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."

was sleepy, so she just planted a couple of quick

about

asleep when she heard

now left Grace, and

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

answer, his tone lowered

in a relationship with Ed,

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

a good look at his face

to know what was going through her head. "Once

over, turning her

felt a jolt of panic and couldn't help but pull her close. "Grace, I'm

called her Grace, and his voice was even

just extremely tired, for

she struggled to comprehend the

thought things were fine as

closed her eyes. "Ed, let's talk

her waist hard. "It's

him off. "I don't want to get married, not to

she said that, a voice suddenly flashed into her mind. It seemed she might have said something similar

you someday? I can't wait until I'm old enough to get married!" "Grace,

you. I

rubbed her temples and suddenly

was still on her waist. When he saw her

tone, "What's wrong?"

some stuff

"What stuff?"

"Ed, I'm exhausted."

not? You're always tired

and got out of

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

Grace's headache was

hand