“Practically daily, I think,” she confirms, and I stop inching for my silverware as a cold wash settles over me. She adds, “We have a group chat.”
Kyran explains, “I know how much your parents mean to Maelin, so I assumed that meant they were important to you,too. Of course I wasn’t going to marry you without their permission.”
Dad sighs heavily. “We didn’t think there was a single chance you’d sayyeswith the way he told us he was going to go through with it. So it’s really on us for giving him permission. We laughed about the insanity for so long…”
Mom looks me dead in the eye. “Did he really just show up in the middle of the night with two witnesses and a magistrate?”
I flush. “Well. First…he microwaved a marshmallow.”
“Huh.” My mother blinks. “The methods to woo a woman have changed since my youth.”
“No,” Dad interjects, “I’m positive that would have worked.” His eyes narrow on my husband. “Which isprobablywhy he didn’t tell us that part of the plan.”
Innocent and neutral, Kyran lifts his attention to the popcorn ceiling.
My parents…knoweverything.
And they’re justvibingwith it.
This man is a certified lunatic.
Communication kingfor real.
No holds barred, he just up and doeswhateverhe wants, blatantly honest, blatantly him, to the edge of insanity and back.
I can’t believe this.
I sincerely can’t believe this.
He is eating celebration cake and ice cream out of an ice-blue bowl beside my black one, because my parents know his favorite color and it’s a family tradition to have a place setting in your colors at home to use.
My parents know his favorite color. When they don’t even know mine.
My head buzzes with static.
Somewhere beyond the hum, Kyran is saying, “We’ve talked a lot about this, mistress, and—”
My skin ignites as I stare, gaping, at a man who just called memistressin front of my parents, because no holds barred! Stark honesty!Zero shame.
“—your father would really appreciate it if we have a ceremony. A proper wedding ceremony.”
I blink. “What?”
“He’d like us to have a proper wedding. I figure it makes sense to drag Maelin and Zakery into the plans, too, all things considered. And we’ve already got major wedding plans being made in a little over a month, so why waste extra energy? A double-double wedding will be beautiful. And since that’s four out of five, it really also only makes sense for Clara and Lukas to barrel into it, too, right? A quintuple wedding. In April.”
My face scrunches up, and I repeat a violently reasonable, “…what?” Gathering my wits about me, I shake my head. “You’re…planning to crash Viktor and Kaleb’s wedding?”
“I’ve already conspired with Crisis. She thinks it’s a great idea. Absolutely hilarious. She’s been rearranging the Canva Whiteboard for the past few weeks in order to accommodate the additional couples.”
The.
Past few.
Weeks?
We weren’t even married then. He had no idea I’d accept his not-even-a-proposal then. Or. Heshouldn’thave had any idea then. This feels like the moment in a video when a dozen pieces of foreshadowing come to light. I am once again in awe of the way he weaves stories together into breathtaking content.
Nevertheless, I rescind mycommunication kingacknowledgment. Considering he didn’t communicate any of this with me.
