****************************************
The next three months flew by and Ryan knew he was in deeply in love with her but was afraid to tell her. She had told him several times that she didn't believe in love. If he were to tell her would she say it back?
if she didn't it would crush him and he wasn't sure how he would handle it. Not wanting to risk losing her he made his mind up not to tell her.
He was busy working at his desk when Robbie walked in carrying two cups of coffee, handing him one.
"I was going to the bar after work, why don't you come with me?"
Ryan looked up at him, shaking his head. "No can do brother, I'm taking Ria out tonight, it's a special night for us."
"Are you going to ask her to marry you?"
"No. It's her birthday so I'm taking her to Rino's for dinner."
"Oh, I guess I got confused when you said, us. Have you told her yet that you love her?"
"No, and stay out of my business."
"Ryan, if you don't tell her you might lose her."
"Ria doesn't believe in love."
"Oh that's bull shit," he said, getting to his feet. "I'm telling you brother that girl is in love with you. Hell, she turned me down on more than one occasion and that was because of you. Trust me, if she wasn't in love with you she would have been with me."
He got to his feet and walked over to where Robbie was standing. "You came on to Ria?"
"Yes, a while ago. She slapped me across the face when I tried to kiss her the second time." He fell to the ground when Ryan punched him.
"You kissed her twice," he yelled at him.
Robbie stayed down, wiping his mouth. "I never got to kiss her. The first time she pushed me away, the second time she slapped me. Now can I get up or are you planning on punching me again?"
"Get up," he barked at him.
"Ryan, if she didn't love you would she get so jealous when another woman is around you or would she have gotten mad at me for trying to seduce her? To be honest I was just testing her to see if she really cared for you or if it was for your money. It is you she cares about and it has nothing to do with your wealth. Tell Ria you love her before it's too late."
"What if I do and she doesn't feel the same way about me, then what?"
"Well, then you'll know for sure."
"Well, then you'll know for sure." He walked to the door and looked back at Ryan. "Good luck, I'm sure everything will work out."
Driving home he thought about what Robbie had said. He and Ria have been living together for six months now and things were great between them. A month ago he bought an engagement ring for her, hoping to give it to her as soon as they confessed their love for each other. Maybe tonight would be the night, along with the diamond earrings he bought her for her birthday. Being it was her birthday he gave her the whole day off, with pay. He even had a dozen red roses sent to their apartment with a card, wishing her happy birthday, now he wished he had signed it, love Ryan. Yes, he had it all planned out, over dinner he would give her the earrings and later he would tell her he was in love with her and ask her to marry him. Yes, he was feeling good about it, nothing could go wrong, or so he thought.