Chapter 29 Bryce
Thank God the woman waited until I had finished eating because I would have choked. As it was, I coughed over my own spit. No reporter had ever made me feel quite as intensely studied as Meredith Baker.
Jada rushed back into the dining area and hissed, “Glamma! You can’t say that!”
Glamma looked away from me, giving me a moment to gather myself as she said to Jada, “What? I’ve seen this boy two times in my life, and he shows up with a wedding ring? You know I’m gonna ask questions!”
“We don’t even know if it’s a ring!” Jada cried. Then she looked at me. “It’s not a ring, right?”
I blanched. Note to self: Ask my stylist to look into pants where things like engagement rings can’t be seen by discerning grandmas.
I ran my hand over my mouth, because I damn sure wasn’t going to have biscuit crumbs on my lips for this conversation.
“Bryce!” Jada cried. “Tell me that’s not a ring.”
Glamma gestured at me. “I saw it earlier, plain as day. You want the man to lie to you? That’s not a good foundation for marriage!”
My cheeks had to be bright red at this point, but I powered through.
“Meredith, I was hoping to ask after dinner, but you’re right, I shouldn’t have put it off.
” I took a deep breath before continuing the speech I’d practiced since I knew this dinner was planned.
“Jada and I haven’t known each other long, but—”
“Hold up,” Jada said, coming around the table. “Bryce, can I speak with you outside?” I had the feeling she would drag me outside if it came down to it.
“Let the man finish!” Glamma rebutted.
But Jada shook her head, reaching for my hand. “He can finish in a moment, now that you put him on the spot.” She gave her grandma a hard look that quickly dissolved with the love in her eyes. “Come on, Bryce.”
I gave Glamma an apologetic look and followed my future wife to the porch. I couldn’t help but notice all the antique spotted roosters hidden in the corners and the wreath hanging on the front door filled with the feathers.
Jada ignored the chairs and decorations, gesturing wildly at me. “You were going to ask my grandma for my hand in marriage? That’s so outdated!”
My eyebrows raised. “Your grandma doesn’t seem to think so.”
She let out a frustrated grunt. “I’m a grown woman. I can make my own decisions.”
“Look, Jada, my dad taught me the difference between right and wrong, and I’m doing the best I can to do right. Okay?”
A flash of... something. Pain? Regret? Crossed her face. But the expression was soon gone. “It’s all so messed up,” she whispered.
“I know. If I had my way, you and I would have dated.” I reached out, holding her hand.
I needed her to understand me. To believe me.
“We would have fallen in love, slow and steady as a springtime rain. I would have come to dozens of these dinners with your grandma without a ring in my pocket. You would have met my dad and played with my nieces and nephews and gotten all the gossip from my sisters-in-law. You would have met my friends, and they would have loved you more than me. We would have gone to Paris and Rome and still wanted to spend all our time hiding out in the hotel because you’re better than any wonder of the world. ”
My voice shook because damn, I wanted it to be true. I could see it as I said the words. How easy it would have been to fall for her. Natural even. I could tell from our first date that the best was yet to come with her.
Her eyes shone in the porch light. Maybe she had been hoping for the same things as me. But she said, “We can’t live in a fantasyland,” she told me, pulling her hand away.
My palm felt cold without her touch. I curled in my fingers.
“I know my wish isn’t our reality.” It hurt to admit. “But I’m still me. Family matters to me. Your grandma matters to me—because she matters to you. Please don’t stop me from making her happy too.”
Her hand twitched. Maybe she was on the verge of slapping me. Maybe I deserved it.
With a trembling chin, she whispered, “Thank you.” Then she reached for my hand again.
Her touch was soft at first, her hand warm, especially in this cool evening.
That warmth spread to my chest as she looked at me, hoping maybe Jada would come to love me.
That this marriage could be something real one day.
“Just in case my grandma’s watching,” she whispered.
My stomach sank. This was all for show.
That’s what we signed up for, right? A fake marriage? A bitter voice in the back of my head reminded me.
I took a steadying breath and looked up from our joined hands. Her dark skin made mine look even more pale.
“It’s sweet of you to ask her,” Jada said. “And I’m sorry you couldn’t do it on your terms. She has a habit of surprising people.”
An unexpected chuckle passed my lips. “You could say that.”
The corners of Jada’s lips went up but quickly fell. “I guess I also wanted to give you a chance to back out if you need to. Don’t let my grandma force you into proposing.”
I reached out, palming her cheek. She was tall, putting her nearly at eye level with me. “The moment I saw you, I knew I had to know you, Jada. This may not be the way I wanted to become acquainted, but I’ll take whatever chance with you I can get.”
Her small smile made my stomach swoop. Maybe there was hope for us after all. But she had offered me the courtesy of backing out, and I wanted to do the same. “Are you having second thoughts?”
“We’re well past second thoughts. More like sixth and seventh thoughts.” She chuckled, and I joined in too. I could definitely relate.
Swiping my thumb over the back of her hand, I said, “Really. You can tell me no. You don’t have to do this.”
As I waited for her answer, I realized a no would have gutted me. The thought of dating–marrying–anyone but Jada, having Sunday dinners with anyone other than her strong-willed grandma... it left me with an unexpected sense of loss.
She took a deep, steadying breath and squeezed my hand. “I’m saying yes.”
The words had my chest clenching, lifting, feeling a million conflicting feelings all at once. But I let go of her hand so I could get the velvet ring box from my pocket. Holding it up, I said, “Let’s give Glamma what she wants.”
Jada let out a low chuckle. “Time for the show.”