Chapter Fourteen
The attention of the entire restaurant is trained on Kate and Elliot, waiting as
one with bated breath. The anticipation is unbearable. Silence stretches like
a taut rubber band. The atmosphere is oppressive, apprehensive and yet
hopeful throughout the room.
Kate stares blankly at Elliot as he gazes up at her, his eyes wide with longing
—fear even. Holy crap, Kate! Put him out of his misery. Please. Jeez—he
could ha一ve asked her privately. A single tear trickles down her cheek, though
she remains expressionless. Shit! Kate crying? Then she smiles, a slow
disbelieving I-think-I’ve-discovered-the-fabled-lost-city-of-El-Dorado smile.
“Yes,” she whispers, a breathy, sweet acceptance—not Kate-like at all. For
one nanosecond there’s a pause as the entire restaurant exhales a collective
sigh of relief—and then the noise is deafening. Spontaneous applause,
cheering, catcalls, whooping—and suddenly I ha一ve tears rolling down my
face, smudging my Barbie-meets-Joan-Jett makeup.
Oblivious to the commotion around them, the two are locked in their own
bubble. From his pocket Elliot produces a small box, opens it and presents it
to Kate. A ring . . . and from what I can see, an exquisite ring, but I need a
closer look. Oh no—Is that what he was doing with Gia? Choosing a ring?
Shit! Oh, I’m so glad I didn’t tell Kate. Kate looks from the ring to Elliot then
throws her arms around his neck. They kiss, remarkably chaste for them, and
the crowd goes wild. Elliot stands and acknowledges the approbation with a
surprisingly graceful bow then, wearing a huge self-satisfied grin, sits back
down. I can’t take my eyes off them. Taking the ring out of its box, Elliot gently
slides it onto Kate’s finger, and they kiss once more. Christian squeezes my
hand—I didn’t realize I’d been gripping his so tightly. I release him, a little
embarrassed, and he shakes his hand, mouthing, “Ow. ”
“Sorry. Did you know about this?” I whisper.
275 | P a g e
Fifty Shades Freed
Christian smiles,
本章未完，点击下一页继续阅读。