Breaking the Ring

cheating on me three days aft

ight, saying it was just drinks, b

"Does a woman die if she doesn't get married? Marry Cecelia, and wh

cry, and ended the eng

y new apartment door. "Cecelia, I

xter for seven years, fro

nothing, finding love

a perfect partner, except he

d up the nerve and planned a surpr

is smile froze, his usu

d him, n

ears, were watching too. If he rejected

d there, his

embarrassment, grabbed the ring a

but didn't

ngagement, he insisted

, and I heard fabric rustling. I called his name, but no on

into marriage like that," he said. "I thought

ut Cecelia's got a great figure, Auria University's cam

man seven years, you'd get bored. Touching her feels like touching my

ey can have her," he add

minick. Cecelia's like a fancy meal. N

t, Dominick let out his real thoughts. "Marry Cecelia, and what a

hit by lightning, s

ut off at

en I decide

ooked a solo tr

ughts, no dra

ain at a friend's

his lap, her cheeks pink as she leaned up to shar

ng a soda cracker together, the fir

opped when I showed

to lighten the mood. "Cecelia, you're finally here.

im a gift, and wished

shed and tri

ping her there. "Where you g

ayful glare, her

is eyes only on the

girl in his lap.

ng up for me. "Dominick, that's

the engagement without a word, ran off on a trip, and played everyone.

t ceremony was all set. The hote

short note. "The world'

eared un

the selfish one, the

ght. I'd be

it on the table. Looking into Dominick's steady eyes, I said,

sps around

ng?" someone

She hated being a housewife, but for him, she qui

t mad. It'

hy get jealous over a youn

Even Dominick's look

igh

in this relation

t how stubborn

backed

armth, "I'm twenty-eight. In your eye

he was daring me to lose it, to tur

ed out once. But he made sure to post onlin

hinking of the angry c

ys side

t charm is? Women are like wine, getting better with time. Men like you? Past twenty-five, you're done. Dominick, here's a secre

ful smile as his fa

and walked out

d with Dominick and packed eve

suit

life fit into a

ter. I could leav

tment when my best friend called,

oped up too long and

a dozen around h

ing a big shot had shown up, covering everyon

d to

in the mirror, grabbed m

breaking it off. Cecelia, how long has it been since I saw you looking this s

lips into a

ner. She went to tend to

t, but I kept going,

a tall figure sat across fro

. "Want a drink? Get your own. The bi

of my hand lightly. "You run off without a word, and I

e was too

ight, youthful eyes. Their owner tilted

aught in m

n Mil

t while wandering ai

r with a grin. "Perfect. I was worried about her getti

protest, but Melina

night. I heard he got his heart broken by some woman on a t

d, not giving me a

eyes again, but my

t pos

o broke his

Stefan dropped me off a

ole ride, and now ther

aned over, grabbing my hand. His breath came clos

ing? Not inviting

remote spot when some creeps harassed me. Stefan steppe

pulse. I hooked his finger with mine, smiling so

My burning feelings for Dominick

to a man who didn

ry someth

was p

and pas

hat first time, it was li

lite until the d

ged, pinning me against it

f let out

keep up with

ibrant,

hadn't fe

ing at the red marks he left on me. "Stefan,

my shoulder, h

ting my earlobe, his voice low and sticky. "Didn't you c

flipped

days. We roamed the streets by day and lost oursel

leave with

tally saw

in '95, h

ld water dumpe

at Stefan, who was playing a game.

ut hesitation, came over,

ext year and asked if I

and over, full of de

as dist

packed my bags a