Page 22 of The Promposal

“I did? I don’t remember that.”

“I do. Clearly.” He adjusted the bag of peas on my hand, turning it over. “It’s when I first knew I loved you.”

My heart did a series of flips and threatened to beat its way out of my chest. “When we were five?”

He leaned over to kiss me gently, and my heart swelled up even more. “You loved me? All this time? Since we were little?”

“How could I not? You’re amazing.”

How romantic and sweet was that?

And how was it possible to love him more than I already did? “I can’t believe you liked me for so long. I’ve basically been in love with you since I was nine. We wasted a lot of time when we could have been together.”

“I think we got together when we were supposed to. When we were ready for each other. Who knows? Maybe if it had happened sooner we’d never be what we are now.”

I couldn’t get over the fact that Jake had harbored this secret crush on me the whole time I’d had one on him. What were you supposed to do with that kind of information? Or how should I deal with all the warm happiness pulsating inside me?

Jake looked like he felt just as gooey as I did on the inside. “Tonight is part of the reason why I’ve always adored you. I love a girl who stands up for herself.”

I was standing up for Ella, but I’d take the win. Thinking of my sister made me feel depressed, canceling out all that joy I was just feeling.

“Ella,” I said sadly, not sure how to complete my sentence. I had to tell her about this. But it was going to break her heart.

“I think I know you well enough to know what you’re going to say next.” That was good because I still wasn’t sure. “That Trent is a lying, cheating jerk, and you have to tell Ella.”

Wow. He did know me. “Give or take a profanity, yes.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t tell her.”

“What?”

Jake shrugged one shoulder. “Haven’t you heard that phrase ‘don’t shoot the messenger’? It exists because people shoot the messenger when they get bad news. This is just going to hurt her if you tell her. And you and Ella have worked all your stuff out. I’d hate for this to mess things up for you two.”

Maybe I just had more faith in Ella than that. I knew she wouldn’t blame me for Trent being a lying scumbag.

Right?

What if she does?some annoying little voice inside me asked. I told it to be quiet. “I’d rather it come from me than for Trent to try and lie about it or for Ella to hear it from somebody else. Her boyfriend was kissing another girl, and you think I’m not going to tell her?”

“Technically, Bronte was kissing him.”

My fists balled up on the counter. “You think that makes it okay? A technicality?”

Jake held his hands out in front of him, trying to placate me. “Whoa there, Bruce Lee. Put away your fists of fury. What he did was not okay.”

At that, I relaxed and even smiled a little.

“You kind of hit like a girl, by the way.”

“I am a girl,” I protested, indignant. And I thought I did a good job of punching Trent, given that I apparently hadn’t done it in thirteen years.

“Oh, I know you’re a girl,” Jake replied with a wolfish grin that made my toes curl up. “But your thumb inside your fingers is a very bad idea. You could break it that way.” He balled my hands up. “Keep your thumb on the outside, like this. You’re also better off hitting them someplace softer. Like a nose. Plus, they bleed a lot. Although good for you on busting open his lip. He won’t be kissing anybody for a while. Jaws are no fun for your hand.”

As evidenced by my painful knuckles. “You sure you want to share all this insider information? Aren’t you worried about me coming after you?”

He planted a soft kiss on the bridge of my nose. “I don’t plan on ever giving you a reason to punch me.”

There was my opening. To ask him why he’d been weird and secretive. Dismissive of things that were important to me. Why he was so hot and cold lately.

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