“Summer might be better for weather,” Mum muses. “But the blossom would all be gone. I know how you love blossom, Adrian.”
“Aren’t we here to celebrate your ruby wedding anniversary?” Max asks Hallie and Drew. “Maybe wedding questions could wait until another day?” He winks at me and Fitz.
“We’ll all help you plan,” Mum says. “But Max is quite right. This evening we’re celebrating another happy couple.”
We take our seats at the table. It looks like one long table, but several smaller ones are arranged end to end, with a single, long tablecloth over the top. Hallie and Drew sit in the middle, with the rest of us finding places where we can. Thankfully, the conversation moves onto subjects other than our wedding. I can’t stop thinking about how everyone assumed we would get married right away. Blair and Ana have been dating for a lot longer, but no one talked over them when they said they weren’t getting married.
I gaze at Fitz as he talks to Joe and Max. He’s animated and has a big smile on his face. Their conversation washes over me as I focus solely on Fitz. I adore the colour of his hair and the multitude of pale brown freckles on his white skin. I love the sound of his laughter and the light touch of his hand as it rests on my thigh. There isn’t a thing about him that doesn’t make me happy, not even the way he forgets to put the toilet seat down sometimes.
“What?” Fitz asks, returning my stare.
I put my hand over his and smile. “Nothing.”
He gives me a confused look but gets dragged back into a conversation about…something.
I spend the remainder of the meal making small talk when I have to, but mostly I’m happy to let everyone else do the talking while I enjoy the meal. Fitz is a better cook, but I’m probably hopelessly biased. After dessert, Hallie and Drew cut the cake to a massive round of applause. Then they give everyone a small slice. It’s utterly amazing, as I knew it would be, and Fitz is showered with compliments.
When Tilly starts to yawn dramatically, Stephen and Sophie decide it’s time to take her home. Gradually, everyone begins to drift off. I want to as well, but Fitz keeps getting caught up in conversations. I don’t mind. He’s a social butterfly, whereas I’m happy being a wallflower. At least I get to gaze at him some more and reflect on how amazing he is and how happy I am that we’ve finally opened our eyes and realised what was right in front of us.
“We’ll have to get together,” Mum says to Hallie and Drew. “To help plan the wedding.”
“We must,” Hallie agrees. “You’ll need to start looking at venues.”
“We could come with you?” Mum says.
“Mum, we’re not—”
“If you wait much longer, you won’t have any choice at all,” Hallie says, interrupting me.
I shake my head and give up. It’s clear neither my parents nor Fitz’s want to listen to the fact that we’re not getting married.
“I’m tired,” Fitz says before yawning noisily for effect. “Can we go home?”
“That sounds like agreatplan,” I say.
“We’ll talk soon?” Mum asks. “All of us?”
“Sure,” I say.
I put my arm around Fitz’s waist and practically march out of the room at a breakneck pace.
“I’m sorry,” I say the moment we’re outside.
Fitz laughs. “My family were just as bad, if not worse.”
I hold his hand as we walk towards the car park we left my van in. “Everyone is convinced we’re getting married.”
“They are.”
I squeeze his hand. “Maybe we should.”
Fitz stops dead. “I’m sorry, what?”
I turn to face him and stroke his cheek. “We’ve already pinkie-promised to spend our old age together.”
“True.”
“I love you, Fitz. We fit together. We always have. You’ve been the most important person in my life for a very long time. I’m just sorry it took me so long to realise how much I love you.”
