Chapter 146

[Cordelia]

Atlas is looking up at me with so much fear, so much longing. My mouth goes dry as he takes my hand and gently kisses it.

From within his car, he pulls out a small box.

"This morning, before your mother called, I had texted Clark to bring me this."

He opens a small green velvet box. Inside is a delicate ring of gorgeous gold filigree in an art-nouveau style. In the center is a smallish green emerald and two smaller diamonds.

"It was my grandmother's." He explains. "And before her, my great-grandmother's." He holds it up to me. "I know it isn't much, but in that era, it was in style to have a smaller gemstone. The ring is 100 years old and..."

He's so nervous that he is rambling, waiting to be released from his one-knee torture of kneeling in the traditional position.

The only thing is, he hasn't asked me "the question" and I don't want to answer in case I am wrong.

What if he just wanted to apologize and be fancy while doing it? I don't want to presume.

"I wanted to have a