Page 145 of Alice Chen's Reality Check

“Some people would call that cheating!”

“It’s not cheating if there are no established rules,” I call over my shoulder.

We reach the house at the same time, but I get my hand on the door first.

“I won,” I tell him triumphantly, but when I turn to gloat, he’s on his knees. No, he’s on one knee.

“I did promise you a prize,” he says, holding out a little gray box with a diamond ring inside.

I make a little squeaking sound.

“Alice Chen, you are my greatest rival and most infuriating adversary. You’re also the cleverest, funniest, and most determined person I’ve ever met. You’re the one who pushes me to be the best version of myself, beyond what I thought I was capable of. There is no one that I admire more, trust more, or adore more in the world.”

This is the second time that I’ve been proposed to, but the two experiences couldn’t be more different. Chase’s proposal felt rushed and half-hearted, like it was the step we both felt we should be taking in that moment, so we did it.

Daniel’s proposal is the opposite. It’s a surprise, although now it makes me suspicious about my mom’s comments as we left. Did she know? Of course she knew. Daniel probably asked for her permission first.

I used to think that love was a problem to be solved, an equation that I could balance if I just worked at it hard enough.

But my love for Daniel isn’t like that. It’s unpredictable and fun. It’s racing through your hometown, laughing as the streetlights flick on one by one. It’s listening to each other and caring for each other. Daniel challenges me and understands me. He’s a true match for me in every way, and a problem I never want to be done solving.

Daniel takes my hand in his. “You, Alice, are the love of my life. We’ve been through hell together, and it only made us stronger. Alice Chen, will you marry me?”

“Yes,” I manage to get out between the tears streaming down my face. I pull Daniel to his feet and into a long, deep kiss.

When we pull apart, I look down at the ring. It’s a gorgeous solitaire diamond set on a platinum band. I’ve never been a jewelry girl, but suddenly I know I’ll never take this off. There’s just one thing.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like the style?” Daniel asks. “I know that look.”

“The ring is perfect. The proposal was wonderful, but…” I say, giving him the sharpest glare I can manage, given the circumstances. “I can’t believe you beat me to it. I’ve been working for months on a romantic PowerPoint proposal recapping all of your finest traits and our best moments, and researching the most comfortable and responsibly sourced men’s rings!”

He visibly relaxes and kisses me again, this time taking my breath away. “I’ve always told you you’re too thorough for your own good.”

“Do you want to hear the very flattering things I’d planned to say or not?” I demand.

“I do,” he says, leaning in eagerly.

“Daniel Cho,” I begin, “you’ve been my nemesis from high school, and the person I least expected to ever have any sort of romantic feelings for—”

“I thought you said this was flattering!”

“All of that to say, it’s a tribute to your disarming and charming nature that I not only found myself able to tolerate being in a fake relationship with you, but soon started having genuine feelings for you. Iam so delighted to have found someone who I can count on to have my back, someone I can always trust, even when things get hard.”

Daniel puts his hand to his heart like he might faint from the praise.

“I love you, Daniel Cho,” I conclude. “And if anyone asks, I’m going to say that we proposed at the same time.” I take a titanium ring out of my pocket and hand it to him. “I’ve been carrying this around all month.”

“You know, even if you tell people that we proposed at the same time, I’ll know the truth. I won this round.”

“Fine,” I concede. “But just wait for the wedding. I’ll plan a surprise so thoughtful, it’ll blow yours out of the water—”

Daniel stops me with another kiss. “I wouldn’t have you any other way, Slayer.”

“Good,” I say in between kisses. “Because I don’t know any other way to be.”

When I dreamed of romance when I was younger, I used to imagine something a lot like Villa Paradiso: luxury, drama, a beach at sunset. But being with Daniel is so much more than that. Our relationship is about the push and pull, the spark of passion and the warmth of love, the heat of debate and the lightness of delighting in each other. When I’m with Daniel, it’s my own slice of paradise.

I hold my hand out to Daniel, trusting him to meet me halfway. He slides the ring onto my finger, and it’s a perfect fit. We link hands, and together, we step into the house.

---