Loser is Love

Chapter Six

Hands are great, especially Riley's. They are so tiny and perfect. I remember her hands in high school, they were pudgy but they were nice. Here I am sliding a ring on her finger imagining that I just proposed and she said yes. She has perfect fingers for an engagement ring.

"Okay, hand. My cousin wanted me to try on rings because my fingers are the same size as his fiancée and I'm a girl."

Riley is looking at rings and they are not even for her. It sounds pathetic. What is even more pathetic is that I offered to drive. What would Riley do right now if I took this ring and got on one knee and asked her to spend the rest of her life with me?

I stare at her hand, the white gold band with the little sapphires in a circle around the central diamond. It's a beautiful ring. I rub her ring finger with my thumb. She has soft skin.

"It's beautiful isn't it?"

Riley stares at the ring longingly.

"Yes, it is," I stare at her hand.

"I used to imagine Ben proposing with a big ring as beautiful as this one. I don't think any guy would ever give me one of these."

I would. I'd buy her this one. Of the twenty-four rings we looked at this one is my favorite because I got to put it on her finger. She had done it herself all day and was feeling like a loser so she asked me to do it.

I cup Riley's hand and bend the knee. She is staring at me so is the jeweler. I am not crazy, okay maybe a little.

"Wheeler, what are you doing?"

"I want to buy you this ring. Hear me out. I want to buy you this ring because you deserve something nice. It looks good on your hand."

I stand up. Riley hugs me.

"Danny, that's sweet, but this is an engagement right. I can't wear it for everyday if I'm not engaged."

She takes the ring off and puts it in my hand and goes off to look at necklaces. The jeweler reaches for the ring. I stare at it. No. This ring is meant for Riley and I intend to give it to her. I pull the jeweler aside.

"How much is it?"

"$4200," he says.

I glance over at Riley. My heart melts watching her eyes light up at all the sparkly diamonds. I would buy them all for her if I could.

"I'll take it." I pull out my wallet to with my credit card.

He puts the ring in its proper box; I put it in my pocket.

"I'm done browsing. I feel like a total loser, but at least I can tell my cousin about the selections the one with the sapphires especially," says Riley, ready to leave.

As we get into the car, I smile to myself.

"Maybe one day, you'll find a guy crazy in love with you who will buy that ring for you." I start the car.

"If only there was such a guy," Riley lays her head on my shoulder.

I smile.

"I am sure he exists." I can feel that ring box in my pocket.

"That ring will look so good on my cousin's fiancée. I am so jealous."

It might look good on her, too bad we'll never know, because she's not getting it. I pat my pocket and look at Riley whose head is on my arm, one day this ring will be hers and I will be the one to give it to her the way it's meant to be.

Thank you for reading. Please review. I really want some feedback. I was asked to change up the dialogue and not use "says" so much, so I am trying to do that. You guys are awesome.