Regret Came Too Late

When Grace returned to the bedroom, she took a shower first.

By the time she came out, the snacks on the table had been cleared away.

She saw the lump under the covers, walked over slowly, and snuggled beside Ed. His arms felt so good around her.

Her hand drifted down, and she felt the red bead bracelet and the ring on his wrist. He seemed to really like them-he wore them every time he came to see her.

A feeling of warmth spread through her, and she smiled. "You're not planning on taking off the ring and bracelet I gave you, are you?"

He held her closer, his embrace tightening.

"Nope. Not unless something bad happens to me. I'll wear them forever."

Grace's brow furrowed, and she abruptly placed her hand over his lips. "Do not utter such ominous words."

He pressed a kiss to her palm, his spirits seemingly lifting in response.

"Okay."

Grace was tired. She yawned, almost asleep, when he asked, "A lot of people are crazy for your old boss. If he was around, would you change your mind?"

Grace snapped awake, feeling somewhat weirded out. Uncertain, she asked, "Change my mind about what? That I actually like Ethan? Am I crazy?"

Her answer came quickly-there was no hesitation at all.

He went quiet, fiddling with the red bead bracelet on her wrist with his fingers.

Grace thought he was worried, so she reassured him. "Don't worry about that. There's absolutely no way I could ever like Ethan."

"Why not?"

"We're from different worlds, and he's not right for me. Ed, you sound really worried about him."

His voice was already low, and now it got even quieter. "I'm just scared that all of this is too good to last."

Grace was sleepy, so she just planted a couple of quick kisses on his face.

"It's okay, don't worry about things that haven't even happened."

She closed her eyes and was almost asleep when she heard him say, "Hey, why don't we just get married?"

now left Grace, and she sat up, afraid he was

"Give me your ID. If you agree, I can get our marriage certificate

his tone lowered somewhat. "What? You don't

in a relationship

really pictured herself getting married. It always seemed too unreal

she hadn't even gotten a good

seemed to know what was going through her head. "Once

over, turning her back to

jolt of panic and couldn't help but pull her close. "Grace, I'm terrified. I'm scared all the

her Grace, and his voice was even shaking when he

for so much

struggled

things were fine

"Ed, let's talk about this later,

waist hard. "It's

don't want to get married,

flashed into her mind. It seemed

until I'm old enough to get married!"

I like you. I want

and suddenly sat up in

waist. When he saw her like this, he

tone, "What's wrong?"

remembered some stuff from

"What stuff?"

"Ed, I'm exhausted."

You're always tired when you're

and got out

feet even touched the floor, he grabbed her waist. "You can't keep treating me

Grace's headache was

his hand off. his hand

throbbing. "That's

it.

in

going

to cool

We

door, and walked out