Page 36 of My Fake(ish) Valentine

“Yes,” I say before he even asks anything.

There’s a squeal of delight in my headset that is distinctly Carlie.

I hear, “I can’t believe how cute this is in agame.” That’s totally my sister. My boyfriend—now fiancé—logged our friends and family in to the game to watch this.

I drop down next to Caleb and throw my arms around him. “Yes, yes, yes!” I cry.

He leans in and kisses me, pulling me into him. When he pulls away just enough for me to look at him, he’s grinning so wide I can’t help but take his face in my hands and kiss him more.

“The ring, Malia!” Carlie cries, and I remember with a laugh that I’m still wearing my headset. “Put that ring on!” she demands.

I hold out a hand to Caleb, and he obliges. “Yes, a million times yes,” I whisper to him.

“Hold it up to the camera, Malia,” Skye demands.

I look at Caleb, and he points to a camera on the TV stand. I walk over to it and flash the ring for Skye. She gasps in awe.

“Caleb, can we come over now?” Carlie asks in a pleading voice.

“Bruh,” Macie whines. “I wishIlived in Houston.”

“Same,” Skye says with a sigh.

“Come on over.” Caleb laughs. “Hey, team, thanks for your help. It turned out perfect. You’re the best.”

There’s a chorus of congratulations in our ears, and then we sign off.

I return to Caleb, who’s now standing next to the couch, and hug him close once again. “It really was perfect, Cal,” I whisper against his cheek. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, Malia.” His voice is soft and stirs the hair escaping my high ponytail to flutter against my temple. “The night I asked you to be my fake girlfriend was the best decision I ever made.”

“It really was,” I agree. We laugh, and then Caleb pulls me up off the ground.

“Come on, future Mrs. Gallagher. People are on their way over to celebrate us, and I told Carlie she could only come overif she brought cake.” Still he holds me in his arms for a moment, kissing the top of my head.

“Mmmm. Mrs. Gallagher. I really like that.”

Caleb and I get about ten minutes to celebrate by ourselves before Carlie, Law, Jett, Ava, Devin, Jenna, and their kids show up at the house—with cakeandice cream. Hudson asks if it’s someone’s birthday, and then shrugs when Jenna tells him it’s to celebrate that Caleb is going to marry me.

I stand next to Caleb, my plate in hand, listening to the laughter and chatting around me and thinking about the night I told Caleb I’d come to Carlie’s wedding with him. The night I took a chance that fake could be real.

I marvel at how I could have thought it was a stupid decision. I marvel at how well it all turned out.

“Malia?” Caleb asks, looking down at me and probably wondering about my zoned-out expression.

I turn to look up at him. My future husband. “Hmm?”

“I love you,” he says softly.

“I love you,” I reply.

Husband and wife. Best characters we will ever be.