Chapter Fifty-Three
Gigi
W e left dinner a little after eight, and after a quick walk, we’re on a patio, seated at a table overlooking Cinderella’s castle. Marcus orders champagne and little desserts, chocolate-covered strawberries and other finger foods are delivered.
At nine on the dot, the fireworks start. The night sky is lit up, glowing against Marcus’ skin. This day made so many of my childhood dreams come true. As I look across the table at this man, who is still wearing a prince costume, I feel the drop in my chest. I feel the loss of control I have over my heart. I’m lucky enough to experience Marcus as my friend, but today, I experienced him as my boyfriend. I’m entirely fucked, and I really don’t give a damn right now.
“Have you had a good day, princess?” He sets his champagne glass down, linking my hand in his on the table.
“This has been one of the best days of my life, Marcus. I don’t even know how to thank you.”
He grins, running his thumb along the links of the bracelet on my wrist. “I can think of a way.”
“How is that?”
He raises from his chair, taking something out of his pocket and lowers to one knee beside me. My brain backfires, and my eyes become wet.
He’s proposing.
I look around, feeling the eyes of other guests on me. Marcus gains my attention, taking my hand. When he looks deep into my eyes, all the commotion falls away. “Gigi, you’re one of my best friends, and I couldn’t think of a better way for a life partnership to begin than with friendship. You know the best and worst parts of me and still show me so much grace and care. I want to begin and end each day with you. I want to come home to you, laugh with you, have you come up with fifty more crazy nicknames for me, sleep next to you, journey through this life with you.”
He opens the small box in his hands, and I see an art deco diamond ring, with emeralds surrounding the center stone. It’s unique, and it’s insanely gorgeous. He takes the ring from the case and looks into my eyes.
“Marry me, princess?”
The only sound around us is the fireworks, and the only thing I can see right now is Marcus’s face.
I nod and shout, “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!”
This is supposed to be fake, for show, but his words were so sincere. There’s no stopping my tears as he slips the ring on my hand, and I bend down, grabbing his face and kissing him. I hear clapping around us; we probably put on quite a show. And it’s in this moment, in this kiss, with his ring on my hand, that I know I’ve fallen in love with my fake fiance.