Page 61 of Faking it with the Hybrid

Instead of answering, he took her by the hand and started pulling her towards the stage.

“Come on,” he growled under his breath. “We need to do this.”

Mattie was nearly breathless as they reached the stage and the lead singer beckoned to both of them, even as she continued singing. But the minute they climbed up the wooden steps, she stopped and tapped the microphone lightly.

“Folks, I hate to interrupt but I think we have our first proposal of this year’s Yule Ball,” she said. “Let’s have a moment of silence please for our happy couple.”

Everyone in the crowd stopped dancing and there was an expectant silence.

Mattie’s heart felt like it was trying to beat its way right out of her chest as Grath got down on one knee, right there on the stage in front of her as her family and everyone else in Christmasville watched.

“Madeline,” he said, looking up at her—though not very far, since he was so tall that even kneeling, they were almost eye-to-eye, “Will you make me the happiest male in the universe and consent to Join with me?”

Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a little black velvet box. Opening it, he presented Mattie with a diamond so big she was certain the sparkle must be visible, even to people at the very back of the hall.

“My God, Grath,” she blurted. “Is that thingreal?”

Her words caused a shout of laughter to go up from the assembled crowd and Grath scowled at her.

“Of course, it’s real!” he growled indignantly. “You think I’d offer you a fake engagement ring?”

“No, no, I just…” Mattie shook her head, uncertain of what to say. “I just didn’t expect this at all!”

“Well, will you Join with me—I mean, will you marry me—or not?” he demanded, looking even grumpier.

But Mattie didn’t care how grumpy he got because now sheknewthis proposalmustbe for real! There was no way he would buy her such a big, expensive engagement ring just to use as a prop! The big Hybrid mustreallybe asking her to marry him, and she knew exactly what to say in reply.

“Yes!” she exclaimed, unable to keep the joy and excitement out of her voice. “Oh Grath, yes! Yes,yes!”

Her enthusiasm earned another laugh from the crowd and then everyone was clapping and cheering as Grath slipped the huge diamond onto her finger. It was so big Mattie felt like it was weighing her hand down—not that she minded!

She threw her arms around the big warrior’s neck and started kissing him all over his face, leaving lipstick smudges everywhere. But she was too excited to care—he could wipe them off later. Right now she was just so full of joy she couldn’t stop herself from attacking him even if theywerein public.

“Okay…okay, baby—take it easy, all right?” Grath rose to tower over her and still Mattie would have gone on her tiptoes to kiss him some more if he hadn’t taken her by the hand and led her back down the stairs of the stage to the dance floor.

The band started playing again, but Mattie was in no mood to dance. Instead, she dragged Grath towards her family, who were already headed towards them with wide smiles on all their faces.

“Oh my God, justlookat that thing!” Anna exclaimed, the minute she got to Mattie and had a chance to admire the ring. “The diamond ishuge.”

“It was the biggest one they had in the shop,” Ethan said proudly. “I helped Grath pick it out.”

“Sothat’swhere you two went when we all split up to do last minute shopping!” Mattie’s mom’s eyes were dancing with joy. “Oh, honey—I’m so happy for you!” she exclaimed, hugging Mattie.

Her dad grabbed Grath’s hand and pumped it up and down.

“Welcome to the family, son,” he said, his voice slightly hoarse. “We’re very pleased to have you. We know you’ll treat our Mattie right.”

“Er…” Grath didn’t seem to know what to say to this but then Grandma Thelma wormed her way around Mattie’s dad and tackled the big Hybrid with a hug. Of course, he was so tall and she was so short she could only get her arms around his waist, but that didn’t stop her for a minute as she pressed her face to his flat stomach.

“I knew when Mattie brought you home, you were the one for her,” she said, looking up at him. “Promise me you’ll at leasttryto give her a baby before I die!Pleaseget her pregnant—I want to see my great-grandchildren before I go to Heaven to join my dear husband.”

At this point, Grath had a look on his face like a cornered animal with its leg caught in a trap. Mattie saw it and felt a stab of anxiety—was her family overwhelming him? Theycouldbe a bit much, at times. Especially Grandma Thelma when she got on the subject of great-grandchildren.

“Listen, I need to go out for some air,” she told them. “It’s so hot in here I feel like I’m going to faint!” She looked at Grath. “Would you come with me?”

“Sure, baby,” he mumbled. “Come on—let’s go.”

And without waiting for a word from any of her family, he swung her up in his arms.

---