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?"

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

ID. If you agree, I can get our marriage certificate really quickly. That way, I won't have

an answer, his tone lowered

She just wanted to be in a relationship with Ed, not get married to

pictured herself getting married. It always seemed too unreal and uncertain for

gotten a good

to know what was going through her head. "Once

over, turning her

pull her close.

called her Grace, and his voice

tired, for so much

perhaps due to her amnesia, she struggled to comprehend the extent

were

let's

waist hard. "It's just

want

her mind. It seemed she might have

I can't wait until I'm old enough to

course! I like you.

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 not? You're always tired

and got out

he grabbed her waist. "You can't keep treating

Grace's headache was

pried his hand off.

throbbing. "That's

it.

to sleep in the

going

need to

We

stood up, opened the door, and walked out without a