Calliope's ex-boyfriend, her high school sweetheart, crash-landed back into her life like a rom-com sequel she never ordered, ready to rewrite the script of her existence once again.
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"You...
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"Calliope, will you marry me?"
Oh, great. Just when I thought I was attending a regular social gathering, as we usually do, the spotlight suddenly decides to do a pirouette and shine right on me. Seriously, talk about timing. Everyone is staring as if my answer is going to solve world peace or unlock the secrets of the universe. No pressure, right?
Okay, maybe all the pressure.
Well, here goes nothing. It's not like I have a personal fan club waiting for my response or anything. Sure, I've been debating whether I want to spend the rest of my life with my boyfriend of almost two years, but who needs clarity and certainty when all eyes are on you? Let's just say "yes" and keep the show going. After all, there's nothing like an audience to help you make life-altering decisions, right?
Travis is on one knee, his perfectly styled, boyish dark hair swooped to the side. The engagement ring glistens in the box, beckoning me with its sparkly persuasion. But you know what else I see? The eyes of his coworkers and friends, laser-focused on me, peering into the depths of my soul like they're searching for hidden answers.
He clears his throat and a single tear rolls down my cheek. "What do you say, Cali-flower?"
No! Not the nickname.
Okay, maybe saying 'yes' might not be the cure-all for our problems or my current emotional state. I mean, I love the guy, despite the hilariously ridiculous way we met at this very dive bar. I had just landed my dream job at Cultured Curators and was ready to paint the town red. Travis was here for a bachelor party, and fate brought us a drunken, embarrassing dance battle. The kind that makes you cringe not just the next day, but for a lifetime. As much as I'm willing to do anything for him, I can't deny that I'm not in love, and it pains me to admit it.
Our opposite nature crashed and burned a while ago, but we're settling in the comfort of each other, and have been for a while. But I can't bring myself to say yes, and it tears me apart. I'm the one to blame, really. I promised myself that I would never give all my heart to someone, and to never be as vulnerable as I was with my ex.
I open and close my mouth, a single tear rolling down my cheek. "Travis, I—"
"Travy-poo? Did we miss it? I told your father not to stop for those darn tacos." My sentence is cut short when I hear Travis' mom, Vanessa, and my heart plummets. Shit. As his parents push their way to the center, her frown turns into a smile when she sees her son still on one knee. "Oh, thank goodness. Your grandmother would be so disappointed if I didn't capture this on video."
Oh, God. I'm going to puke.
To make matters worse, they're wearing matching t-shirts with our faces on them.
Travis presses his lips together and blurts, "Mom!"
As my watery gaze shifts between my boyfriend and his parents, I notice their smiles directed at me. Everyone else is too, but it's more on the side of pleading for me to hurry this up.
