Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change? novel Chapter 1032

"What's up?" Sherilyn settled onto the couch, flicking her hair off her shoulders with a casual grace.

"Spit it out."

Gilbert slid next to her, fishing a small box out of his pocket. "For you."

This is...?

Sherilyn glanced at it, gauging its size, and ventured a guess, "A wristwatch?"

"Yeah."

Gilbert chuckled, flipping open the box, "Remember, the one you busted a while back? Sent it off to Switzerland for an old master watchmaker to fix up. The guy's swamped and ancient, took ages to send it back."

That wristwatch, Sherilyn remembered.

It matched the one Gilbert was wearing, a couple's set.

"Here…"

Gilbert carefully pulled out the watch, grasped her hand, and positioned it on her wrist, "Let me."

Just as he was about to fasten it, Sherilyn jerked her hand away.

"Sherilyn…?" Gilbert's expression froze, a mix of confusion and disappointment. She didn't want to wear it?

A bitter smile crossed his face. "It was always yours, you know."

That was true.

But back then, she had been his girlfriend… albeit for Jenna's sake.

But now, their relationship was different. Wearing this watch, at this time, what would it signify?

A couple's set, paired together…

The implications didn't escape Sherilyn, and certainly, Gilbert had considered them too.

"Sherilyn."

Gilbert got up, opting for a more dramatic gesture as he knelt on one knee before her, looking up with earnest, shining eyes.

"Be with me, will you? I'll take good care of you, and Jenna too."

Sherilyn pursed her lips, turning her face away.

"Sherilyn."

Gilbert's voice cracked with nervousness, his Adam's apple bobbing as he reached for her hand.

"Isn't it clear by now, after all this time since you came back to Sunhaven? How I feel about you... I really…"

"Let me ask you…"

"Sherilyn, you're jealous."

It was a statement, not a question.

Jealous? Of what?

Sherilyn's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, her palms pushing against his chest in denial.

"I am not!"

"You are." Gilbert lifted her chin, his eyes sparking with a deep blue intensity, conviction in his voice: "Sherilyn, you are."

His smile deepened, mischief and affection mingling in his gaze.

"I'm sorry for not making things clear, letting you stew in jealousy all day…"

Unable to resist, he kissed her hand gently.

"I thought you didn't care… and that hurt. How I wish you'd shown your temper sooner."

"That way, I wouldn't have felt so down, and you wouldn't have had to sulk."

His grin widened, as if he was on the verge of blooming with happiness.

"Sherilyn, admit you like me… There's no need to be shy."