Page 33 of The Broposal

“She made me choose between her and Han…” I took a breath, then slipped my hand into Han’s, and he nodded reassuringly. Whether he was acting or being supportive, he was doing a great job.

“How dare she? Why would she—oh… oh, I see.” My dad’s eyes shifted to my hand in Han’s, then back and forth from the two of us. “Have you two been…?”

I realized the implication was that I’d cheated on Jackie. I hated that I had to let them think that if this was going to work.

“It’s been Han for a while,” I finally said. I looked away, feeling myself getting flustered. It was naive to think I could fool my parents when I’d just asked their permission to marry Jackie. I felt terrible about letting everyone think I’d cheated onher, especially since that information would probably reach her eventually, and I didn’t want to hurt her. But if this was going to work, everyone had to believe Han and I had been in love much longer than we’d been pretending.

My mom reached for Han’s hand. “I always knew it was you.” Han’s cheeks darkened. For all my talk about being a good actor, I couldn’t find words to save my life. Luckily, my teaching seemed to have made a difference on Han, because he was going along just fine.

“I knew it was Kenny, too. I’ve loved him longer than I can remember.” Han tenderly ran his thumb along the back of my hand and batted his eyelashes at me. I smiled. I was so proud. If Han acted this well during the engagement, we’d be golden. My parents approved of Han much more enthusiastically than they did Jackie. It wasn’t coming out to my parents I was worried about. They knew I was bi, so I figured they’d approve. I just didn’t think they wouldbuyit.

“Are you happy?” my mom asked.

“Yes,” I said without thinking. And I was. I hadn’t been lying when I told Han I was sure about this. I was more than sure. I was eager, and excited, and, yes,happy.

“Of course he’s happy. You’ve been inseparable since you were eight. I figured it was only a matter of time before you realized,” Dad said.

“Realized? You mean you knew before he did?” Han grinned and leaned forward, ready for a story. I let go of him to cover my face. I was sure whatever they had to say would be royally embarrassing.

They proceeded to tell Han about me raving about how cool he was before we were ever friends, at the ripe young age of seven. Han looked surprised, probably because I’d gone outof my way to avoid him back then. I told myself I was jealous of how cool he was, but no, Han had definitely been my first crush. And now he knew. Lovely.

“I thought you hated me! You were such a jerk in first grade.” Han laughed.

“Nah, you were a cutie,” I said, trying to sound flirty, but my face must have been cherry red. Han would never let me live this down.

After we finished off the fruit, Han and I said our goodbyes, then headed out to my car. Next stop was Han’s family.

“So, baby Kenny had a little crush on me, huh?” Han said when we got in the car, showing off his dimply grin.

“Shut up.” I started driving and turned on the radio, but Han didn’t get the hint.

“What was so cool about me?” he asked, this time no grin. He looked genuinely curious.

I sighed, embarrassed. I hadn’t been shy around Han since back then.

“Remember in first grade when you got Alec out in dodgeball?” I laughed. Alec was a bully then, and when Han’s dodgeball hit him in the groin, I was all heart eyes. I was infatuated for a year before we ever spoke.

“Alec?” Han asked.

“Oh my God, you don’t even remember. You’re breaking my heart right now.” I pouted.

“Refresh my memory.” Han turned in his seat to face me with a soft smile.

“In gym class. Alec pushed me, and then you threw a ball at his crotch. He didn’t bother me after that.”

Han grinned suspiciously big, even though he was biting it back.

“You asshole! You totally remember!”

Han laughed. “Yeah, I remember. You ignored me after that, though, so I thought you hated me.”

“No, you saved me! You were, like, my hero.” I took my eyes off the road for a moment to give Han a quick fluttery-lashed look.

We laughed and reminisced the rest of the ride to Han’s family’s house, but the laughter died when we got there. I had to admit I was nervous, and Han must have been, too.

I parked on the street, since the driveway had two cars in it. One car was Nacho’s, and the other I recognized as Han’s older cousin Mariana’s. Han, Leti, and Mariana had been raised together as siblings ever since Han came to the States. While Mariana and Leti still lived at home, Han had gotten out right after high school.

We waited in the car for a while before heading inside. It started raining, and the patter of water hit my windshield in a soothing rhythm. I was emotionally exhausted and needed a minute before immersing myself in a household of well-intentioned people with minimal boundaries.

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