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“I could either say that you have no idea how grief works and this is the lamest conclusion ever. Or I could take you to where I go when things get too much and I need a moment. But, I’m absolutely positive that there is no way you know about it. If you do, then I should be worried.”
“Then maybe you should be worried,” Titus said with a gentle smile.
I smiled back. And taking his hand, I took him to the pond on the far side of campus.
“This is where I go when being me becomes more trouble than it’s worth. It centers me. It’s the closest I ever feel to home.”
“I know,” Titus said before directing my attention to the group of people standing by its edge.
As he waved, their faces lit up. It was everyone who had presented me with clues and anyone who meant anything to me. They all had candles and sad smiles.
“Your parents didn’t invite you to your grandmother’s funeral. So I thought it only appropriate that we have a memorial of our own.”
I couldn’t stop myself from crying. This time it wasn’t out of grief, it was out of happiness. I was the luckiest guy in the world to have had my grandmother in my life. Titus had reminded me of that and had focused me on the positives. The tears that rolled down my cheeks this time were out of gratitude for Grandma Aggie and for having Titus in my life.
Receiving hugs from everyone when I arrived, we placed the tea candles into little ships. With them, we added the clues that had generated such amazing memories and set them free on the pond. We all watched them in silence before everyone else slowly peeled away.
Soon, Titus and I were the only ones left.
“Thank you,” I told him still lost in his arms.
“You’re welcome. Anything for you,” he replied.
Never was I surer that he meant it.
“Titus, could I ask you for a favor? It’s kind of weird.”
“Of course,” he said turning to me as I pulled out of his arms.
I could barely look him in the eyes.
“I’m going to my Grandmother’s will reading tomorrow and my parents think I’m engaged. There’s a whole story to why they do. But, long story short, do you think you could go with me and pretend to be my fiancé?”
Chapter 4
Titus
“You want me to pretend to be your fiancé?” I asked shaken.
“Yeah. It will just be pretend. I’m asking because my parents saw me get engaged and they already don’t think much of me. So if I show up there without a fiancé, it will confirm every negative thing they’ve ever said.”
“I’ll do it,” I said not needing to hear anymore.
“You will?” he said with the brightest smile he had had all night.
“Of course. You know I’d do anything for you. But, if your parents saw you get engaged, won’t they know I’m not Seymour?”
Lou’s light dimmed. “You knew.”
“I did. I saw.”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you,” he said sliding back into my arms.
“I understand. It’s hard to admit a mistake.”
He pulled away. “I didn’t say I made a mistake.”
I laughed. “But, didn’t you? If you didn’t, I don’t think you would be asking me to be your seat-filler.”
