Page 81 of London, Love, & A Little Something Irish

"I'm just going to pop into the shop real quick," I say as we move off the bus, already reaching for my wallet. "I think I only have, like, two tortillas left at home, and I definitely need more.”

Nathan, who has been quietly holding my hand, tugs me forward instead of letting me turn toward the store. "Maybe you should check at home first, just to be sure.”

I frown, glancing at him. "I already know I need them.”

"Just have a look when you’re home," he says, his voice a little too casual. "I think you’ll know better then.”

That’s...odd. The store is right here. But maybe he's right.Maybe I’ll feel better figuring out exactly how many I need once I’m in the kitchen. Plus, I should probably get my parents settled first.

We walk the short two minutes to my house, and I pull out my key, the streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement. It's dark inside except for a single light left on near the stairs. London sunsets in December feel abrupt, the kind of darkness that settles fast and deep. It’s already pitch black and it’s only 5pm.

The moment I step inside, a figure moves in the dim light.

"Hey, Nataly," my housemate Sadie says, looking up from her phone screen.

"AHH!" I let out a startled squeal, my hand flying to my chest. "Sadie, you scared me!”

My mind immediately starts racing. Why is she down here in the dark? Our house is built strangely—my bedroom and the laundry room are on the first floor, the living room and kitchen on the second, and the other bedrooms on the third. Unless she was doing laundry in pitch-black darkness, there’s no reason for her to be here.

She glances toward the back door and nods. "I've got something to show you out here.”

The moment she opens the first door leading to the backyard, my pulse kicks up.

Something smells like smoke.

Panic flares in my chest. Oh no. What did I do now? Did I burn the house down?No, that doesn’t make sense,I chide myself,we’re standing in it. My brain scrambles for answers. Did I leave my curling wand on and they had to toss it outside to keep the house from going up in flames?

But as I step outside, all those thoughts scatter.

Lining the fence, bathed in the warm glow of a line of flickering lanterns, is a group of people. My breath catches. But I only catch one familiar face—Jerome is here.

And for a brief, ridiculous second, my brain jumps to the most absurd conclusion.GUYS,I silently reprimandthem,you planned a surprise birthday party for Nathan WITHOUT ME?!How inconsiderate. I’d want to be all over that.

I take another step forward, wondering what’s happening, when something twinkles in the corner of my eye. I turn my head, and my breath leaves me in one swift whoosh.

A massive pink mural spans the wall. It’s hand-painted, bold and beautiful, and written across it in large, sweeping letters are five words that send my heart into free fall.

Nataly, will you marry me?

And right beside it, painted with exquisite detail, is my face.

I gasp. My wallet is still clutched in one hand, my phone in the other. My mind barely has time to process as I turn around.

Nathan is already down on one knee.

His face is open, vulnerable, his brown eyes steady as they meet mine. My heartbeat thunders in my ears, my breath coming in little gasps.

"Nataly," he says, his voice low, warm, filled with certainty. "Will you marry me and spend the rest of your life with me?”

He flips open a velvet box, revealing a ring that shimmers under the glow of the fairy lights.

I don’t even wait for my brain to catch up. I nearly snatch the box from his hands, my high-pitched squeal bursting out before I can contain it. I’m ready to beengaged.

"OF COURSE I WILL!”

Laughter rumbles from him as he slides the ring onto my trembling hand. Like it was always meant to be there.

I spin to face my dad, still breathless, my hands clutching my chest. "Dad, did you know?!" The question tumbles out before I can stop it.

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