Page 104 of Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice

“Okay, this is definitely a trick question, because it’s got to be this year, right?” I waved toward the strings of fairy lights. “And when did you put those up? They’re so pretty.”

“This afternoon, when you were out with my mom.” He took both my hands in his. “This year is a close second, but it’s actually twenty years ago. The year we first met. You remembered what I told Jacqui, the first time you met her at her party?”

“You’re going to have to jog my memory.”

“I’d said that I knew I was going to marry you one day. Even when I was twelve. And it was true. That hadn’t been a lie to sell our fake relationship to Jacqui.”

I only stared at him. Where was he going with this?

“I know I’ve said this to you before, but I want you to hear it again. You’re the strongest person I know, Ellie. Your strength and resilience never cease to amaze me. You’ve gone through a lot, but you’ve done and achieved so much in the last twelve months, more than anyone else I know. You make me want to be a better person. Because that’s who you deserve. Someone who doesn’t freak out during your hypos. Someone to help you count carbs and prick your fingers and change your pump site. Someone who can be there for you through all your ups and downs. I want to be that person, if you’ll let me. For the rest of our lives.”

I was holding my breath.Is he… doing what I think he’s doing?

Alec pulled a black box out of his pocket and popped it open, revealing a simple yet stunning ring, and I let out a soft gasp. “I won’t be able to top that first proposal that started thisall. Nobody’s recording this, so it won’t go viral and make you famous again. Although I’m sure my family is watching with bated breath from inside the house.” He gave me a grin. “I know I’m not down on one knee or anything, but I meant every word I said, Ellie. Please say y—”

I pulled him in and gave him a kiss before he even had a chance to finish. Loud whoops and cheers floated our way from the direction of his house, just as the fireworks started in the distance.

It was, hands down, the best New Year’s Eve ever.

At the annual Lunar New Year parade and festival, I stood at the side of the road, waiting for the dragon dance troupe to start their performance. Kim, Jenna, and I agreed to make this our new yearly tradition, and it was extra special this year because my fiancé—I still got goosebumps at that magical word—was with me. Even after several weeks of having the stunning rock on my finger, the memory of that night still brought a blissful sigh and a contented smile to my face.

“Oh. My. God. Ellie! You’re wearing that annoying dreamy look again on your face.” Kim rolled her eyes and took a long sip of her taro pearl milk tea. “Mackenzie, this is all your fault. Ew, you two,” she said with disgust, as Alec leaned down to give me a quick kiss. “My eyeballs hurt. Some of us are single, so please spare us the PDA.”

I pulled away from Alec. “You can’t be bitter forever just because what’s-his-name broke up with you. Trust me, you deserve someone better.”

“I know I do,” Kim replied. “I’m just furious becauseIshould’ve dumped him first. I wasted six months of my life on him! That’s one hundred and eighty precious days I’m never getting back. Meanwhile, my time is running out, because I have a deadline,and the pool of single, decent, available men is shrinking and getting smaller as we speak.”

Jenna grinned and gave her shoulder a consoling pat. “Well, if you’re willing to relocate to Qatar or UAE, you might have a better chance of finding someone there. When I went to Abu Dhabi last year, I was told they have twice as many men as women.”

Kim considered this for a moment, then shook her head. “It’s too hot there. You got any single friends back home in Melbourne?”

“Speaking of single friends,” Alec said to her, “Rob is single now.”

She scoffed. “Carmichael? Yeah, I’ll pass. So not my type. Jenna can have him.”

I raised my eyebrows at her. The drums and cymbals from the dragon dance started to play, prompting me to raise my voice so she could hear me over the noise. “Really? Handsome, funny, and kind isn’t your type?”

She placed one hand on her hip, looking indignant. “I have standards, you know.”

My eyebrows hiked higher. “You do? How high is this so-called standard of yours?”

“Higher than yours, apparently.” Kim glanced at Alec. “No offense, Mackenzie.”

The dragon dancers were strutting and prancing toward where we stood, and the noise was almost unbearable. I was now yelling so Kim could hear me. “Because Rob checks even all my boxes, and if it weren’t for Sir Fiancé here, I’d probably go after him myself.”

The drums paused right as I shouted the last few words, earning me frowns and judgmental stares from people around us. An elderly woman shook her head and muttered in rapid-fire Cantonese while throwing dirty looks at me. I couldn’t understand a single word, but no doubt she was condemning me for showing extreme disrespect for this much-revered cultural performance. I gave her an apologetic smile and mouthed, “I’m so sorry.”

Alec placed a palm over his heart. “Wow. I really am the luckiest man alive. My new fiancée loves me so much, she’s already planning to go after other guys even though I’m still around. At least wait until my body is cold, honey.”

I stuck out my tongue at him, just as the drums and the dancers started again.

Kim waved a dismissive hand. “I know men like Rob Carmichael. Good-looking guys who think they can get a woman to do whatever they want just by flashing a cute lopsided grin. Just like Leo. Well, I’m steering clear of the Leos and the Robs of this world. Can we just focus on this majestic, magnificent dragon, please?”

My phone vibrated in my back pocket, prompting me to pull it out. Alec did the same thing at the same time. It was an email sent from a bank, and as I read the contents, my jaw promptly dropped.

The message notified us of a funds transfer made into our joint account—mine and Alec’s—late yesterday afternoon, for the sum of three million dollars. My breath caught as I scanned over the sender details.

It wasV Pang.

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