I don’t know why that was supposed to be comforting. What if everything was meant to be a disaster? Knowing that it was meant to be horrible wouldn’t make it any better.

“Do you want me to go in with you?” Duncan asked when we got to my bedroom.

“Not tonight.” I shook my head. “I think I need some time to myself.”

“I understand.” He smiled reassuringly at me. “I’l see you in the morning then.”

“Thank you.”

I shut the door behind me and flicked on my light, and I stared down at the giant ring on my finger. It signified that I belonged to Tove, to somebody I didn’t love. I went over to my dresser to take off my jewelry, but I kept staring at the ring.

I couldn’t help myself, and I puled it off. It was realy beautiful, and when Tove gave it to me it had been so sweet. But I’d begun to hate that band.

When I took it off, I glanced into the mirror on the back of the dresser, and I nearly screamed when I saw the reflection. Finn was sitting behind me on the bed. His eyes, dark as night, met mine in the mirror, and I could hardly breathe.

“Finn!” I gasped and whirled around to look at him. “What are you doing here?”

“I missed your birthday,” he said, as if that answered my question. He lowered his eyes, looking at a smal box he had in his hands. “I got you something.”

“You got me something?” I leaned back on the dresser behind me, gripping it.

“Yeah,” he nodded, stil staring down at the box. “I picked it up outside of Portland two weeks ago. I meant to get back in time to give it to you on your birthday.” He chewed the inside of his cheek.

“But now that I’m here, I’m not sure I should give it to you at al.”

“What you are talking about?” I asked

“It doesn’t feel right.” Finn rubbed his face. “I don’t even know what I’m doing here.”

“Neither do I,” I said. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy to see you. I just… I don’t understand.”

“I know,” he sighed. “It’s a ring. What I got you.” His gaze moved from me to the engagement ring sitting the dresser beside me.

“And you already have one.”

“Why did you get me a ring?” I asked tentatively, and my heart beat erraticaly in my chest. I didn’t know what Finn was saying or doing.

“I’m not proposing to you, if that’s what you’re asking.” He shook his head. “I saw it and thought of you. But now it seems like poor taste. And here I am, the night before your wedding, sneaking in to give you a ring.”

“Why did you sneak in?” I asked.