No, I’m not going to work. Instead, I’ll show my father I’m serious, even if it takes something drastic. Maybe it’s reckless, maybe it’s a mistake, but what else can I do? If neither of them will believe me, I’ll force them to.
“Luc, you don’t have to do this,” Cody mutters beside me, almost as if he knows what I’m about to do.
Except... I know he doesn’t, because I didn’t plan this until mere seconds ago. And I refuse to let myself think it through.
“Yes, I do,” I tell him, looking away to face my father. “I’m serious about this, Dad. I’m truly in love for the first time. Which is why...”
Before I can lose my nerve, I turn toward Cody and drop down to one knee. At first, he blinks at me, confused, possibly thinking I’ve dropped something or that I’m going to tie my shoelaces, but then...
“Cody, will you marry me?”
I don’t have a ring or a plan, but it doesn’t matter, right? He’ll understand; that’s what matters.
Or at least, so I thought.
“W-what?” His face twists with disbelief.
“I want you to marry me,” I insist, heat rising in my chest. “I want to go home, Cody.”
“Alright, we can go home,” he stammers, looking utterly lost. “But why are you—”
“I don’t mean your home. I mean mine. Back to France. And I want you with me. So let’s get married.”
Somehow, he looks even more shocked than when I told him I loved him just now. His jaw drops to the floor before he says, “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.”
“But we’re...” His voice trails off, and for reasons unknown to me, his gaze flicks to my father. It’s only brief, but I notice it, and something about it unsettles me. When his eyes return to mine, he’s smiling slightly, but it’s not the smile I know. It doesn’t seem sincere.
It concerns me for a moment, but then he gives me his answer, and none of it matters anymore. “Okay, sure. I mean, y-yeah.”
Upon hearing that, I start grinning from ear to ear. “Yes?”
Cody throws my dad another glance, and once again, I don’t know why. “Yes.”
Oh my god.Il a dit oui. He said yes. I needed to hear it twice before it truly sank in.
Excitement bursts out of me, impossible to contain. When I rang Cody’s doorbell yesterday, I hadn’t planned to propose at any point. And when I woke up this morning, I hadn’t expected to be engaged today. But now that I am, I don’t want to change it. It’s finally happening. I can finally go back home. And not only that, I can build a future there with someone I love.
Without hesitation, I stand up and lean in to kiss him. He doesn’t quite kiss me back, but I think nothing of it. He’s probably just surprised and still processing everything. He’ll catch up.
I feel amazing, but it appears I’m the only one. My father isn’t happy, and Cody looks more confused than anything else.It makes sense, I suppose, and it doesn’t have to be a problem; we have all the time in the world to adjust. We don’t have to get married this week, or this month, or even this year. It can be whenever we’re ready. But it’s a great start.
“This is ridiculous,” my father snaps, dragging me out of my thoughts. “You could have done this anywhere else, but you chose my store? With a man you’ve only just introduced me to? And you expect me to take you seriously?” He shakes his head, lips pressed in a thin line. “Get out. Both of you. And Luc, don’t come back until you’ve come to your senses.”
I glare at him, heat rising to my face. How can he still not understand?
“Je suis fiancé,papa. Whether you like it or not. Maybe you should call Claire to help you, because I’m not coming back. But isn’t that what you always wanted? The moment I turned my back, you hired her to replace me. Well, congratulations, you got what you wanted. You win. I’m leaving. I’m going where you never let me go: back to Besançon.”
I don’t wait for his reply. Instead, I grab Cody’s hand again, and turn sharply, pulling him with me toward the door.
Maybe someday my father will realize it’s him who needs to come to his senses, not me. Time will tell, I suppose.
Right now, I have more important things to deal with, like my new fiancé. He looks like he hasn’t quite gotten used to the idea yet, but I hope he will once we’re alone.
I guide him into the nearest abandoned alleyway, pull him close, and kiss him again. I kiss himlike I’ve never kissed him or anyone before. My words keep ringing in my head:Je suis fiancé. I’m engaged. Who saw that coming?
I can barely stop smiling as I kiss Cody. He must think I’m a maniac, but then again, I have no idea what’s on his mind. Since we left the shop, he hasn’t said a word, and now he isn’t even kissing me back. Suddenly, a thought occurs to me, and I can’tlet it go: something’s not right here. Otherwise, he would hold me and kiss me back instead of just standing there.
