Brooke barely had time to step back from the door before Ashley barreled in, eyes bright, hair wind-tossed and a wide grin.
"Hi…hi," Ashley said in one breath, then stuck out her left hand like a punchline. "Brooke."
Brooke looked. The ring caught the kitchen light and threw it back. It was clean, simple, not tiny, very Julian.
Brooke lost all her manners as she squealed with delight.
Ashley squealed back, and then they were hugging, bouncing, laughing like teenagers who'd won something ridiculous. Brooke held her for a second longer than she expected because this felt like the finish line and the starting gun all at once.
"Tell me everything," Brooke said, dragging her to the island. "Sit. No, stand. No, spin. Let me see it again."
Ashley spun. Brooke took her hand carefully, turned it palm up, palm down. The band was low to the finger, a simple oval diamond set, sleek, secure, intentional.
