First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 96

  We all drift toward the kitchen, still laughing and talking over each other. KK runs ahead, tugging at Mama's hand until she agrees to sit beside her at the table.

  "Something smells incredible," Mom says as she steps in, pausing to inhale deep. "I swear, Dani, every time we come over, you make it harder to go back to our own cooking."

  Dani blushes, ducking her head with a soft laugh. "It's just roasted chicken. Nothing fancy."

  "Don't let her fool you," I jump in, nudging Dani's hip with mine as I set the hot pan on the trivet. "She made the whole place smell like heaven in under an hour."

  "Stop it," Dani mutters, swatting at me with the oven mitt, though her cheeks stay pink.

  Plates are passed, food scooped, voices buzzing with the easy rhythm of family. KK tells Nana L all about her drawing, waving her crayon-scribbled paper around proudly, and Mom promises to hang it on the fridge next to the last one.

  The clinking of silverware fills the spaces between talk, comfortable and light. Dani reaches for her glass of water, her hand brushing mine where it rests on the table. The overhead light catches her ring, sending a sharp little gleam across the wood.

  Mama's fork stills halfway to her mouth. Her eyes lock on Dani's hand, then flick to me, wide. "Wait a minute..."

  Before Dani can even react, I can't hold it in anymore. I burst out, grinning so wide my cheeks hurt. "I did it last night. I proposed."

  Mom gasps, hand flying to her mouth, while Mama's face lights up like Christmas morning. KK lets out a squeal, bouncing in her chair.

  "I knew!" she announces proudly. "I saw the ring this morning! Mama T asked me first if she could marry my mommy!"

  Dani laughs, her hand covering her mouth as her eyes shine. Mama looks like she might cry, reaching across the table for both our hands at once. "You really did it. You really asked her."

  "I did," I say, squeezing Dani's fingers tight. "And she said yes."

  Mom finally exhales, laughing through the tears building in her eyes. "Of course she did. Look at her. Look at both of you."

  Mama shakes her head, laughing as tears spill over before she can even wipe them. "Oh, sweetheart..." She's already out of her seat, circling the table. She puts a hand on my cheek, then pulls Dani into her arms first, then pulls me in, surprising both of us. "Congratulations, both of you. This is everything we hoped for."

  Mom pushes her chair back through glassy eyes then stands and comes around to us too. She pulls both Dani and I into a fierce hug. "Welcome to the family officially," she says thickly. Then she turns to me, cupping the back of my neck the way she's done since I was little. "You did good, Tay. You did real good."

  KK bounces again, grinning ear to ear. "Now we're really a family!"

  Before I can even blink, KK pipes up again. "Did you hear me, Nana L and Nana K? I knew already!" She's bouncing in her chair, grinning from ear to ear. "Mama T asked me first if she could marry my mommy!"

  The whole table erupts in laughter, and Dani hides her face in her hands, shaking her head. "Oh my god, KK..."

  "I sure did," I say proudly, reaching over to ruffle KK's curls. "Had to make sure my girl was on board before I asked her mommy."

  KK beams, clearly thrilled with herself. "I said yes right away!"

  Mama wipes her eyes again and leans down to kiss KK's forehead. "We heard you sweetheart. Best little secret keeper."