Page 61 of The Broposal

“I just realized you missed your show because of me.”

I raised an eyebrow. Han wasn’t usually one to bring things up that might be any kind of sad, especially randomly like this and especially when there was nothing that could bedone about it. “It’s fine. Had to make sure you were okay, you know?”

The corner of Han’s mouth twitched up into a small smile as he looked at me. “I wanna see you perform.”

“What? We’re too late, Han.” The show was long over by now.

“You had a whole new routine planned, right?” Han asked, rubbing the back of his neck. “I know you do. I heard you practicing in your room.”

“Well, yeah, but it’s okay. It’s too late to go now. I don’t mind, really.”

Han bit his lip like he was holding something back.

“What is it?” I asked.

“This is probably a bad idea. Never mind.” He shook his head.

“What are you talking about?”

Han sighed. “Well, I was thinking… I know you really wanted to do your new routine. You were so excited about it…”

“It’s okay, Han, I promise. I’d rather stay here,” I said. I hated that Han was feeling guilty about me staying home with him. I didn’t want to make him feel bad.

“What I’m saying is…” Han laughed awkwardly. “Why don’t you do your show? Like, right here. Just for me. I mean, if you want to. I bet it’s hella good. I’ll hype you up just like an audience could, you know?”

I had to laugh. This must have been Han’s way of trying to make up for our not-really-a-fight-but-the-closest-we’ve-ever-gotten-to-a-fight. Han was kind of doing his whole “trying not to be vulnerable” thing at the same time, but at least he wasn’t saying “bro.” I had to admit, I didn’t hate the idea. I kind of loved it. If I couldn’t dress up and do my performance at the bar, why waste it? I could do it right here, just for Han. In fact, that made it feel even more special.

“It’ll be without makeup, since Leti was gonna do that part for me,” I say, which was really the only bummer about it.

“I mean, I could try to do it for you. I’m sure there are YouTube tutorials.”

I had to laugh at the idea of Han attempting to do my makeup, but there was no way I was passing up that once-in-a-lifetime offer. “Let’s do it.”

After I got dressed, I set up two chairs in the bathroom so Han could do my makeup, but Han made it a point to sit me with my back facing the mirror so I couldn’t see his handiwork. Really, I could have done my makeup on my own, but I was just so curious to see how Han would do it. The YouTube tutorial played in the background as Han got to work.

“Close your eyes,” Han said as he took a glue stick to my eyebrows.

I did, even though I knew he was asking me more to keep me from turning my head to look in the mirror than to protect my eyes from glue.

I almost fell asleep in the chair, but after what felt like ages of constantly pausing and restarting the YouTube video, Han finally finished.

“Okay, you can look now,” he said, swiveling my chair so it was facing the mirror.

I opened my eyes.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

HAN

My work here? Done. Kenny looked even more perfect than usual.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

KENNY

Ilooked like an eldritch monstrosity.

And I was absolutely thrilled about it. I couldn’t help the laugh that burst from my lips from one look at my face. I threw my upper body onto Han’s lap as I laughed to my heart’s content.

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