Sparks the Matchmaker - By Russell Elkins Page 0,2
in vain for a laugh, or even a tiny smile. She’d always laughed at the memory before, but not today. She’ll laugh about it later. After. When she’s in a better mood.
“I mean, if I didn’t ask you out he probably would have. Anyway, what did I have to lose, right? If you never called me, then no big deal, right? Plus, it saved you from Richie asking you out, which he probably would have done right there in front of your date.”
“Mmm hmm.”
“I’m glad you did call me, though. I mean, who knows where we’d be today if you didn’t.”
Ollie admired the many colors of autumn as he slowed to a stop near the beginning of the canyon trail. He jumped out the driver’s side and rushed to Anne’s door, but before he could get there she had not only already let herself out, but started to make her own way toward the trail without him, hands in her jacket pockets, eyes fixed on the ground.
At first he couldn’t imagine why she was trying to skip ahead of him on the trail, but then it hit him: She knows where we’re going. If her roommate suspected what he was planning to do, she probably did too. The sun was going to go down at about six, and if they didn’t hurry it might get dark before they were ready to leave.
Ollie quickened his pace, trying to catch up with her. “You know, we’ve been together for a long time now, Anne, and I’ve been thinking. I’ve been thinking a lot.”
“I have too, and I think—”
“Hold on, let me go first. I’ve been thinking about the time we first met, and everything that’s gone on since then, and, well, I love you, Anne. I’ve been madly in love with you for a long time.”
“Oliver—”
“And the more I—” He paused when his mind registered that she had used his full name. She’s never done that before. “The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. I can’t imagine my life without you, and stopping by your apartment every day is starting to come up short. We need more than that.”
Ollie stopped walking and, although they hadn’t yet reached the location he had previously chosen, he dropped to his right knee. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the little black box. He hesitated to open it up, though, because Anne, who had stopped a few steps in front of him, still hadn’t turned around to face him.
Having precisely laid out beforehand every word he was now saying, he couldn’t continue until he at least had eye contact. So he waited. The longer she stood with her back to him, the more excited he got, anxious to see the look on her face when she realized her life was about to change forever.
When she finally did turn around, her red eyes brimmed with tears. Surprised and confused, Ollie picked up where he’d left off and blurted out, “Anne, will you marry me?” He had originally planned to say more than just those words, but when he saw her eyes swimming he abandoned the rest of what he had rehearsed and skipped directly to those five.
“Well? What do you think, Anne? Will you?”
“Oh, Oliver. The ring is beautiful, but I just…”
“We don’t have to keep this ring. The guy who sold it to me said I could bring it back if you didn’t like it. That was part of the reason I went with this jeweler, because I wasn’t quite sure what you’d like. I almost asked you, but I wanted to surprise you. If you don’t like it… no hurt feelings. We can pick out a different ring together.”
“It’s not that.” Anne reached out her hand and closed the box in Ollie’s open hand, leaving the ring still inside.
Ollie’s mind shut off. The meaning of her words rang in his mind, but their sounds jumbled together as he watched her mouth move, a tear sliding down her left cheek. It’s over. The worst part was that he’d known for a long time it was over. He just hadn’t been willing to face it. He made no attempt to change her mind.
Numb, he stood up, tucked the little box back into his pocket, and turned back toward the car. Anne allowed him to walk for a few seconds before she began following. Even though his pace was painfully slow, she matched his speed and kept her distance. He wanted desperately