Page 40 of Wedding or Not

“Your expression.”

“I’m not sure I’m responsible for what my expression is doing.”

“Of course you are. Contain the mocking amusement inside you, and it won’t come out through your eyeballs.”

“That’s good!” Natalie exclaims. “Just right. Something snippy like that.”

“I didn’t realize we were being snippy,” Wes murmurs.

“We were doing our normal thing, but I guess our normal thing is snippy.”

“I guess so.”

“But now Ella needs to get annoyed enough to walk away. Nothing really dramatic, but like she needs to put distance between you for a minute.” Natalie is pacing and eyeing us with all the seriousness of a Broadway director.

“Okay,” I murmur, still looking up at Wes and wishing I didn’t want to touch him so much. He’s right there. Big and warm and amused and breathing. Real. I want nothing more than to put my hands on him. “I’m really annoyed with you right now, so I’m flouncing away for a minute.”

I do just that, walking several steps away with a frown and a huff.

“Don’t look too pouty,” Natalie says. “You’re not a melodramatic person, so just do an eye roll or something as you separate.”

I try it again, this time shooting an annoyed glance over my shoulder as I walk away.

“Good!” That’s Natalie, clearly enjoying herself as she speaks over the girls’ giggling. “Now Wes. You need to look kind of torn, like you’re second-guessing yourself. Then pull out the ring and walk over to propose.”

“Should I get down on one knee?”

“Yeah. I think you better. It needs to be clear what’s happening from a quick glance.”

Wes nods and checks his pocket for the ring.

“Ella, turn around. You shouldn’t be watching him.”

“But I want to see.”

“Tough. He’ll say something to get your attention. Then you’ll turn around as he goes down on one knee.” Natalie claps her hands. “Okay, go!”

I turn my back to Wes and wait a few seconds. Then I can’t resist and glance over my shoulder to see him with his hand in his pocket and an impressively conflicted expression on his face as he stares down at it.

“Stop peeking, Ella!”

I groan and look away. Wait a few more seconds before I hear motion behind me and Wes murmuring, “Ella.”

I turn around.

“You can’t look excited, Ella. You don’t know what he’s about to do, and you’re still kind of annoyed with him. Try it again.”

With another groan, I turn around and wait until Wes says my name. This time I manage an impatient expression as I whirl around.

“That’s good,” Natalie says.

I don’t have to look surprised and confused as Wes shifts from foot to foot and then extends his hand with a jeweler’s ring box.

My mouth drops open as he lowers himself to one knee because he’s managing the expression so perfectly.

Nervous and hopeful and adoring all at once.

“Ella,” he says, opening the box and extending the ring toward me. “Will you marry me?” Then his mood breaks and he turns toward Natalie. “Should I do something more flowery?”