On Wednesday, one of Keeley's classes was canceled because her professor was ill. Aaron used the opportunity to leave work and take her ring shopping.

They went to a typical jewelry store in a mall, like any other couple. Keeley chose a one-carat, square-cut diamond ring with a halo of smaller diamonds, set in a platinum band also adorned with tiny diamonds. The style was very popular at the time; thousands of other women had similar rings, which suited her perfectly.

"Congratulations," the salesperson said as they left. "You two make a beautiful couple."

Did they? In their past lives, everyone considered them mismatched.

Aaron had removed his suit jacket and tie in the car, so he was dressed simply in slacks and a crisp light blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves. It was surprisingly warm for September. Keeley thought he looked more casual than usual, and her nice blouse for school made them seem somewhat matched.

"Thank you," Aaron said graciously, intertwining their fingers.

Keeley examined her new ring as they walked. It sparkled in the sunlight, scattering tiny rainbows.

The weight on her finger felt strange. She hadn't worn a ring since she died; she'd never been a "ring person." This was her second engagement ring from the same man.

The thought made her head spin. The whole situation felt surreal.

They'd discussed boundaries on Aaron's birthday. She wanted to take things slowly. They could share a bedroom after marriage, but until then, she'd stay in her own room. As for kissing, she needed time to adjust to being in a relationship with him again.

Aaron readily accepted her suggestions but asked to hold her hand. She agreed, and he had been holding it constantly since then. It felt as if her hand no longer belonged to her, and it had only been a day and a half.

"I'd like us to be married as soon as possible, for the baby's sake," he said back at the car.

She agreed. Waiting until her pregnancy showed would make her look horrible in a wedding dress. She couldn't elope—it would break her father's heart—but she didn't want a large, fancy wedding. She only cared about having her dad, Jennica, Valentina, Lydia, Jeffrey, and Keisha there. Adding Cameron and Aiden for Aaron's sake made ten people total.

"Having been Jennica's unofficial wedding planner, I only care about my dad walking me down the aisle," Keeley admitted. "I can get a dress, flowers, and cake easily. I'm just worried my friends won't be able to get there on short notice."

"Let's aim for a month from now. Your friends should be able to get time off then."

Keeley grimaced. "Midterms are in a month."

"Then after midterms. We just need an afternoon; maybe we could rent a boat. We can save the honeymoon for after graduation—go to Europe, like you always wanted."

Aaron felt her stress and patted her leg. "Relax. You call your friends and pick a dress; I'll handle everything else."

She relaxed slightly, then remembered she still had to tell her dad. That would be awkward. Should she bring Aaron? She wasn't sure if her chances of getting scolded for an out-of-wedlock pregnancy would increase or decrease with him present.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice the drive back to medical school.

"See you tonight," she said, closing the car door.

Aaron had insisted on picking her up daily for safety reasons. What if she were accidentally pushed in the crowded subway?

She'd suspected this, so she didn't protest. It did get her home faster, and she had homework to do.

Her ring reflected the classroom's fluorescent lights differently than the sunlight, so she kept staring at it during class. It truly was lovely.

She was surprised he'd let her get something so common, considering his attitude their second senior year. This ring cost about the same as the earrings he'd impulsively bought her then. Jennica's ring probably cost thousands more. A half-smile touched her lips. Aaron had truly changed for the better.

After class, she texted her close friends. She told Lydia and Jeffrey (who already knew) that she was getting married; they wouldn't fly to New York for nothing. She asked Jennica and Valentina to be free the second Saturday in October for something important. Jennica might suspect something, knowing Aaron's feelings, but Valentina would be surprised. Keeley would have to explain the quick marriage, which would be embarrassing, but they were her best friends, and she hadn't had any friends at her first wedding.

(The final promotional sentence was removed as it's irrelevant to the text editing.)