Page 76 of Promise Yule Be Mine
“Just a week left until the big day,” Mrs. Campbell said after a minute of silence. “How do you feel, sweetie?” She grabbed Jenna’s hand and squeezed, and I didn’t miss the way my friend’s cheeks turned red.
Okay, this was officially torture. I had no idea why I’d agreed to this dinner. I mean, I knew Kody wanted his parents to get to know me, but I’d rather we told them the truth than having to lie throughout the evening. It definitely wouldn’t score any points in my favor when they’d find out about me and what was really going on.
Jenna pursed her lips and stared at her plate.
“Boy, I’m full,” she said instead of answering Shelly’s question, which only made Kody’s mom’s frown deeper.
“Is something going on?” she asked Kody.
Kody paused and dropped his spoon back into his plate. He cleared his throat.
“Actually,” he said, “there’s something I wanted to say.”
I grimaced.
Was he about to tell them the truth? Was he about to admit that Jenna and he are not going ahead with their wedding? My gut took a tumble but my heart sank. I was both excited and terrified.
“What’s happened? Are you guys okay?” Mr. Campbell asked.
Kody nodded and pushed his chair back.
“This might come as a shock, but…the last few weeks have been the best of my life,” he said to everyone around the table before his gaze rested on me. “I met the most wonderful person I could ever have the luck of meeting and even though I might not know his favorite color or his favorite movie yet, I know more than enough about him to know that I want to do this.”
He dropped to one knee and put his hand into his pocket. My heart leapt and I couldn’t peel my eyes away from his bright, wonderful eyes and the way he looked at me.
“What’s going on?” Shelly exclaimed, but Jenna shushed her.
“Nova, my sweet, sweet Nova, you came into my life like a supernova that illuminated all the parts of me I’d been trying to suppress, to hide, to quieten.” He took my hand in his and held it close to his lips. I couldn’t breathe. “You made me fall for you a little more each day until I couldn’t take it anymore and no one in all my life has ever made me feel this way. That’s why I know you’re the one for me and I would be the happiest man on Earth if you agreed to marry me.”
“What?” Kody’s dad shouted.
“Oh my God!” Nikita cooed.
But I didn’t have eyes for any of them. I couldn’t look at anyone but him.
He opened the little ring box he held in his free hand and revealed a golden band with a floral filigree pattern all around and a small spattering of diamonds here and there.
It reminded me of Christmas and Christmas Falls, of warm cuddles in bed and holding his hand on the ice rink. It was the perfect representation of all he made me feel and exactly to my style. I could barely breathe, let alone talk, but somehow I found my words, shaky as they were and said:
“Y-yes. I’ll marry you Kody. I’m in love with you too and it would make me so happy to spend the rest of my life with you.”
His smile widened and he pulled the ring out so he could slip it around my finger. I froze, the metal both cool and constricting yet it was the most wonderful feeling I’d ever felt.
I was engaged.
I was engaged to Kody. The most perfect man in the world.
This couldn’t be real. This had to be a dream. A fever dream. Something.
And yet, when Kody pulled me close and gave me the biggest kiss he’d ever given me I knew the truth. I knew this was real. This was my life.
“Will someone tell us what the heck is going on? Kody? Jenna?” Shelly demanded.
Kody pulled away but still held my hand. “Right,” he said. “Sorry. I meant to say but I was so nervous I just jumped right into it.”
“Jump right into what? I’m so confused? Are you guys in a throuple? Is that what you’re trying to tell us?” Shelly asked.
“No, Mom. We’re not a throuple. The…the truth is…” Kody glanced at Jenna and she gave him an encouraging nod. “Jenna and I were only getting married so we could have a family. We were never a couple or in love. I mean, I love her, but as my best friend. We just decided we had enough of dating assholes and thought we would skip straight into having a family.”
