Chapter 22
JASON
Ten years ago
As the Black Eyed Peas blare on the speakers with their usual nonsense lyrics, I walk toward Greta, my beautiful girlfriend, who seems to be having a blast tonight.
“You know I have to admit,” she says. “This party is pretty great.”
Okay, I know most guys hype up their partners, but fuck. I have the best girlfriend in the world.
She spelunks in her free time. She runs the social media for the local dog rescue because she had extra time in her schedule. Plus, she’s smart as shit, graduating top of her class with a degree in poli-sci. She knows how to handle social situations the way my older brother wishes I could.
“Oh, if you have to,” I say jokingly, “Then I guess I should’ve ordered those flying unicorns after all.”
She laughs, swatting my arm playfully. “Stop, I just mean this is nice…”
“But?”
“A little much for a graduation party, don’t you think?” she contemplates the house.
I look around. Maybe the chocolate fountain is overkill, but she deserves the best. Champagne, her favorite food from the Italian Bistro down the street, and a frozen yogurt machine to give her unlimited supply of tart flavored ice cream with her favorite toppings.
“Well, I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if I double dip a little,” I add with a smile as the pocket of my jeans burns with her next surprise. “I want to make this a combo party.”
“Oh?” she says with that crooked smile I love so much. Fuck, I could look at it forever.
She takes a sip of her champagne and rolls her eyes. “What else are we celebrating tonight?”
This is it. Don’t fuck it up, Jason.
“Why don’t you turn around and find out?” I say.
Greta turns around just as Jack and Alex pull the chord on a banner that reads “Will you marry me?” I get down on one knee as she reads it, holding the three-carat princess cut I bought for her last month.
Greta turns around slowly. “Uh, is this—” She gasps.
“Babe,” I say, licking my lips. “All my life I’ve wanted someone who gets me as much as you do. And now that you’re done with school, I never want to be away from you again. So, what do you say? Would you make me the luckiest man on Earth and be my wife?”
Her lip trembles a bit. Tears well up in her eyes as she nods enthusiastically. I must also be crying because the next thing I know, she is tackling me in a hug and everything is blurry around me.
She said yes.
I mean I knew she would say yes. But holy fuck this is real. I get to spend the rest of my life with the love of my life. This is the happiest fucking day of my entire life.
Jack was wrong. He claimed we’re too young for this shit. I’m only twenty-five and settling down too soon.
What does he know about being ready?
The party kicks back into high gear. Family members keep stopping by to say congratulations. Greta shows off her ring whenever someone asks to see it, but that’s it. I expected her to be shoving it in everyone’s face.
She’ll gloat about anything she can justify. This seems like a pretty easy thing to gloat about. I knew mixing parties was a terrible idea. Is that it?
Huh, maybe she didn’t like the ring. I knew I should’ve taken my sisters with me instead of Jack and Alex. They know more about what women like.
“If you want to change it, we can check other jewelers,” I suggest, hugging her by the waist.
“Are you kidding?” she asks. “It’s wonderful, just like you.”
I look into her beautiful blue eyes, and as I’m bending over to kiss her I hear June calling my name, “Jason, where are you? It’s time to start this party!”
My sisters start up karaoke. Of course I get swept up in that and a few impromptu covers of Springsteen and REO Speedwagon. I realize after a few turns with family members that I haven’t seen Greta in a while. I let Marek take the next one by himself.
“Wait, where are you going?” he says, panicked.
“Gotta find my fiancée, bro,” I inform. “Can’t do a duet of Benny and the Jets without her.”
More people must have arrived after the proposal. It’s so fucking packed in here. I wade through this huge crowd, but still nothing.
“Have you seen Greta?” I ask Jackson who is by the door with Vivian, his girlfriend. She looks a little annoyed as I approach them.
“No man, maybe you went a little overboard.”
Vivian huffs. “At least she got a three-carat ring.”
I pat Jack on the shoulder and continue my way around. Good luck with that one, buddy.
“Maybe she’s in the bathroom,” I murmur to myself as I head in that direction.
She’s nowhere to be found in the hallway bathroom, but I hear something coming from my bedroom. Greta’s sitting on the floor next to the window, sobbing. I run to her side, clutching her tightly.
“Hey,” I shush her gently. “What’s going on?”
Greta shakes her head, burying it in my shoulder. She sobs even harder. I take a deep breath, hugging her tighter. Eventually, the sobs die out.
“I’m sorry,” she says quietly.
“Sorry for what?”
She pulls away, shrugging. Her eyes won’t meet mine. It’s unnerving.
“I’m just so overcome with emotions, Jason,” she says. “I knew we were heading in this direction, but—”
“Hey no, don’t be sorry for that.” I clear her tears with my thumb.
Seeing her this sad is breaking me down.
“If it’s too soon we can slow things down,” I offer. “Or just have a really long engagement.”
She shakes her head. “No, nope, you’ve waited so long for this. I can’t stall your dreams any longer.”
“Greta, babe, you are my dream,” I remind her. “Nothing’s going to change that, alright?”
Greta finally looks up at me. Her eyes are still so fucking watery. I kiss the corner of her left eye.
“Okay,” she whispers. “Let’s do it. Let’s get married.”
In hindsight, I don’t know who she was trying to convince—herself or me.