I had to admit, I was feeling a bit swoony.
Not only had he set up a real-ass date for us, but between the gussying up and the orchid, he’d clearly gone all out on his end as well. It was already the best date I’d ever been on.
My heart was literally throbbing in my chest as I approached him. Maybe he was giving this a real shot. Maybe after what happened the last time we were together, he’d been stirred enough to realize that—best friend or not—I was a woman, not just his longtime best friend, and that I deserved a little fake romance in our fake relationship. At least, a girl could hope.
The whole thing felt magical and surreal as I all but floated toward him.
“Wow, Em,” he said. “You look…absolutely gorgeous.”
He took my hand when I stopped in front of him and slid the orchid over my wrist—it was a corsage, I realized—then kissed the top of my knuckles gently. My knees went weak.
“Thank you,” I murmured, smiling as I gazed up at him.
The sun was just beginning to set, spreading a warm glow over the gardens. Everyone had already left the area, so Ford and I were alone. Just as I was about to ask him what exactly he had planned for us, he dropped to one knee.
My heart flew up into my throat and my hands came up to my lips.
Was this…?
“Mara Rose Zoric,” Ford said, on his knee in front of me. “Em. We’ve been friends for seven years, and we’re soon to be a whole lot more. I simply cannot wait.”
From his pocket, he pulled out a small square box. An unmistakably sized box.
“Ford…” I murmured, my voice catching in my throat.
He opened the box and there it was: his grandmother’s antique ring. Two rows of the most perfect, beautiful little diamonds I’d ever seen, set in yellow gold, nestled against deep blue velvet. The ring sparkled in the fading sunlight, and for a moment I was speechless.
My eyes began to well up, the diamonds blurring.
“I know I should have done this before,” Ford said. “I should have done something more official, but there’s no reason I can’t start now. Emzee, my nearest and dearest friend, will you marry me?”
It was the proposal of my dreams.
“I will,” I said softly.
Ford slipped the ring onto my finger and stood. I thought, for a moment, that he’d take me into his arms and kiss me. Instead, he leaned back, and called out:
“She said yes!”
Immediately, Ford’s friends began appearing from behind various trees and bushes, all cheering and applauding. It took me a moment to realize what was happening, but it all sunk in when I saw Mr. and Mrs. Malone, my brothers, and The Wives step out from behind a building.
“Congratulations!” everyone was saying.
They were all coming up to us, shaking Ford’s hand, slapping him on the back, and pulling us into group hugs. I was so stunned that I didn’t know what to say.
Ford had planned a whole goddamn surprise engagement party.
Yet again, everything was for show.
Like a fool, I had thought that this night was going to be about the two of us. But just like he’d done when we went out to dinner for that first time as a couple, only to end up meeting with his entire family, he’d put this whole romantic gesture together just for the optics. I felt sick.
Once again, my years of practice maintaining a poker face came in handy. It felt like I’d been using those skills a lot more recently. It was exhausting.
Tori and Brooklyn found me almost immediately, both wanting to see the ring.
“Oh, it’s exquisite,” Tori said, holding my hand up. “You love vintage. And it won’t get in the way when you’re working with your hands, either.”
“It’s absolutely perfect for you,” Brooklyn agreed with a sigh.
