Mr & Mrs Fake

Chapter Nine

I clear my throat, the butterflies in my stomach dancing with every beat of my heart. As I look into Jade's eyes, I take a deep breath, preparing myself for what I'm about to say. The world around us fades into a blur of muted colors, leaving just the two of us in a bubble of anticipation.

"Jade," I begin, "from the moment I met you, my life changed in ways I never thought possible. Every day with you has been a journey filled with laughter, love, and moments that I want to cherish forever."

She gazes at me, her eyes wide it she remains silent.

"I know that life isn't always perfect, and neither are we," I continue, my fingers intertwining with hers, "but that's what makes our love so incredibly real and special. You've brought light into my life in ways I didn't know were possible, and you've made me a better person just by being you."

With a shaky hand, I reach into my pocket and pull out a small, velvet box. The night air seems to hold its breath as I kneel down on one knee, opening the box to reveal a sparkling diamond ring that catches the light with every movement.

"Jade," I say, laying on the emotion thickly, "will you marry me? Will you make me the happiest man in the world by saying yes and spending the rest of your life with me?"

The silence that follows feels like an eternity. I'm scared she'll say no. Maybe I rushed the proposal, I should've let her get her nerves together first. Jade's eyes fill with tears, her lips trembling as she struggles to hold back her emotions. And then, in a voice that's both trembling and filled with joy, she finally speaks.

"Yes! Yes, I'll marry you!" she exclaims, her voice echoing through the quiet night as she throws her arms around me in an embrace that feels like the universe's warmest hug.

Relief floods through me as I pull her close, my arms wrapping around her tightly. I whisper into her ear, "I thought for a moment there you might say no or run off."

Jade pulls back slightly, her eyes glistening with muted laughter, "I got you good didn't I?" The grins.

Just then, Jade's mother, who has been standing nearby, rushes over with an ecstatic shout. "Oh, my little girl! Finally engaged!" she cries, her voice breaking with emotion as she wraps Jade in a loving hug. "I can't believe you kept this relationship a secret for so long!"

Jade's mother's tears of joy mix with Jade's as they hold each other tightly. "We just wanted to be sure about each other before we told anyone," Jade explains, her voice soft yet resolute.

"I'm so happy for you!" her mother says, her eyes shimmering with excitement. "I can't wait to start planning the wedding. It's going to be perfect!"

I chuckle softly as I notice Jade's eyes rolling with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Let her be happy," I nudge her gently.

"Yes, Jade, listen to your fiancé and let me be happy," her mom says with a playful wink.

Jade lets out a small sigh, "I think I've had enough of wedding talk for one night. My mom's already bombarding me with dress options. I need a drink."

"Congratulations, son. You did it," my dad says with pride as he claps me on the back. I smile, feeling a mix of joy and nervous anticipation. "Not quite. We still have to make things official."

My mom approaches and gives me a warm hug. "Congratulations. I really like her," she says with a bright smile. "We should have the wedding here! I know a fantastic planner who could have everything ready by the end of the month!"

I quickly interject, "We need to keep it small and intimate. Jade's not big on big crowds, and I don't want to overwhelm her with too much attention."

"Oh, fine," my mom says with a hint of disappointment but understanding. "I just wanted to make sure you had the best."

I spot Jade making her way towards the door and hurry to catch up. "I'm gonna say goodbye to my parents. Meet me outside," I say, handing her my car keys.

Jade grins mischievously. "Don't take too long. If my mom finds me before you do, I'll be trapped in wedding planning hell."

As I bid farewell to my parents, I catch my mom and Jade's mom chatting conspiratorially. "What are you two plotting?" I ask with a knowing smile.

"Oh, nothing," my mom says with an innocent look. "We were just discussing a few ideas."

"See you tomorrow," I call out as I head outside, finding Jade anxiously waiting by the car.

"Ready to escape?" she asks, her eyes wide with a mix of relief and excitement.

"Definitely," I reply, getting into the driver's seat. "I'm sure we'll hear all about the plans tomorrow. My mom was already gearing up to invite everyone she knows."

"I'm preparing for the wine aisle to become my new best friend," Jade says with a laugh. "Thanks for keeping things low-key."

"Of course," I say, squeezing her hand. "I want to make sure this is stress free for us both." Jade begins to speak and stops when she hears yelling. She groans when she sees her mom flagging down the car, "Go! Go!" She shouts. I throw the car into gear and speed off.  I laugh breathlessly, "That made me feel like we were just experiencing a high speed chase"

As I pull up to her apartment, I look over at her and say, "I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Jade."

"Goodnight, Theo," she replies, waving as she heads inside.

Driving away, I can't help but think that this whole fake marriage thing might not be so bad after all. With Jade by my side, it feels like everything is falling perfectly into place.