Page 21 of Into the Fire

I just had a feeling this wasn’t going to go well. Maybe I’d grown paranoid lately, but I seemed to expect negativity these days.

Later that day,I sat in the office with Enzo at my side and the phone on speaker as it rang my parents.

Enzo ran his hand gently up and down my back as I waited for someone to pick up.

“Hello?” My mom’s voice called out.

“Hey, Mom. It’s me,” I said, clearing my throat.

“Hey, hon! I’m glad you called. I sent you some pictures from our trip to your email this morning.”

“Oh. OK. I haven’t checked my email yet, but I’ll look,” I said. “Um, is Dad around?”

“Yeah, one second.” She called out for my dad and a moment later, his deep voice rumbled over the line.

“Hello, pumpkin,” he greeted me. “I was beginning to think you’d lost our number.”

I let out a nervous laugh. “Sorry. I’ve just been busy, I guess. It’s no excuse, and I promise I’ll start reaching out more.”

“Oh, no worries. We know how busy college can be. As long as you’re doing well, we understand.”

“Um, I am. Actually, that’s why I called.” I cleared my throat. “Can you put me on speaker?”

There was some fumbling before I heard both their voices.

“What’s up?” Mom asked. “Do you need some money?”

“No. No, nothing like that,” I said. “I, um, just have some news.”

“Oh?” she said.

“Yeah. Uh, Enzo. Remember Enzo?”

“Yes,” Dad said slowly. “Dark hair. His dad is. . . well. Never mind. What about him?”

I breathed out, and Enzo gave my hand a squeeze.

“Well, Enzo asked me to marry him, and I said yes.”

There was no sound on the line at my words.

“H-hello?”

“Uh, OK. Not Fox?” Dad asked, breaking their silence.

“No. Enzo.” I winced, hoping Enzo didn’t feel bad.

“Why not Fox?” Dad demanded. “I don’t understand. Is that entire thing over? You’re choosing one of them?”

“To marry, yes. It’s Enzo. I’m still with Cole, Ethan, and Fox though.”

Dad swore softly and there was some shuffling. I winced again and bowed my head.

“Honey, are you sure about this? Enzo’s family is, well, they’re not really the type of family we want you marrying into if the rumors are true,” Mom said.

“I swear on my life I’ll take care of her,” Enzo said into the phone. “Rosalie is everything to me. To all of us. We didn’t arrive at this decision lightly. We all love and care for her.”

“You didn’t even ask,” Dad snapped into the phone. “You didn’t have the decency to call and ask for her hand from us?”

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