Melissa steps forward with a smile and holds out her hand. “I’m Melissa. It’s nice to meet you both.”
“Congratulations,” I say, because what else am I supposed to say? “Olivia mentioned you two got engaged.”
“Just a few weeks ago.” She holds up her left hand showing off her ring. It’s enormous. The diamond catches the light, throwing sparkles across the table. Garrett never even discussed rings with me in three years, just vague ‘someday’ promises that apparently meant nothing. “We’re so excited.”
“That’s great.” I’m still smiling and my face actually hurts. “When’s the wedding?”
“We haven’t set a date yet. Probably next fall.” She glances at Garrett. “We wanted to wait until after Owen and Olivia’s wedding. Didn’t want to steal their thunder.”
How considerate of them.
Rodriguez places his hand on the small of my back. “We probably should sit. I think Olivia wants to get started.”
“Yes, right.” I allow him to lead me away from Garrett and Melissa toward the table where the place cards are set. He leaves his hand on my back, solid and reassuring as we walk.
We’re sitting across from them.
Of course we are. Of course.
Rodriguez pulls out my chair and I sit. He sinks down beside me, instantly reaching for my hand under the table, his fingers intertwining with mine.
“Breathe JuJu, or I’m going to call poodle for you,” he whispers quietly, softly enough for only me to hear.
I do. One breath, then another.
Olivia tells everyone to pay attention and makes a toast to family, to love, and to how happy she is that we’re all here. My dad cracks a joke about finally having both of his daughters settled.
By the time dessert arrives I realize that Rodriguez has a gift for this. He talks with my cousins easily, he makes my Aunt laugh, he gives my Dad details about hockey without being boring.
Garrett keeps watching us. Or rather, watching him. Every time Rodriguez makes someone laugh, I catch Garrett’s expression tightening. He’s gripping his fork a little too hard. Melissa is talking but he’s not really listening, his attention keeps drifting to where Rodriguez’s arm disappears under the table, where it’s planted firmly on my thigh and has barely moved all dinner. Good.
Melissa starts telling a story about their engagement and how Garrett surprised her with a weekend getaway and proposed to her on top of a mountain at sunset. It sounds like a scene from a novel, very dramatic.
“That is so romantic!” Olivia exclaims. “Owen proposed during a thunderstorm in our apartment because the ring had just come and he couldn’t wait.”
Everyone laughs and Owen shrugs, looking pleased with himself.
“What about you two?” Melissa asks, looking at both Rodriguez and me. “How did you meet?”
My mind blanks. We should have done a better job of thinking ahead to this question. I sit there completely frozen but Rodriguez doesn’t miss a beat. “I saw her teaching skating lessons and had to know who she was.”
“That’s sweet.” Melissa says, although it’s not genuine. “And how long have you two been together?”
“Only a month,” I reply quickly. “Not long at all.”
“Oh. So that’s very new.” She looks between me and Rodriguez. “It must be serious if you brought him to a family wedding.”
“It is serious,” Rodriguez replies before I can speak. His hand tightens on mine under the table. “When you know, you know. Right?”
His eyes are locked on mine as he says it. Not on Melissa, or Garrett, or on anybody else at this table. On me. His eyes are dark and intense and completely focused.
For a moment, I forget we’re faking it.
“Right,” I manage to say, my voice nearly a whisper.
The conversation continues but I’m stuck on the look in his eyes, the way he said it like he truly believed it.
Olivia starts explaining the schedule for the brewery tour the next day. Owen’s making jokes about how many beers his college buddies can drink. And I’m just trying to focus on anything other than the way Rodriguez’s thumb is drawing these tiny patterns on my thigh under the table. His touch is light but deliberate and I’m acutely aware of every movement.
