Page 159 of Reel Love

And these aren’t just random people. It’s Stevens’ family and our friends: Mitzi, Stevens’ parents, Cam and Riley, Kai and Mila, Ben and Summer, Kalaine and Bodhi. The letters they are holding spell W I L L Y O U M A R R Y. The last two tiles are missing.

Brigitte comes running onto stage, “Me! Me! Sorry! Here I am!” She holds up her tiles, at first they say, EM. Bodhi gives her a nudge. She looks down. Shakes her head and changes the order so the tiles she’s holding spell M E.

Stevens drops down to his knee again. “Alana Graves, my Saturday Girl, will you marry me?”

I look down at this man, this humble, beautiful, kind man, the one whom I’ve known since we were children. The one who found his way back to me through an online game, who ferried me across the ocean, tried to teach me to drive a boat, always believed in me and never saw me as just some movie star. A tear tracks down my cheek. I never knew I could have someone like him. And here he is, despite all that he’s had to do to hang on to our relationship, bending the knee to ask me for my forever.

“Yes,” I say softly. “I would be honored to marry you.”

Our friends and Stevens’ family start cheering and the people in the audience applaud and shout.

Abraham cups his hands around his mouth and announces, “She said, yes!”

Stevens stands and pulls the ring from his pocket. He slips it on my finger, pulls me into his embrace, and leans in to kiss me.

Mitzi comes running up with her phone on. “Dustin wants to say congratulations!”

We hover around the phone and I show Dustin my ring. Hehoots and shouts from his spot in the firestation. A group of firemen behind him start whooping and yelling.

When we hang up, our friends gather around us with hugs and congratulations. The crowd in the theater starts to disperse. Some make their way towards us, others file out to the afterparties.

My parents walk up the steps. I sense their presence despite the fact that I’m staring at Stevens. His arm is around me and Brigitte is chatting on about how hard it has been on her to keep this particular secret, and how romantic Stevens is, and how cute his brother, the fireman, is.

“Alana,” my mother’s voice cuts through the other conversations.

I turn toward her, ready to defend Stevens, or even to run out the back door of the theater if I have to, tugging him behind me. I’ll withstand her criticism, but I won’t ever make him endure it. He’s far too good for me, and I’ll never let someone pretend that’s not the case.

“Yes?” I answer my mother.

“You wanted to make an introduction?”

Stevens steps forward, extending his hand to my dad. “Mr. Graves. It’s a pleasure. Ideally, I would have asked your blessing. I didn’t have any legitimate way to contact you without blowing the surprise. I hope you understand. I love your daughter. And I intend to spend my life protecting her and supporting her.”

“Good to meet you, Stevens, is it?” My father’s commanding voice doesn’t seem to faze Stevens in the least.

“Yes, sir. Stevens. I’m glad we’re finally officially meeting.”

My dad nods. He’s not smiling, but it’s not exactly a grimace.

Stevens turns toward my mother. “Mrs. Graves. I’m sorry our first encounter was under such unusual circumstances. I had been told that the gala was a costume party. If I had checked my email more consistently I would have known it was a black tie affair. I’m glad we’re finally meeting when I’m not in a fishcostume.”

My mother’s smile isn’t genuine, but it’s not forced. It’s the smile of a well-trained socialite. I’ll take it. She’s not being cruel, so that’s progress.

“We’re a bit shocked by your proposal,” she says to Stevens.

“Yes. I’m sure. Alana and I have been dating for over a year now, as you know. She’s everything I want in a woman. We make one another happy.”

Mother smiles again—that constipated grin that makes me wish I had Jobert on speed dial.

“Well, happiness is not exactly a life-foundation. But I am glad for you. Alana seems set on marrying you, so we’ll accept both of your decisions.”

Another man might be insulted or put off. Not Stevens. He just smiles this broad, sexy, irresistible smile as if my mother just told him they were thrilled about our engagement.

“Thank you, Mrs. Graves.”

“We should get going to the afterparty,” I tell my parents.

“Yes. Of course.” Mother smiles at me and leans in for a light hug and a cheek kiss.

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