Page 25 of Say I Do

As we approached the table, I slapped back on my winning smile. Before either my mother or Denji could speak, I decided to rip the bandaid off and get this disaster of a lunch over with already.

“The reason we brought the two of you here is because we’re engaged,” I said quickly. Denji raised a brow as if he had no clue while my mom slapped a hand over her mouth.

“What?” she whispered. “You’re getting married?”

“Yes.” I tried to feign enthusiasm but wanted to gag.

“Actually,” Harlow cut in. “Benito hasn’t even proposed to me properly. I don’t think ‘Hey, let’s get hitched’ is the best way to go about that. Do you?” he asked.

I felt my eyelid twitch.What the fuck is he doing?When I glanced at Denji, his eyes were narrowed as if he had the exact same question.

“What?” Mom frowned. “Benito, at least do it like you mean it! What have I taught you?”

Not to hit on seventeen. With a slap to the back of the head and another shot of bourbon poured down my throat.

I swallowed my words. Instead, I turned to Harlow. The innocent look on his face was complete bullshit, and three of us knew that. I glanced down at his hand. No ring in sight.

He slipped it off as we left the bathroom.

I wanted to drag him right back in there and knock some sense into him. This time I’d bruise more than his goddamn ass. I dug into my pocket and pulled out the matching ring I’d been given on our wedding day. Right after we’d gotten into the car, I realized I still had it on. I couldn’t do that if I wanted to pretend we weren’t married yet. I was supposed to keep it until the wedding, but apparently, I had to propose. My stomach turned.

I’m going to kill him.

“That’s why I brought you here… baby,” I said and grimaced inwardly at the foreignness of the word as it left my lips. “So I could propose.”

“Shouldn’t you be on your knees?” Harlow asked.

Denji cleared his throat. Harlow smirked harder. I glanced at my mother. She waited on the edge of her seat, none the wiser that it was all a charade.

I shot Harlow a look.When we get out of here, I’m going to fuck you up.He wanted to play a dangerous game with me? Fine. I had my ways of getting back at him. Visions of his plump ass in my hand infiltrated my mind.

Maybe not that way again. That caused too many problems.

“Don’t be nervous,” my mom whispered theatrically. “You can do it!”

I twisted the ring in the palm of my hand. As I sank to my knee, Harlow held out his hand. I glanced up at him as he touched his free hand to his chest as if it was the happiest moment of his life.

Are his eyes watering? How the fuck is he doing that? Son of a bitch!

I cleared my throat as a hush settled over the restaurant. It felt as if every eye in the room was trained on us. Yes, I was used to the spotlight, but that was a lot even for me.

“Harlow, we’ve been together for a while now.”

“So long,” Harlow whispered. “How long do you think?”

I squeezed his hand hard until his mouth fell open a little, and he covered his pain with a chuckle. His fingers curved as sharp nails dug into my flesh.

“You know it’s been two years,” I muttered. “Don’t interrupt.”

“Two years?” My mom gasped. “Benny!”

Great, now I had to deal with that later too. I gave my mother an apologetic look before I turned my gaze to Harlow once more.

“I’ve loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you in all that red and white,” I said through gritted teeth as I thought about him strapped into a straight jacket as blood dripped down his mouth. “You’ve been by my sideconstantlyevery day. When I wake up, you’re there. And when I go to sleep, you’re there. Every moment with you is a surprise.”

“Awww,” Mom intoned with a few people around us.

Kill me! He’s a fucking psychopath who leaves a trail of dildos wherever he goes!

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