taste | e.d

uno

Dates weren't exactly Jace's strong suit. His clumsiness and awkwardness always seemed to get the better of him and would normally cause our dates to end in disaster. Not that I minded. He was cute when he got angry. But today was different.

Jace is dressed in a tailored suit, his bronze hair slicked back, and his blue-green eyes shining brighter than ever. He bought me a dress for this occasion, so I'm sporting a navy blue one-shouldered gown and silver heels to match the sequins that glimmer all over the dress.

"Jace, don't you think this may be too fancy for a simple dinner? Where are we going, anyway?" I ask him impatiently.

"You'll see, princess," he says, gently massaging my hand.

"We've been in this car for thirty minutes. Tell me where you're taking me," I say, flustered.

He doesn't reply. Instead, he simply grins and gives my hand a squeeze before setting his own back on the steering wheel.

In the two years I have been with him, he has never been so mysterious.

I twiddle my thumbs in front of me to try to distract myself. It doesn't work. "Jace?"

"Yes?"

"Tell me or I'm jumping out of this car."

He sighs. "Jump out, then. I'm not ruining the surprise."

I unlock the door.

"Ken, what are you doing?"

I take my seatbelt off.

"Kendall, you can't be serious."

I put my hand on the door handle.

"Kendall Rose!"

I turn and see the incredulous look on Jace's face. "Yes?" I say.

"We're almost there, okay? Calm down."

"Oh, I'm calm," I say, fastening my seatbelt once again. He raises an eyebrow at me and I laugh.

Just two minutes later, we pull into an enormous, wide building. On the front, the illuminated sign reads Bon Appétit.

I can hear the ocean waves a short proximity away.

Jace, you've really outdone yourself this time.

•••

We finish our meal with flutes of champagne.

Just as I take my last sip, Jace stands up before me.

"Jace?" I ask, a little frightened. His eyes are uneasy and unfocused, his lips and hands are trembling. "What's wrong?"

He looks straight into my eyes and reaches for something in his pocket.

Oh, my God. No. He can't be.

He smiles. "These two years with you have been the best of my life, Kendall Rose. There's not one second that I'm with you and I'm not happy. You're a gorgeous human being that spreads enthusiasm everywhere she goes. I've loved you more than I love myself and I'm willing to do that for the rest of my life." He kneels down in front of me and holds a box in his hands. He opens it just as he says, "Kendall, will you marry me?"