23

Ruby, Sapphire, Rio and I are currently in a jewelry looking at rings. They wanted to help me pick it out and since they fly out this evening, this morning was our only choice. 

I had already tried on a few and nothing seemed to be the one. I have never wanted a traditional wedding ring. I don't care what other people wear, but this is my ring that I would (hopefully) be wearing forever, and I just never wanted a diamond. Rio was talking to the manager or owner, while we continued searching. 

"So, does he know everybody?" Sapphire asks me. 

"At the point, not much would shock me." I shrug. 

Rio leaves the man and walks up to me asking if we've found any options. 

"Not really, nothing feels right. Who was that guy?" 

"Owner, got him pulling a couple for ya." 

We wait for a few moments before the man comes back, holding a display box. He gently sits it on the glass counter and ushers us forward with his hand. The four of us look down at the box, examining the rings that lay in the box. I didn't see anything special until I spot it. The citrine ring with a gold band, three tiny little white sapphires sit on either side where the band connects to the citrine. I pick it up and easily slide it onto my ring finger. 

"It's perfect." I whisper. 

"It's not a traditional engagement ring, so it doesn't come with a wedding band." the man explains. 

"Don't matter." Rio states. 

"Oh, sissy, it's beautiful!" Sapphire beams. 

"It's gorgeous." Ruby agrees. 

I look to Rio and smile. 

"That the one?" he asks. 

I give him a nod and he tells the man to point him in the direction of wedding bands. I don't care what wedding band he picks out, any would be perfect. I follow them and ask Rio "Do you want to go ahead and pick out yours?" 

"If you want." he shrugs. I could see him fighting a smile. 

We went with a plain thin gold wedding band for me. However, with Rio wearing both silver and gold, but black always being a go-to for him, he picks a simple black band. 

Even with Rio's hardest efforts, I paid for his wedding ring, he paid for my rings so the least I could do is pay for his. 

"Spoilin' me now, Darlin'." he smirks when I swipe my card into the machine. 

"You deserve to be spoiled too." 

"I love candids." Ruby whispers. I turn towards my sisters. Sapphire had her phone out, the camera lens angled perfectly at Rio and me. I don't say anything and playfully roll my eyes at them. 

The man boxes up the other two rings and places them in a bag for us. 

"Hopefully, we can meet your family before the wedding." Ruby comments to Rio. 

"Yeah, maybe." he chuckles, grabbing the last bag from the trunk. 

"At least your grandma." Sapphire adds. 

They pull me in for one last hug before the head off to security. 

"Well, now you've met everyone." I tell Rio. 

"So have you." he says.

On Friday, we arrive at Rhea's to pick up Marcus for the weekend. Rio takes Marcus to his room to grab his bags and to talk to him about our engagement and I was tasked to tell Rhea. 

I tell her gently, not sure how she would react. Rio said she knew he was thinking about it, but he didn't say how she reacted to the idea. Luckily, she was happy, overjoyed really. 

"I'm so happy for you two! Let me see the ring." she squeals. I stretch out my left hand and let her look at the ring. 

"I like that's it not traditional, seems more you." she comments. 

"Know my girl." Rio comments, walking back into the kitchen with Marcus following behind him. 

"Hey, Marcus." I smile. 

"Do I get to carry in the rings?" he asks. 

"If you want to." 

"Yeah!"

"Then, of course!" 

"Maybe we should wait." I tell Rio as we walk up the long driveway. 

"Got here early to tell her." 

"I know, but what if she doesn't-"

"She likes you." he cuts me off before knocking on the door. 

His grandma answers with a smile on her face. She immediately pulls Marcus then Rio in for a hug. Rio wastes no time with telling her once we make it inside. She doesn't hesitate before asking to see the ring. I extend my hand out a little and she quickly grabs a hold of my hand and examines the ring. 

"Who picked it out?" she asks. 

"Both of us." Rio answers. 

"It's beautiful." she smiles. Oh, thank god. "I knew you two weren't just 'friends'." she laughs. 

"Didn't want to overwhelm her with meeting everyone." Rio says. 

"Well, I'm sure everyone will be happy for you." 

Oh, I don't know about that... 

"Come on, you can help me in the kitchen." she says to me. I get up from my spot on the couch and follow her. 

"Does Nick know?" she asks. 

"No, ma'am." 

"I expect a fight then."  she sighs, stirring whatever was in a pot on the stove. 

"I didn't mean to cause any problems in your family, ma'am."

"I'm sure you didn't, dear. Those two can be such revivals to one another."

