29. He said, “Be brave with me.”
29
He said, “Be brave with me.”
Zach
“John, talk some sense into him,” Mum said, shoving a tray of raw meat at Dad. Her gaze narrowed on me.
“Mmm?” Dad didn’t look up from fiddling on the knobs of the barbecue. “What’s he done this time?”
“He hasn’t asked her yet.”
“Ma,” I warned, hiding a smile behind the top of my beer.
“Don’t you ‘Ma’ me, Zachary.” Mum swatted me on the shoulder with a purple and white chequered tea towel. “A girl like Eden is one in a million. If you don’t snap her up and propose, someone else will!”
My gaze drifted across the deck. Laughter bubbled from the group crowding the oversized table crammed with too many chairs. Eden, Andie, and Yvette gossiped away, sipping champagne—well, not Andie. A beer sat in front of her. Some of Mum and Dad’s friends were there, and a neighbour or two. I wasn’t paying attention to the satellites orbiting the edges of my universe. My eyes always gravitated to the sun in the middle.
Eden.
She noticed me and blew a kiss across the deck. I pretended to catch it and smack it on my cheek. Even brighter laughter fluttered in the air.
What the hell did I do to deserve her?
“I think I’m okay, Ma.” Better than okay. Better than ever.
“Oh, do you just?” Mum snipped. “Should I remind you about a certain rugby player…hmm?”
Dad chuckled. It did him no favours. Mum’s glare shifted to him.
“Well?” she huffed.
One of Dad’s brows went up, but he smiled it away and went back to the barbecue. “Zach, have you showed Eden the new kayaks we bought for our trip next weekend?”
Mum snorted. “No one wants to see your stupid kayaks! Especially not a classy girl like Eden. Did you notice the new heels she has on?” Mum leant over and whispered, “Designer.”
“Those kayaks are designer,” Dad said. “Real showstoppers—”
“Stop distracting him!” Mum cried. “Zach needs to plan his proposal. Something special. Memorable. ”
“Memorable, eh?” A smirk played on Dad’s lips. “Zach, maybe you should propose to Eden the way I asked your mother.”
Mum’s face burned redder than a fire truck. “Absolutely not.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Not like the second time.” Dad’s voice was low as he grabbed Mum around the waist, pecking her cheek. “The first proposal.”
“John!” Mum hissed.
“This is news to me.” I shot a confused look at the two of them. “You proposed twice? I thought you asked Mum after driving down to Mollymook. You asked her on the beach at sunset, right?”
“That was the second proposal.” Dad grinned. “Or was it technically the fifth?”
“John,” Mum warned.
I took another sip of beer, interest piqued. “What is this highly secretive first proposal?” I was happy for any inspiration at this point. “Dad?”
Mum’s glare stayed on Dad. “Don’t you dare!”
He smirked. “I asked her during cuddles —”
“John!” Mum shrieked.
Dad ignored her protests and winked at me as he tossed a steak on the barbecue. “I asked her four times during those… cuddles .”
The swig of beer I’d gulped turned into concrete in my throat. I couldn’t swallow. I couldn’t breathe. My chest heaved in a fit of embarrassed coughs. Mum was frantic, trying to pat my back, but I shook her off.
“I’m—f-fine—” I wheezed. I was just shocked. The idea of my parents having ‘cuddles’ was—
Nope.
Not going there.
Never ever going there.
“John! Honestly! You’ve scarred the boy for life.” Mum whacked him on the backside with her tea towel and hissed, “None of those cuddles for you tonight.”
She stormed across the deck, disappearing into the kitchen, but not before shooting another death glare back at him. He didn’t seem bothered, chuckling away as he flipped the steaks.
“That’ll keep your mother’s agenda in check for a couple of hours,” Dad said. “And don’t listen to her talk about needing something over the top. You don’t. Tell your girl some words from your heart and ask. You still got your grandmother’s ring?”
I patted my pocket with a slow smile. “I’ve always got the ring.”
“So, what’s holding you back from asking, then?” Dad asked. “You’ve been thinking about this for a while.”
“What do you think about talking to Andie first? She’s the closest person Eden has to family. Is it stupid to want her approval?”
Dad shook his head. “I like Andie. She doesn’t pull any punches, and she has decent taste in beer. Show her the Ford F100 I’m restoring in the garage. She’ll get a kick out of it. And once you’ve had your talk, you need to find your girl.”
I dropped my head.
“What’s going on, mate?”
“What if Eden says no? I’ve had plenty of job offers since I left Worley, but I haven’t settled on anything yet. I’ve just been sitting around on my backside for two months, wasting time reading books and trying to sort my shit out with the therapist.”
“Healing takes time. Don’t worry about the job for now. You’ve needed to slow down for a long time, mate, and you’ve been sensible putting away for a rainy day—not that Eden’s with you for your money.”
“He’s right.” Eden’s sweet voice melted me to goo. Her arms wrapped around my waist. “I don’t need your lousy money.”
