“For when her hands swell, so she can still be wearing one,” he says it like it is so obvious and he can’t understand why we didn’t all figure that out ourselves. I understand the logic; Ellis would feel guilty if she couldn’t fit her ring on when her knuckles swell. She feels enough guilt as it is, all the pressure she puts herself under, and there is no way I am going to add to it.

The guys take Jack and look through every cabinet as I sit down with Lyndsey as the head jeweller Louis approaches us to introduce himself, telling him all of the new requirements I have thought of. Silver, lightweight but still dazzling, I need it in two sizes, maybe something blue because she looks so good in blue. He takes in all the information and begins gathering a selection. Lyndsey was quick to tell him the ring isn’t for her, the only woman in a shop now crowded by men it would have been a realistic assumption, so I am glad she set the record straight.

I don’t know how Felix found this shop, but it felt like Louis jumped right into my brain. After talking for a few minutes he gives me this smile as he hurries off to the back room and reappears with a little velvet tray in his hands.

Without saying a word, he places the cushioned tray in front of me with Ellis’s engagement ring on it. I know this is it. From nowhere the guys are looking over my shoulder as I pick up the white gold band, there is an emerald cut diamond in the centre with two smaller baguette style sapphire stones on either side of the band. I look at it from every angle: it is perfect.

My mind paints a picture of Ellis’s hand adorned with this ring no matter the price. Frankly this guy could take me for millions of dollars and I would still thank him for it. I watch him box up both sizes of the ring and I pay for them without question but only after Jack has given me the go ahead. I remind him once more to keep it a secret and he zips his lips before giving me a wink with both eyes.

Close enough.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

31st December

Ellis

Having time to get all dressed up is a rarity. Even before I got pregnant that night out last year was the first time I got dressed up in months. When Liam told me to lock the bathroom door and take as much time as I want to get pampered while he gets the kids ready for the team’s New Year’s party at first I argued, but I didn’t argue hard.