Page 20 of The Wake-Up Call

Izzy

I’m up a tree by the time I realise Lucas has followed me. He really is surprisingly stealthy.

“Izzy. Are you in a tree?”

His tone is as dry and expressionless as ever. I shift on my branch to get a better view, ignoring the dampness soaking into my clothes. Between the trees, the pergola is lit up in yellow gold, and if Lucas would shut up, I’d be able to hear every word Hiro and Charlie are saying.

This place is so gorgeous at night. If the New Forest seems like a fairy-tale wood in the daytime, in the dark it’s all goblins and witchcraft. No matter how wet or cold it is, there’s magic in the air. I once saw a white owl drop between the trees right in front of me on my walk home, its pale face turned to mine in wide-eyed surprise. And the night sky here is stunning: reams of stars, as thick and bright as spilled glitter.

“Izzy. I heard something up this tree. Is it you? Or a cat?”

I snort.

“It is you. What are you doing?”

“Will you shush? I’m trying to watch!”

“Did you climb a tree so you could spy on Charlie’s proposal?”

“Yes, obviously.”

“This is a private moment for two people you don’t know.”

“Oh, please. It’s not like I’m livestreaming. Aww, that isadorable.”

“What is adorable?”

“He’s—oh, oh my God, this is too cute.”

“What is too cute?”

“Will you either shut up or get up?”

“I am not climbing this tree.”

There is a brief, wonderful silence. Between the branches, the light hits Hiro’s face as he lifts his hands to his mouth in shock and delight, and I feel myself tearing up. Lucas is such a cynic. This proposal is exactly what Hiro wanted, and they’re absolutely going to live happily ever after.

“Tell me what is happening,” Lucas says.

“Are you kidding?”

“Do you actually want me in your tree?”

It is a pretty small tree.

“Fine. He said yes. They’re—aww...”

“You are terrible at this.”

“What do you want, like, a football commentary?”

“That would be perfect.”

“And he’s leaning in, the ring’s on Hiro’s finger, I don’t believe it, Charlie’s done it! He’s really done it! Charlie Matterson has proposed to Hiro Tanaka, and Hiro has accepted. Here today at Forest Manor Hotel and Spa, Charlie’s shown the world what he’s made of, and—oh—he’s leaning in for a kiss! And it’s another winner!”

“Please stop.”

I’ve given myself the giggles. I wriggle off my tree branch to the one below and then hop down to ground level with a little lessgrace than I’d like; I stumble and have to grab on to something, which turns out to be Lucas’s arm, though it’s hard to tell the difference between that and a tree trunk, to be fair.

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