I smiled into her hair, the bouncy waves and soft coconut smell tickling my nose. “What do you need?” I kissed her temple.
“More of these kisses. Lay one on me, big fella.” She tapped her cheek, and I obliged.
Dad’s expression turned solemn. That was a look I hadn’t seen since making the cut for the Under 14’s cricket team. Was it relief? Pride? Maybe he was hoping for all the same things as Mum—a new member of the family, grandkids, and buying a ridiculous minivan—but never said so. I hoped I wouldn’t let him down. I sure as hell had on that cricket team.
“Hey, Andie!” Dad called out. “Zach’s gonna show you the Ford F100.”
Andie’s eyebrows shot up with interest. “Seriously?” She launched off the lounge and smoothed down her jeans in record time. “The one you mentioned before? What year?”
“1966,” Dad called back like it meant something.
It must have. Andie was already barrelling down the back stairs. The impatient look thrown over her shoulder screamed at me to hurry.
After I flipped on the lights for the garage, I made my way over to the rust bucket taking pride of place in the centre. I knew less than nothing about cars. I wished Dad had suggested an awkward conversation about the lawn mower or the vegetable garden. That was more in my wheelhouse than the stupid car.
I pointed at the rusty old truck. “The car,” I said with a shrug.
“This is so fucking cool.” Andie’s voice was awestruck as she wandered around, inspecting everything under the open hood in close detail. “Your dad said he’s replaced the crow cams, all the pistons and valves, and he’s just re-cored the radiator.”
Whatever that meant. “Ah…yeah.”
I fidgeted. Standing like a dolt in the garage reminded me of too many school holidays. Sweltering heat, sweating through my shirt, bored out of my mind and dreaming of my books upstairs, Dad had forced me to sit there with him while he’d rebuilt some engine or another. Torture then, even worse now.
Andie skimmed a loving touch along the dented metal before she propped her hip against the car. “What’s a cylinder head?” She folded her arms. Waited.
I shrugged. “Stuffed if I know.”
“Okay, so clearly, this is a setup. You know fuck all about cars.”
I stuffed my hands in my pockets. “I, um…” My eyes searched for a safe place to look.
“Are you going to look at your shoes all day, or tell me what you want?”
I took a deep breath. Looked up. Spat the words out. “I want to ask Eden to marry me,” I said.
Andie snorted. One of the most important conversations of my life was off to a fabulous start.
“You’re the person closest to her in the world,” I continued. “I’m not asking for your permission because Eden’s her own person, but it would mean a lot to me if you, um…” I shrugged.
“You want my approval before you propose?”
I nodded.
Andie stood there. Silent. Head cocked. Watching me. She didn’t hate me like she used to—at least, I didn’t think she did—and it helped Yvette sang my praises. Andie was easily swayed by the bubbly blonde. But I suspected I hadn’t fully earned her trust yet.
She sighed. “I always had my doubts about you… but…” Out puffed a breath. “Ed’s more settled than I’ve ever seen her. I’m worried about what’ll happen when you go back to work—”
“I swear it’ll never be like it was. I walked away, and I won’t be going back. Hell, I don’t even have to do legal work. I could help around the salon and continue my role as Chief Executive of Towels, Hanging Robes, and Restocking.”
Andie smirked. “You know that’s a bullshit title Eden gave you to get in your pants, right?”
I laughed. “Yeah, I figured that out when she dragged me into the colour mixing room.”
“Please. No reminders. Gross.” Andie laughed. It was rare for her to laugh around me, so I took it as a small win. “Look, you know Ed’s family. She stood by me when no one else did, and I’d do the same for her. I’m never going to stop looking out for her, but…” She shook her head with a smile. “For whatever fucked-up reason, she loves you, and you make her happy. So, if you want to propose, I won’t stand in your way.”
Andie would never understand how much her words meant to me. Based on the wariness in her eyes, I didn’t think she’d appreciate the hug I wanted to give her, so I nodded slowly with a relieved smile instead.
“Alright, fuck off,” Andie said. “Leave me to drool over this beautiful machine, and you go make my best friend’s dreams come true.”
I didn’t need to be told twice.
As I rushed back up the stairs, my mind raced, running through options. Grandma’s ring had been burning a hole in my pocket for weeks, waiting for just the right moment, but the proposal had to be amazing, didn’t it? It had to be social media worthy with balloons and fanfare and… Shit. I just didn’t know . Maybe I should wait another day or two? A few weeks? I could surprise Eden with a vacation somewhere romantic, like Fiji, or even the snow. Neither of us had seen the snow before. A candlelit dinner at her favourite restaurant might be better. I could hide the ring in a piece of cake…or…something.
I paused at the screen door.
Eden and Mum huddled around the wooden counter, slicing oranges—probably for Mum’s signature punch that was boozy enough to knock anyone’s socks off. Yvette was sitting on a stool. The three of them chatted, but Eden’s arm around Mum’s shoulder punched me in the heart. She was the daughter Mum never had. They were always video chatting, and Eden ended every call by singing, “Love ya, Maree!”
