Page 22 of Accidental Proposal

Chapter Ten

Lunch and dinner went by smoothly after the awkward conversation about my parents. Thankfully, Liam’s parents didn’t say anything else about it, and I was actually starting to relax around them. They were definitely different than I’d originally assumed; I thought they would stuck-up and rude, but instead they were all really nice and pretty sarcastic when they wanted to be. Lilly, Liam’s mom, was very down to earth and was always smiling. Adam, Liam’s father, was just as nice and seemed to always have something to say, even if it was just a sarcastic remark. And Julie, Liam’s sister, was mix of both her parents; she was really sarcastic and witty and made everything less tense. I knew I would be getting along with her just fine.

We had just finished eating and were sitting there when Julie suddenly gasped and looked at me with wide eyes. I looked at her confused and then looked up at Liam next to me.

“Is that your ring?” The moment Julie said it, Lilly snapped her head toward me. Her blue eyes looked down at my hands, which were on the counter. I had actually forgotten it was there.

“It is…beautiful!” Lilly exclaimed, grinning widely at Liam and me. “You have to tell us how Liam proposed to you, Jenna!”

“Yes. Was it sweet and amazing?” Julie joined in.

“Liam, you tell it the best,” I said, turning to him and smiling sweetly at him. He glared down at me.

“No, you do, sweetie,” he bit out. I shot him a look, but an idea popped in my head.Well, he asked for it.

“Okay. Well, we had already been going out for eight months when Liam all of a sudden started acting weird and rude. He kept pushing me away and wouldn’t answer my calls or texts,” I said.

“Liam!” His mother turned and glared at him. I stifled my laughter at the glares Lilly and Julie sent Liam, who in turned glared at me.

“After about three days of avoiding me, he suddenly showed up at my work and asked me to go on a date. Since I was really in love with him, I said yes, although I was hurt. Anyways, that night he picked me up and drove toward the beach. For our second date, he took me to the beach after a romantic dinner. As we pulled up and walked a little ways in the sand, we came to a stop in front of a blanket and candles. Apparently Liam here had someone set it up for us while we were on our way.” I plastered a smile on my face, looking at Liam and moving my hand up his arm. “He was so nervous and kept stuttering as we sat there. After a while of him trying to say something, he finally got down on his knee just as the sun was setting. It was perfect, aside from his nervousness and his red face.” My hand was now on his shoulder, squeezing it. “He acted the way he did because he was scared of my answer and wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Awww, that is so sweet,” Lilly cooed, smiling at us.

“Honey.” Liam looked down at me. “I don’t remember it being that way.”

“It was, sweetie pie, but it was perfect.” I squeezed his upper arm hard, but he didn’t even flinch. Any opportunity to embarrass him, I was going to take it.

“Look at you two.” I held back my smirk. Hey, if Liam wanted me to tell the story of our proposal, then he’d better like what I’d come up with. “Let me go get the dessert really quick,” Lilly said suddenly, standing up.

“Here, let me help you,” I offered, feeling Liam’s hand tighten down on my thigh.

“No, you’re the guest, you sit down. Adam, you can come help me?” She shot Liam’s father a look, silently telling him to get up.

They left the room, and I sat there awkwardly, feeling the warmth of Liam’s hand on my thigh soaking through my jeans.

“You’re going to pay for that later,” Liam suddenly whispered in my ear. His warm breath tickled my neck, and his voice was deep, making a shiver run down my spine.

“So, Julie, you’re a model?” I asked, breaking the silence and Liam’s hold on me.

“I am, actually.” She grinned over at me. Relief ran through me. I was right and didn’t make a fool of myself. “Right now I’m one of the Victoria’s Secret models.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. I thought I recognized you from somewhere.” When I was sitting in my room bored watching TV the other day, several commercials came up for Victoria’s Secret, and Julie had been one of the girls. “How did you get into modeling?”

“I honestly don’t know. I kind of just went with it a few years ago, and now I love it. I don’t always do Victoria’s Secret campaigns. Sometimes I do other modeling, but it’s mostly on the side. Right now I’m doing both modeling and going to school.”

“Oh, wow. What university are you going to?”

“Columbia. How about you? Are you attending a university?” Julie asked, drinking her wine and looking at me.

“Um, no, not at the moment.” I’d never really thought about going to college. I’d just been so focused on trying to make ends meet that college wasn’t even in the picture. I’d graduated high school, but barely. I was more absent than not because I had to watch some of the younger kids at the home while everyone was at work. Sitting next to everyone who had or was going to college made me feel very stupid.

“That’s okay. College isn’t for everyone,” Julie said kindly just as her parents came back into the room. They both carried plates with some kind of pie that looked amazing.

“Here you go. Jenna, I hope you like blueberry pie,” Lilly said, placing a plate in front of me.

“Thank you. It looks great. Did you make it yourself, Mrs. Stanford?”

“Oh please, call me Lilly. I didn’t make it. I actually bought it at the store. I can’t make a pie this good.” She chuckled, taking a seat as everyone dug into their pies. As I took a bite, I held back a moan at how good it was. Who knew blueberry pie could be so delicious?

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