Take Me Dancing

Chapter Three

I spent the rest of the week by myself; exploring the city, going on shopping trips, lazing around in my room while reading some of Alex’s books. The party was tonight and I already had everything planned out. I wasn’t sure about Alex, though; he was always so tired and if I got lucky he’d talk to me for more than five minutes.

It was around five in the afternoon when I heard the keys against the doorknob. Since there weren’t much cars in the streets and the apartments beside Alex’s were unoccupied, movement around this house was easy to track by sound. Looking up from my book, I listened closer. I heard the door click shut. Alex was probably home. I abandoned the book and looked out the bedroom door. No one was there. Not a sound. The keys were hanging from doorknob, still swinging slightly. Alex’s shoes were near the door mat. Food was already on the table. He had probably dozed off in his room.

Walking quietly to his bedroom door, I opened it. There was a flash of blue and black and the next thing I knew Alex was kissing me, hands on my waist, pulling me closer. I melted in his arms. If there was one thing I liked most about Alex was the way he held me. He was so gentle in everything he did.

I drew back and stared at him, one eyebrow shooting up. “What’s the occasion?”

He grinned at me and stepped back. Then he was on one knee, and then suddenly there was a ring in my face; gleaming and glittering and beautiful. It was silver (like most engagement rings were), with an ornate flower adorned with tiny diamonds. In the center sat a squat sapphire—I think it was a sapphire—a little bigger than its companions, perfectly crafted into the ring.

My breath got caught in my throat. What on earth was he doing?

“Jennifer Louise, will you marry me?” he said, his voice almost a whisper, his eyes staring straight at me. He grinned sweetly at me and I could feel myself blush. For a moment we just stayed there, staring at each other, until I nodded.

“Yes,” I said, grinning like an idiot. I was so caught in the moment that I didn’t even know what I was saying, and as he put the ring on me, I frowned.

He looked at me in alarm. “What’s the problem?” he asked, concern in his voice. I looked up shyly from him and looked back again at the ring. It was gorgeous—and extremely heavy. This must have cost a fortune. I tried to formulate a believable excuse.

“It’s just,” I said and sighed. Think faster, Jen! “I don’t have a job yet, and I don’t want to be such a burden on you.” I frowned at him, trying my best to look as sad and worried as possible and he sighed, pushing back a stray strand of hair behind my ear. He looked at me closely. He didn’t seem to notice that I had lied. I didn’t want commitment. I still wasn’t so sure.

“We don’t have to get married right away,” he said comfortingly, pulling me into a hug. How about let’s not get married at all.

I nodded into his shoulder.

“I love you Jen,” he said.

Pause. “I love you too,” I whispered. Guilt swept over me like icy water. Two lies in a row. I bit my lip and hugged him tighter. He seemed pleased, and I was glad for that moment so I could hide my face in shame of what I had just done.

When Alex had let me go to my room to change, I spent ten minutes just staring at myself in the mirror. I felt terrible. I mentally cursed myself for what I had done. Marriage wasn’t the first thing on my bucket list for post-graduation—I doubted that Alex knew that, but he was supposed to be smart enough to know that. At least he wasn’t forcing me, but now that I was engaged, we’d have to get married either way. There was no way out of it that wouldn’t hurt Alex’s feelings.