Our Anniversary Trip Was Their Repeat Trip Chapter 03

Our Anniversary Trip Was Their Repeat Trip Chapter 03

He barely reacted to the little story Olivia had brought up. His expression stayed cold as he repeated, “Claire Bennett, apologize.”

I didn’t answer. Olivia tugged lightly at his sleeve first.

“Ethan, don’t be so harsh.”

“Let’s not fight. It was my fault.”

“I should have reminded the restaurant more than once.”

Olivia looked generous, which only made me seem more petty for insisting on being upset.

My teeth sank into the inside of my lip. It hurt.

The part of me that had wanted to explain what really hurt went quiet. I nodded.

“I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

Ethan’s voice softened. He reached into the bag he had been carrying for me and pulled out two little stuffed-animal keychains.

On our first day in California, Ethan had taken me to a vintage shop.

It had taken me forever to choose the two charms, and Ethan had said they would be a keepsake from my first trip to California.

Now he handed them to Olivia.

“You said they were cute and that you wanted them.”

“Take them. Consider it an apology.”

Their friends laughed.

“Olivia, look at how easily you trained Ethan.”

“You two have been broken up for three years, and he still remembers that you never considered an apology sincere without a gift.”

I was the only one who didn’t laugh with them.

Olivia said,

“Don’t be upset.”

“And don’t overthink it.”

“I already have a boyfriend. We’re even planning to get engaged.”

Ethan’s hand paused. His smile was almost mocking.

“When did that happen? How did I not hear about it?”

“How many times did he propose? Ten?”

Olivia held up one finger. “Once.”

She looked Ethan straight in the eye. “I said yes the first time.”

Ethan let out a short, humorless laugh.

“Really? What did he do that won you over? You didn’t complain that the ring was too small, say the flowers weren’t your style, or pick apart the weather?”

Neither of them looked away. Olivia crooked one corner of her mouth.

“Ethan, what does that have to do with you?”

“You have a girlfriend, too, don’t you?”

“You’ve been together for quite a while. When are you going to propose?”

I knew Ethan had proposed to Olivia ten times in all.

From mountaintops to the ocean floor, every proposal had been elaborate and heartfelt.

Later, I had imagined it happening to me, too. Would there ever be a day when Ethan proposed? What would it look like?

But I had never imagined it would happen on an ordinary day, with nothing prepared.

It was casual and impulsive. After looking at Olivia for a few seconds, Ethan said,

“I was planning to propose on this trip.”

“Since you brought it up, I might as well do it today.”

“Olivia, you were able to say yes to someone else’s proposal the first time. Mine will be accepted just as quickly.”

“And if you come back east for the wedding, you’re welcome to attend.”

It didn’t sound like a proposal. It sounded like he was trying to prove something to her.

Ethan walked over to me. Maybe I should have been grateful that he had at least brought a ring.

It was the one I had seen in a magazine. My eyes had lingered over that page for a few seconds, and Ethan had remembered.

He gave me a sideways smile. “Do you like it?”

“Then I’ll get it for you.”

But I no longer felt my heart racing the way it had back then.

Olivia stood up.

The moment Ethan reached for the ring, she turned and walked away.

Ethan’s back went rigid, but his hand closed tightly around the ring.

After a moment, he shut the ring box, pressed it into my hand, and sighed.

“I’m going to check on her.”

“Put the ring on yourself for now.”

I let out a small laugh.

“Have you ever heard of someone proposing and then making the other person put the ring on herself?”

He strode away without hearing me.

The square edges of the ring box dug into my palm. It was tiny, yet somehow it hurt that much.