Page 10 of The Fallacy of True Love
“Yay!” she squealed, and despite the narrowed look Nikki gave me and the snort from Eric, my lips hiked up. Her excitement was impossible to resist.
“Softy,” Eric murmured to me.
“You spoil her,” Nikki complained, though her smile negated her words. “Now I won’t hear the end of it.”
“You’re going to behave for your mama, right, Joey girl?” I prompted Jo.
Her head bobbed up and down. “Uh huh.”
“Can you start by putting your dishes in the sink?” Nikki asked her.
Without missing a beat, Jo got up, grabbed her plate and utensils, and took off for the kitchen.
“I hope you have a plan,” Nikki told me, “because you know how she is about promises.”
“Of course I do.” Having experienced more than my fair share of broken promises, I made it a personal code never to make a promise I wasn’t sure I could keep.
If only more people could do the same.
Alonzo
“Too full.” Groaning, I rubbed my stomach. I regretted finishing off that extra plate of spaghetti. In my defense, Luna was rarely home, so I had to savor her cooking whenever she was here. But I’d gone a bit too far this time.
“Does that mean you’re not having dessert?” Tala asked.
Mama’s face fell. Fruit salad was her specialty, a recipe she’d perfected with Lola. Mama prepared it every Christmas without fail, even when it had been just the two of us at home.
So even though my stomach threatened to split in two, I quickly said, “Of course I will. I just need a break. Or maybe a walk.”
“Wait.” Tala stopped me as I started to stand. “Before you do, Jason and I have an announcement to make.”
My eyes widened and flew to her left hand, which she’d conveniently kept under the table.
Gasping, Luna jumped in her seat. “Oh my God, yes!”
“I haven’t even said what it is,” Tala protested.
“Go on already so we can celebrate,” Luna said.
Tala sighed. “Apparently, you already know.”
Jason laughed and patted her back, seeming content to let her take the lead.
“Well?” Mama prompted, smiling.
Tala glanced at Jason and, at his nod, blurted out, “We’re engaged.”
Whooping, Luna leapt out of her chair and hugged Tala. “I knew it! Congrats, you guys!”
“Finally,” Papa grumbled even as he grinned from ear to ear.
We took turns congratulating them and admiring Tala’s ring, which had a square center diamond with four smaller triangular-cut ones forming a star on a delicate gold band. The unique design suited Tala completely.
Jason vibrated with excitement, as though he had bottled up the news for so long that his energy could no longer be contained. Tala’s happiness was quieter, but it shone through her eyes. Their infectious joy turned what was already a memorable Christmas into one for the books.
“How and when did he propose? Tell us everything,” Luna said.
Tala shared how Jason had been helping her film one of her dance videos for social media. He walked up to her to fix the back of her shirt, and when she turned around, he was on one knee with the ring box in his hand. Of course, he’d captured the whole thing on camera. Tala refused to let us watch the video despite our attempts to persuade her otherwise.