I help his grandma take food outside as everyone slowly arrives and become social with one another. It's beautiful really, seeing this many family members getting together for a meal. It makes me wish I could do that with my own. 

"Nick's here." his grandma whispers to me as I place down a plate on the table. I turn to face the gate where he's standing. He seemed to be looking around at everyone or looking around for someone in particular. He had his usual stone cold face on until he spots me standing beside his grandma. 

He quickly makes his way over, a smile forming on his face, "I didn't expect you to be here." 

"I wanted her here." his grandma says, walking back inside. 

"Well, welcome back." he chuckles. 

"Thank you." I say before following her. 

"How are you two going to tell everyone?" she asks. 

"I was going to leave it to Rio, honestly." 

"Good idea." she nods. 

The table was set up almost the same as last time. It seems like for the most part everyone has assigned seats here. Rio's grandma is at the head of the table, with a glass of red wine. Rio and Nick on either side of her, Marcus is beside Nick and I'm beside Rio. 

Once everyone started eating and the conversations died down a bit, Rio just goes ahead and spits out the news, "We're engaged." He didn't look up for his plate as he placed the fork in his mouth. 

Silverware can be heard clattering on the plate across from Rio. I look to Nick, who face read several emotions, mostly anger and confusion. 

"What did you say?" he asks. 

"We're engaged." Rio repeats, looking up from his plate to glare at his cousin.

"I thought you two were friends." the boy from last time calls out. 

"Me too." Nick says. 

"We didn't want to tell everyone." Rio doesn't move his glare off of Nick. 

"Have you two planned out when it will be?" The woman, Isabelle, beside me asks.

"Not yet, it's still pretty new." I tell her. She asks to see the ring and I hold it out for her. 

"Not very traditional." Nick spits. 

"She didn't want that. It's a beautiful ring." their grandma says. 

"I get to carry the rings!" Marcus shouts out. 

"That's right." Rio smiles at his son. 

Nick roughly shoots away from the table and walks inside the house, slamming the door behind him. 

"Stay here." Rio whispers to me before following him. 

Muffled yelling is instantly heard inside the house and I raise from my seat, "Don't." his grandma warns. I immediately sit back down. She nice, but also very intimidating, just like Rio and Nick. No one spoke as the yelling continued. Everyone either watched the house or continued eating their food. 

It was the loud crash that made me spring back up and rush towards the back door as Rio's grandma tried to stop me. I open the door and see broken glass scattered across the kitchen floor. I slowly step over most of it as I check to see where the pair were. 

"You could've said something, instead of making me look like an idiot." Nick spits out. They were now in the living room, glaring each other down. Rio's cheek is growing red and Nick has a bloody nose. 

"Did that yourself, cuz." Rio replies with just as much venom as Nick. 

"For some girl. We're family. We're brothers." 

"Cousins." 

Nick pounces back onto of Rio, the two taking swings at each other's face. 

"Stop! That's enough!" I yell, but in vain. It was like I wasn't even in the room. 

Rio manages to get Nick on the ground and starts repeatedly hitting Nicks' face. 

"Rio! Rio!" I plead. "Christopher!" 

He finally stops, snapping his head towards me, "Told you to wait outside." 

"He's down, be the bigger person and stop, please." I beg. 

He hesitates before listening to me. He climbs off his cousin and walks towards me, wrapping his bloody hands around mine and pulling me close, "Next time, stay outside." he whispers. 

"I heard the crash, I got worried." 

"You're making a mistake, choosing her over family." Nick spits a mouthful of blood onto the wooden floors. 

"Nah, don't think so, cousin. She is family."

"I'll ruin you for this." he glares at me. 

"Nah, you'll leave her be. In fact, I think you got your hands full." Rio smirks. 

"What are you talking about?" Nick stands up, using the coffee table for support. 

"Those Feds came back, apparently you got some explaining to do." 

"What did you tell them?" 

"Oh, I didn't. That cop that 'ruined your breakfast order', he had everything wrapped up in a nice package for 'em." Rio chuckles. 

"It won't stick." 

"Not without me, already cut my deal with 'em." he shrugs. 

"After all I've done for you." 

"After all you've done to me." Rio nods. 

We lay in Rio's bed, my finger making patterns on his bare chest, "You're not going to prison, right?" 

"Think I'd leave you, Darlin'?" he smirks down at me. 

"Well, I would hope not."

"Nah, I ain't going anywhere." 

"I love you, Christopher."

"I love you, Citrine."