I eyed the pretty picture of Jade that sat on my desk and grinned. She was standing in front of a large coconut tree and smiling her big infectious smile. Her strawberry blonde hair was loosely tousled past her shoulders and her skin was perfectly tanned from our most recent trip to Bora Bora.
I told her that I’d booked a weekend villa for us in Hawaii and we were set to fly out tomorrow evening, but I left out the part where we would be staying in a customized “Just Engaged” suite.
Sure, I wasn’t actually “in love”—I’d never understood that concept, but I had really strong feelings for her and she lined up with every requirement on my checklist. I didn’t think I needed to believe in the “love of my life” and “soul mate” stuff to believe in marriage.
To me, marriage meant being with someone I sincerely trusted and admired for the rest of my life. It meant having a caring business partner.
It was also a safety net, a necessary contract to protect my wealth after death, and a way to make sure my assets would be in good hands.
Jade was a perfect match.
Barry poked his head around my door. “Ethan, you’re missing the ice sculptures. You begged me to pay eighty grand for them. Don’t you want to at least see the investment?”
“Right,” I stood up and followed him out.
My mom and grandmother outdid themselves: Palm trees lined the backyard deck, six foot tiki torches burned orange and red fire throughout the yard, and dozens of exotic fruit displays sat on high wood tables. There were even women dressed in grass skirts and leis, serving frozen margaritas and umbrella drinks.
Jade and I walked around the party hand in hand, kissing each other whenever we had a moment alone.
After my grandmother finished performing her own interpretation of the hula dance, I squeezed Jade’s hand. “Jade, can I please talk to you for a minute?”
“Of course,” she put down her pina colada and followed me inside.
My family and friends quietly followed us into the living room, failing to convincingly hide behind the tall columns.
“I know you’ve hated the long distance relationship we’ve had over the past two years, and I have too,” I said. “I want you to know that I finally listed my home for sale last week and I’m more than willing to move to Los Angeles to be with you.”
She gasped.
I got down on one knee and looked into her eyes. “For the past two years you’ve been my best friend and the woman I could always count on. You’re the most beautiful, talented, and ambitious person I know, and I’m happy to say that you are who I want to start my future with.”
“Ethan…” she whispered.
“I don’t want to spend another day in separate cities, and I don’t want to go another hour without making you mine. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
“Ethan I—”
“Say yes. Say yes first,” I smiled.
“I—”
“Marry me.”
“I met someone else.”
What did she say?
“What?” I was pretty sure I didn’t hear her correctly.
“I’m sorry,” she took a step back. “I didn’t know you were planning to propose…I thought we were just celebrating your birthday.”
My friends and family let out a collective gasp.
“You didn’t mention someone else when he was taking you to France, Italy, and Bora Bora every month!” my grandmother yelled. “Did you? Did you!”
“Grams stop that,” I stood up.
“Ask her why she never mentioned this when you were taking her on all those trips!” she shook her head and frantically motioned for everyone else to go back outside.
Embarrassed, I tried to control my anger. “You met someone else? When were you planning to tell me?”
“Tonight.”
“On my birthday?”
“Well technically, after your birthday…once you took me home. I’m so sorry, Ethan. You’re an amazing guy and I do love you, but not enough to marry you. I never really minded the long distance; it was you and all your checkpoints.”
I can’t believe this…This is not happening to me…
“Checkpoints?” I scoffed. “What are you talking about?”
“When we first met, you were carefree and fun and just…different. Ever since you went back to Autumn Wonder—”
“You’re blaming me for your infidelity? You’re joking, right?”
“Ethan, I’m saying that over the past year, you’ve been more calculated and safe. And you grade everything! You graded my last Christmas present to you! What did you give it again? An eight out of ten?”
Six out of ten…
She sighed. “You started going through these little checkpoints like, Oh it’s been six months, time to meet each other’s parents. It’s been eight months, time to go on a trip together. It’s been—”
“Just stop,” I shut the ring box and put it back in my pocket. “I think I’ll take you home now.”
“I still want to be friends, if that’s okay with you.”
What!
“Jade…” I balled my fists to prevent myself from exploding.
“Can we please be friends?”
“Jade, you just dumped me on my birthday, in front of my whole damn family. I don’t think so. It’s getting late. Let me take you back to your hotel.”
“I’m sorry…Can we still go to Hawaii tomorrow?”
“What? No! Let’s go!”
Chapter 3