She was the missing piece for my family. For me. She slotted perfectly into place. She was the stormy skies soaring above my calm sea. She was my biggest cheerleader. I was hers.
I’d wasted so much time.
I stuffed my hand in my pocket and slipped the cool platinum of Grandma’s ring over my pinkie. Still there. I smiled.
Yvette noticed me first. Her hands clapped on her cheeks.
Did she know?
Nervous steps landed me in the kitchen.
Yvette was in a panic. “Maree! Ah—” She hopped off the stool and raced to Mum’s side. “Why don’t you, um…show me the lovely new throw rug you were telling me about?” She tugged at Mum’s sleeve. “In the living room?”
Mum flapped a hand, distracted as she grabbed more oranges. “Not yet, hon, we need to finish—”
“No. Now.” Yvette cackled a nervous laugh. “Just, um—” She looked helplessly in my direction.
Mum’s gaze snapped up, finding me standing there like a dumb fool. Her eyes rounded. “Oh, yes!” She yanked off her apron. “Yes! The, ah—the throw rug .”
The two of them bolted out of the kitchen, heads together to share excited whispers, and a lot of winking back at me.
They knew.
Eden had no clue.
She watched the scene with her brows knitted together and the knife hovering above an orange. “What the hell got into that pair?” She shook it off with a laugh and went back to slicing. “Want to help?”
I shook my head. Every word I wanted to say was stuck in my throat like glue. I shuffled closer by her side.
“There are heaps of people here today,” she said, touching my arm. “You doing okay?”
I nodded, stuffing my hand back into my pocket and fumbling to check the ring. Still there. Blood pounded in my ears. My mouth was dry enough to drink boatloads of the punch Eden was making. What was I meant to do? My mind looped in blanks, and every plan was out the window.
“I love you,” I whispered.
Eden looked up at me with a soft smile. “Yeah?” She didn’t always say it back, but I didn’t mind.
“You mean everything to me. You always have, you know?”
She wedged herself closer. “What’s got you so talkative?” She kissed my cheek. “Was it the guy perving on me at the supermarket? I wouldn’t have noticed him if you hadn’t gone all caveman.” Her grin was sly.
She liked it when the jealous caveman glared at all the other men…and even more when I tossed her on the bed afterwards to prove to her exactly who her man was.
“I got something for you.” I nudged my shoulder against hers. “In my pocket.”
“Oh!” She waggled her eyebrows. “You know I love this game.” Grinning, she stuffed her hand down deep. I was hoping she wouldn’t try to cop a feel—an erection accompanying a proposal might lead to some awkward looks from the people outside.
Eden’s smile wobbled. “Z-Zach?” Her hand was still in my pocket. Had she found the ring? “Is this…” She pulled out the antique platinum band with its one diamond. She blinked. A tear blotted down her cheek. “I-It’s, um…”
“It’s my grandma’s ring.”
She bit her lip. “Why?”
“Oh, I got this all wrong, didn’t I? We always mess up the order, don’t we?”
I dropped to one knee. My heart jumped like a jackhammer in my chest, and the speed only ramped up when I looked at Eden. She held the ring in trembling fingers, eyes swimming in tears. I’d ruined the proposal. I should’ve practiced more. I should’ve—
“Ask me,” she whispered.
I hesitated.
I could feel too many critical eyes on us. Mum and Yvette peeked around the corner. Dad and Andie pretended not to be interested from their spot outside by the barbecue. I hadn’t planned on an audience, just like I hadn’t rehearsed what to say. Eden deserved better than a nervous proposal in my parents’ kitchen. She deserved better than me too, but here we were.
I’d waited long enough.
“I saw you a month before you saw me,” I said. “I used to hang out on the back wall of the coffee shop, and then you came in one day…and the next. I wanted to talk to you so bad. You were just… everything . Clever and gorgeous, a big ball of sunshine who lit up my whole day with only a smile. It took me a month to get brave enough to step away from the wall. I pushed past two idiots in baseball caps to get a spot up the front, but you finally saw me.”
“I remember that day. You were so sweet with your shy smile.”
I couldn’t help giving her another one of those smiles. “I want to be brave again, Denny Dee. I’m stepping from the wall, but I want you to be brave with me this time. Will you…?”
A huge smile threatened to burst across her face, but she bit down on her lower lip to stop it. “Even with all my drama?”
“This ring locks us in until the last curtain call.”
“And all my schemes?”
“I know I promised to hit play on your villain theme song, but I’ll make you a whole damn playlist if you agree to marry me.”
Eden fell to her knees and threw her arms around my neck. Her lips landed on mine for one delirious kiss before she nuzzled in the crook of my neck. “I want you to hear my answer before any of those cheeky busybodies get in on my moment,” she whispered, waiting a breathless pause, before simply saying… “Yes.”
Our adventure started when I walked up to a girl crying on a step in Clovelly, and I said, “Hey.”
Our next chapter would start with just one other word: “Yes.”
And that word was so much better.
It was the best damn word I’d ever heard.