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I nodded. I was nervous, but just being next to him calmed me. “Ready.” We made our way into the sports bar and I found the group sitting at our usual tables. I gestured for Travis to sit and did the same as the table fell quiet.
“Who’s your friend?” Bennett asked.
I cleared my throat, nerves racing through me. “Guys, this is Travis. He’s…” I looked to Travis for some reassurance and he nodded. “We’re engaged.”
Every single person at the table started laughing, as if my introduction had been the punchline to some amazing joke they’d been dying to hear, even though I’d already declared it at the game. My face burned hot with embarrassment and anger, but I didn’t reaffirm my sentence because the server approached the table. She took our orders and when she was gone, I tried again.
“No, seriously. Travis and I are getting married.”
“That’s what you said earlier,” Theo pointed out. “But really, who is he?”
Frustrated, I looked around for help from the universe. I didn’t know how to convince them, but I knew I needed to. When I spotted something in the corner by the doors, I pushed away from the table and rushed over there. I dropped two quarters into a gumball machine and spun the handle until it deposited a small plastic sphere in my hand. Inside was a little silver ring with a little fake diamond. I marched back to the table, ring in hand, and took my seat again.
“Here. Does this help?” I slid the ring onto Travis’s finger. It was adjustable, and with a little effort, he got it snugly fitted.
Travis held up his hand to admire the ring and smiled. “It’s perfect.” He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek. As he did, my stomach fluttered with excitement. I took his hand and squeezed it.
“Wait, you’re serious?” Levi asked. “When did this happen?”
“Yep.” I shrugged and looked at Travis. “It’s pretty new, but we’re determined to make it work.”
Cam laughed once. “It’s hard to make a marriage work if you don’t really know the person, even if you think you’re in love with him.”
“Wait a second, youthinkyou’re in love with me?” Oliver protested, grinning at Cam before he turned to us. “He’s right, though. It’s hard.”
“We’re not strangers. We’ve known each other since we were seven.”
Travis nodded. “We were best friends for six years, lost touch in high school, and recently reconnected. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”
Again, my stomach fluttered, pleased that he was playing along. He sounded so convincing that I almost believed him myself.
“Alright, food’s here,” our server announced as she approached the table with a loaded tray and another server right behind her with more food. We sat back and enjoyed the meal, Travis and I keeping a low profile for the rest of the night.
Energized by our announcement, when we made it back to my car, I turned to him before I started the engine. “Let’s call my parents and tell them.”
“What, now?”
I nodded. “Why not? I think they’ll be happy for us.”
He sighed and shook his head a little. “I don’t know. Don’t you think we should tell our parents in person?”
“I just… I want to tell everyone. Right now.”
With a laugh, Travis shook his head again. “Whatever you say. They’re your parents. We can call my mom right after, I guess.”
“Yes,” I said, raising a fist. I quickly dialed my parents’ number and put them through the Bluetooth so we could both hear them clearly.
Mom answered quickly, putting the call on video mode. “Parker! We were just talking about you.” She pointed the camera at Dad. “Len, say hi to Parker.”
Dad waved. “Hi, Park.”
“Hi, Dad. Listen, I need to tell you both something.”
Mom pointed the camera back at herself, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, Mom. Everything’s great. Listen, do you remember Travis Weston?”
“Is he that boy you hung out with in grade school?” Dad called from over Mom’s shoulder.
