His hands were shaking.
“I know I’m not perfect,” he said. “But I know I want to build a life with you. I want a home where our children grow up knowing they can tell us anything. I want to grow old arguing about what to have for dinner.”
I laughed through my tears.
Then I said yes.
For three days, I felt as if the world had finally given me something I could trust.
Then we announced our engagement to Patricia.
She hugged Ryan, admired the ring, and congratulated us.
When he stepped outside to take a phone call, she turned toward me.
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking that engagement means you’ve won.”
I stared at her.
“Excuse me?”
She adjusted the bracelet on her wrist.
“Ryan is easily influenced. He’s always been that way. He needs someone who understands him.”
“I love him.”
“Love is a word people use when they want something.”
