What we thought we knew

Chapter 3

Kaylee stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the collar of her favorite blouse. Today felt monumental—she was finally ready to tell her family and friends about her engagement to Connor. But beneath the excitement lay an undercurrent of anxiety. The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions, and now, it was time to face the reality of their decision.

“Are you ready?” Connor’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. He stood in the doorway, looking equally nervous yet determined.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied, forcing a smile. “Let’s get this over with.”

They made their way to the café where they had invited their closest friends and family for a casual gathering. The familiar aroma of coffee and baked goods filled the air as they walked in, and the sound of laughter greeted them. Kaylee’s heart raced as she scanned the room, spotting familiar faces.

“Hey, everyone!” Connor called, waving as they approached the table. The chatter quieted, and a wave of curiosity washed over the group.

“Thanks for coming on such short notice,” Kaylee added, her palms sweating. “We have something to share.”

Her best friend, Mia, leaned forward, eyes sparkling. “Ooh, what is it? Are you guys finally going to tell us you’ve been secretly dating?”

Kaylee exchanged a glance with Connor, who smirked. “Something like that.”

Connor cleared his throat, stepping into the spotlight. “So, Kaylee and I have some big news. We’re engaged!”

A moment of stunned silence followed, and then a flurry of questions erupted.

“What? Engaged? But… how?” Mia stammered, her eyes wide.

“Wait, you mean you two are actually getting married?” another friend chimed in.

Kaylee felt her cheeks heat as she looked around at their confused faces. “Well, we made a pact when we were kids, and since neither of us found someone by thirty, we decided to honor it.”

“You made a pact?” Mia echoed, incredulous. “But that’s not how people get engaged!”

Connor laughed awkwardly. “I know it’s unconventional, but it feels right for us.”

Their friends exchanged glances, some skeptical, others clearly uncomfortable. Kaylee’s stomach twisted. “It’s not just a joke. We care about each other deeply, even if it’s not romantic in the traditional sense.”

One of their friends, Derek, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “But do you actually love each other? I mean, love-love?”

Kaylee opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She glanced at Connor, whose expression mirrored her uncertainty. Did they love each other in that way? They had always been best friends, but the lines felt blurred now.

“I think we’re just trying to figure that out,” Connor admitted, his voice steady despite the tension. “We’re still the same people. We’re just… evolving.”

Mia nodded, but the concern was still evident in her eyes. “But how will you know if it works? You’re jumping into something huge without that spark.”

Kaylee felt a knot in her throat. “I know it sounds strange, but we want to give it a real shot. We’ve always been there for each other, and we think that’s worth something.”

As the conversation continued, Kaylee and Connor both felt the weight of scrutiny. They were no longer just two friends—they were now an engaged couple with expectations looming over them. The idea of acting romantic felt forced, and the laughter and jokes that had once come so easily now felt stilted.

“Okay, let’s just say you go through with this,” Derek said, leaning forward. “What happens if it doesn’t work out? You’ll lose your friendship.”

Kaylee’s heart sank at the thought. “We’ve talked about that. If it doesn’t work, we’ll figure it out together. We won’t let it ruin what we have.”

“Still, it’s a big risk,” Mia pointed out gently. “I just want you both to be happy.”

“I get that,” Connor replied, glancing at Kaylee. “But happiness isn’t just about romance. It’s about trust, support, and understanding. We’ve had that for years.”

Kaylee nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude toward Connor. He always had a way of grounding her when things felt overwhelming. Yet, as the discussion continued, they both felt the strangeness of their situation—the discomfort of navigating a new dynamic while holding onto the friendship they cherished.

Later that evening, as they walked back to Kaylee’s apartment, a silence enveloped them. The chatter of their friends faded, leaving a lingering uncertainty in its wake.

“Do you think they’ll ever understand?” Kaylee asked, breaking the quiet.

“I don’t know,” Connor admitted. “But we don’t have to explain everything to them. We just need to figure out what this means for us.”

She glanced at him, appreciating the way he always managed to bring her back to center. “You’re right. But it still feels weird, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah,” he said with a chuckle. “A little awkward. I mean, we’re engaged, but we’re still us.”

Kaylee smiled, the tension easing slightly. “I guess we just need to find our own way. We don’t have to fit into anyone else’s mold.”

“Exactly,” he replied, a spark of determination in his eyes. “Let’s take it one day at a time.”

As they reached her door, Kaylee felt a sense of relief wash over her. Their path ahead might be uncertain, but they would navigate it together, as friends first and foremost. And maybe, just maybe, they would discover what love truly meant along the way.