Page 40 of Only Fate

But hopefully, my parents will see right through his game.

“I believe Essie enjoys the independence of her own firm right now,” my mom says in her best teacher tone. She shares a friendly smile with him before turning to me. “Dinner tomorrow night. Don’t forget, honey.”

I nod. “I’ll be there.”

“Your mother and I probably won’t stay late, so we’ll see you at home,” my dad adds, smacking a quick peck on the top of my head.

“You have to see this,” my aunt Sierra says, rushing over to my mom’s side. She gently wraps her hand around her elbow, towing her across the room toward my uncle Maliki. My father follows them.

My aunt Sierra is my father’s older sister. She and my uncle Maliki are Jax’s parents.

Adrian smirks and covers his chest with both hands. “Look at me, winning your parents over.”

He’s too cocky for my liking.

I cross my arms. “I hardly call that winning my parents over.”

He settles back onto the bench across from me, and that smirk of his grows. “How’d they know about me taking over the firm? Talking about me to your parents, are you?”

Leaning forward with my elbows on the table, I lower my voice. “I talk about you the same way I talk about menstrual cramps and shredded coconut. All nauseating.”

He mirrors how I’m sitting and gets too close, our mouths almost touching. “I guess I’ll have to change that, then.”

“Good luck,” I huff, drawing back. “My heart doesn’t believe in second chances.”

“Hearts don’t decide on second chances. Your trust is what does that.”

“Then,my trustdoesn’t believe in second chances.”

“Trust mewhen I say I’ll convince it otherwise.” He smirks as if he’d just stated pure, factual information.

We’re interrupted by the lights lowering in the garden, and the music softens.

“Oh my God,” Ava says, trying to see more by craning her neck over Foster’s shoulder.

Callie gasps and covers her mouth with her hand.

“I love this,” Ava goes on, and I follow her gaze to see Jax kneeling in front of Amelia, proposing.

The crowd around them has similar reactions to ours.

Jax and Amelia pay no attention to the people and are in their own world. Amelia gazes down at him, and they keep their eyes locked on each other. A silly grin is on her face as he talks to her.

“Speak up!” someone shouts since Jax is keeping his words private.

Jax ignores him.

I love that even though the proposal is public, he’s saving those personal words for only her.

What I don’t love is that I have to look away from the happy couple and search the area for whoever asked that.

Who interrupts such a romantic moment?

“Yes!” Amelia shouts. “Oh my God, yes!”

The patio erupts with people cheering and clapping.

She leaps into Jax’s arms when he stands. He holds her tight, wrapping his arm around her waist, as if she’s his entire world.

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