A Sokeefe Engagement

Chapter 4 - Keefe

An hour later I was pacing in the garden, waiting for Sophie to make her exit.  A conversation I'd had with Dex and Biana at the dinner table was replaying in my mind.

Sophie had been deep in conversation with Forkle and Fitz as dinner was served. No doubt discussing some telepathic topic I'd never understand. Biana was seated to my left, Dex to my right. I knew they had intentionally placed me between them to stop the rumors that they were secretly dating.  But it didn't take long for me to realize that this specific arrangement was also a trap.

Biana started first. "So...?" she asked, placing her napkin on the table and turning to face me.

I raised an eyebrow, wondering if she was going to eat the last ripplefluff on her plate. "So?"

She let out an exasperated sigh, "C'mon Keefe. Come clean. When are you going to do it?"

I was confused, but also starting to feel suspicious. "Do what?"

She exchanged a look with Dex that seemed to say 'I told you so.'

Dex grinned. "I think what Biana is trying to ask is, can we expect an announcement from you and Sophie any time soon?"

I could feel my face heat up as the realization of what they were talking about washed over me. The unspoken expectation that had begun to swirl around us at every social event was now being said out loud.

"Are you seriously asking me this right now? Sophie's right over there."

Biana waved a hand dismissively, "She's not paying any attention." She and Dex both leaned toward me. "You can trust us!"

Dex nodded, "We're good at keeping secrets."

"Not as good as you think." I muttered, smirking as they both turned crimson. Served them right.

Biana tried again. "Keefe. You've been together for years. You're both incredibly happy. Life has calmed down. People can do normal things again. Like...get married." She left that ticking time bomb sitting right on the table. I just stared at my plate and stuffed a custard burst in my mouth.

Biana leaned across me. "He's thought about it, Dex. I can tell."

Dex punched me in the arm, smiling so big it seemed like his dimples had dimples. "That's awesome, Keefe. You know she's going to say yes, right??"

I swallowed and the dessert hit my stomach like a stone. "You think so?" I couldn't meet their eyes.

They both laughed. "Umm, yes! Wow, who's the oblivious one now?" Biana teased.

"I'd say the only one you might have to be worried about is Grady." Dex added with a smile.

Sophie's adoptive father Grady was notoriously protective. It had taken a long time before he stopped glaring whenever he spotted Sophie and me together, or even referred to me by my name instead of 'that boy.' But it had been two years now, and he and her mom Edaline had both accepted me as an important part of Sophie's life.

I took a deep breath and quietly confessed. "I already talked to him."

Dex's eyes got huge and Biana looked like she wanted to explode.

"What??!!!" she hissed. Trying and failing to keep her voice down.

I forced a laugh and said "You're drawing attention." between gritted teeth. Even Sophie and Fitz had stopped their conversation with Forkle to look over.

"Nothing to see here!" I said loudly. "Definitely not talking about elixirs from Slurps and Burps!"

Sophie rolled her eyes and Fitz shot me a warning glare, probably remembering the time Dex and I had given him green spikes for hair. But they both returned their attention to Forkle, and I breathed a sigh of relief.