Page 23 of The Score

I guess food can wait a while longer.

"But we're adults now." I put my fork down. "We realized it was time to test it again. The most important thing was to protect our friendship… and our relationship with you both."

Shock hasn't fully disappeared from their face, but at least they're moving again. Paying close attention. If I look carefully, I'm pretty sure there's a hint of hope and excitement in their eyes.

"I've always been afraid to ruin the friendship," I hear myself saying. "We wanted to make sure this works. I've never wanted to lose Pen and you both."

"You couldn't!" Tía says.

Pen gazes at me for a few extra seconds. My words surprise me, but it fits with our plan, so I don't take them back.

"How long has this been going on?" Tío asks. "How long have you been together? Because to never hear about that and all of a sudden be thinking of weddings…?"

I tell myself it is natural that they're suspicious. That in their culture asking all these questions is important. That it makes sense. They haven't changed their mind about having me as a son-in-law.

Though maybe I shouldn't be thinking about that since I won't be their son-in-law forever.

Pen sighs. "We started talking about getting married as soon as we realized it was working for us. We've known each other for so long, right?"

"But being as honest as we possibly can be," I say, "I asked her to marry me last night. I want you to walk Pen down the aisle, Tío."

His eyes fill with tears again.

"That's why she doesn't have a ring." Tía's voice comes soft.

I nod. "That's also why we're going to get a wedding planner and make it happen in six weeks, before the start of the new football season."

At this, their mouths hang open.

Pen and I stare at each other. It's a check in, and I raise an eyebrow as a question. She smiles and nods to let me know she's doing well. I kiss the back of her hand. Still smiling, she rolls her eyes, like she thinks I'm overdoing it.

It makes sense. A kiss on her hand crosses a line to something more romantic, more couple-y, and she doesn't care for that. But she'll have to take it, if we're to convince everyone. And I'll have to keep my fantasies under wraps, so they don't cast new colors on the walls, the kind I'm not meant to see.

All these gestures are going to be for show.

Pen gazes back at her parents. "We really, really don't want to wait."

"Don't rush because of me," Tío says.

"Why wait?" Pen asks. "Time together is precious."

"I have adored your daughter for most of my life," I say. "She's my favorite person. I can't wait to be married."

Tía Antonia makes a gesture like she's toasting us with her mug. "I may not understand why you kept this private for however long you did, but you have to know I'm thrilled."

Pen smiles. I smirk.

Tío grins. "Remember that time capsule you buried in the backyard?"

Pen and I nod.

"Ask Antonia what she put in there."

Pen and I exchange a look. When we put things in there, we asked them to write letters to future us. We were meant to wait to read them until we dug the small container. The metal box we used houses the letter I wrote to her, where I opened my heart and promised things I still hold myself to. We're not meant to go back to those words until we're thirty.

"I put many things in that letter," Tía says.

"Including something aboutthem, right?" Tío teases her.