He definitely saw Aedyn as a threat.
Aedyn stepped back and walked to the foot of my bed and turned. I thought he was going to say good-bye, but he just stood there for a moment. I thought for sure this would be when Chip exploded into a rage, but he didn’t. Instead, a smirk appeared on his face and he moved closer to me, sitting on the edge of my bed as he spoke with a cool authority. “Lauren, sweetheart, I came as fast as I could. Rob called me, told me he’d just worked an accident you’d been in. I was frantic, rushed over here and find you with another man?” I bit down hard on my lip and lowered my eyes under his glaring disapproval.
“You look white as a sheet, dear.” Chip said, and reached out to touch my face. “You hit your head pretty hard. I’m here now though and everything’s going to be better. I’m sorry about how I behaved before. I just get crazy at the thought of not having you. When Rob told me you had been in an accident, well, the thought of losing you… I…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Chip whipped out a small black velvet box. My eyes turned to saucers and my mouth went bone dry. I glanced at the box, then at Aedyn and then at Chip. There was only one thing that came in a box like that.
My emotions rolled through me like a runaway train. Why did I look at Aedyn? This was it! The moment I’d been waiting for my whole life. I should have been all eyes on Chip and the little black velvet box hovering in the air in front of me. I was sure Chip had noticed. He must have. He was right in my face, he couldn’t have missed seeing me glance in Aedyn’s direction, as if checking for—what?
I sat up straight in the bed and put on a show worthy of an Oscar, acting surprised and elated. Overjoyed.
Chip was very intense. He opened the box dramatically, took out a beautiful engagement ring with an exquisite halo setting and a huge sparkling diamond in the center. Then he proposed to me. Right there in the hospital bed.
I held my breath while Chip held the ring up, waiting for my answer, poised to slip it on my finger. He was confident I would say yes.
He had played me well.
Chip’s eyes darted up and to the right, as if he were waiting for something other than my answer and then it came. The door clicked shut behind Aedyn as he left and Chip focused his eyes back on me and the ring.