I lean against the doorframe as she spots the clue I’ve left there.
She spins back to me.
‘Zach … I …’
‘Just open it,’ I smile.
‘Argh, Zach, please don’t …’
‘Trust me?’
She opens the ring box.
‘It’s empty,’ she says, looking like she’s just dodged a bullet.
‘I know that,’ I say as Alice gingerly picks up the envelope underneath. She’s more careful this time.
‘It’s another clue,’ she says, turning surprised eyes towards me.
‘Isn’t that the point of a treasure hunt?’
‘Well, yes,’ she says, flopping down on to end of her bed. ‘I had rather wondered if you were about to …’
‘About to …’
‘Propose?’
‘To the woman who’s not sure if she wants to get married?’ I say, sitting down next to her and watching her intently. I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment that she looks so relieved, but I have to remind myself that we’re not ready for that kind of commitment yet.
She looks at me, her eyes saying ’phew’, and I’m hit by a fresh bout of nerves. I know it’s too soon for marriage proposals but seeing her reaction has me wondering if my plan for today’s treasure hunt is going to be pushing us too far, as well?
‘I was slightly panicking for a minute there,’ she smiles.
I wrap my arm around her and kiss the soft, apple-smelling hair on the top of her head. ‘It was a bit of a red herring if I’m honest. I just wanted to throw you off the scent.’
‘Oh my god!’ she says, play-punching me on the arm.
‘How about you follow the rest of the clues. That X isn’t going to find itself.’
Back in the living room, Alice has followed her nose to the laptop I’ve set up and is pressing play on a playlist I’ve made called ‘Our A-Z Soundtrack’. The sun’s starting to set and a rich orange light is pitching in through the window. The final clue is peeking out from under my laptop but she’s not opened it yet. Music fills the room and Alice turns to me, her green eyes alight. ‘Shall we dance?’
She takes my hand and I pull her in close as we sway around the room, moving to the songs that take me back to the specific moments in time that frame our relationship. The eighties tunes where I couldn’t take my eyes off her at the disco, but felt like I wasn’t enough for her and ended up leaving early. The duet we sang at karaoke where I started to realise that maybe it wasn’t as black and white as I’d thought it was, after all. The songs I’d spent ages painstakingly selecting for our first trips out in Gerty because I was so desperate to show her how cool I was, when ironically I suspect she prefers the Point Romance-loving, comic-drawing geek I really am, anyway.
After our wine tasting date I’d felt those all-too-familiar prickles of insecurity coming back. Not that they’d gone anywhere, really, I’ve just got better at managing them. Because I’ve thrown a lot of stuff at her to deal with since we first met. Why had she stayed this long? Surely it was a matter of time before she upped and left? I look down at her now, her face lit up with happiness, and I realise that something’s lifted. The fear that she might realise what a dork I am and give up. That worry that she might remember her no-love rule and leave. Because, of course, that might still happen. No one knows what’s just around the corner. But with Alice’s help, I’ve learned to appreciate what’s right here in front of me. And tonight, the most beautiful sunbeam of a woman is trying to get me to attempt body-popping.
After a couple of semi-successful attempts, Alice is roaring with laughter.
‘I forgot the last clue!’ She says, eyes dropping back to the laptop.
‘Ah, yes. Would you mind waiting here for five minutes while I put the finishing touches on it. No looking! No cheating.’
‘Clue eight: Your XXXXXXX make my heart pop. A seven letter word? Bloody hell, Zach. Is it filthy?’ I’m back in the living room and Alice is trying out some potential words, counting their letters on her fingers. ‘Hmm. Can’t think of anything boob or butt related.’ She leans back on the sofa, the Sweet Valley High theme tune currently playing from the laptop.
‘Flowers? Is it flowers? Though why would they make your heart pop. I mean I know I’m good at my job and everything.’
‘Want more of a clue?’
‘Wouldn’t that be cheating?’
