Page 10 of Sombra
Randy fake-wipes his eyes. “Nice speech, bruh.”
Shane glares at him then fixes his eyes again on mine. “AsI was saying, before I was interrupted, when you were valedictorian, I was so honored at how you said you saw your future with me. I can’t imagine a future without you, and I’m going to miss you so much. Well,” and now he gets down on one knee before me and my heart plummets to my bellybutton, “I want to make sure you know how much I want to make that future real.” He reaches in his pocket, and witha shaky hand, pulls out a little black velvet pouch. Tipping it into his open palm, a tiny ornate ring falls out. It drops to the ground, and he picks it up with a sheepish grin. “It was my grandma’s. I love you. Will you promise you’ll come back to me?”
I cover my gaping mouth with my trembling hand.
Then I notice a collective intake of breath.
My head swivels to see my mombeaming, her eyes shining, hands in fists thrusting upward like victory. My dad’s chest puffs out so he resembles Mr. Incredible—or Arnold, since he’s the one with sandy hair and blue eyes. Shane’s eyes are still on mine, almost pleading. Over his shoulder, Randy heckles. “Oh my God, you’re making her Yoko Ono.”
And I laugh almost hysterically, grateful for the interruption because I don’tknow what to say to Shane. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“Yoko Ono broke up the Beatles,” Randy explains with a shrug.
Shane whips his head around, an eyebrow raised. “You interrupt my proposal with Yoko Ono?”
“Is that a proposal?” I ask, my eyes huge and my hand now quivering with major tremors.
“It’s a promise,” he says. “And if you say yes and want to startplanning our wedding, that’s fine with me.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I stutter. “I’m so surprised.” I catch the crestfallen look on his face and the collective silence in the room, waiting for me to answer. Everyone expects me to say yes, and of course I’ll say yes. He’s my boyfriend, after all.
A little voice tells me that I want to think about whether I’ll marry him, but I shutthat down. I don’t want to say no. Not in front of everyone. This is all way too embarrassing.
“I’ll wear your ring, Shane, with honor.” My hand shakes so much, it takes me three tries to slip it on my finger, but I do and I kiss him. Everyone around us claps and cheers.
I’m not totally sure what I’ve agreed to.
A few hours later,after the sun has set, my parents’ porch lamp shines on us like a floodlight.
Shane presses his thin lips to mine and sighs into my mouth, the fruity taste of his gum imparting a saccharine aftertaste on my tongue. I lean into his kiss and wrap my arms around his waist, getting a whiff of Axe body spray. He’s comfortable like my oldblack cashmere sweater with holes in the elbows. Or that pair of yoga pants I never want to take off on the weekends.
“I still wish you weren’t going, Kim,” he mumbles against my skin as his lips travel to my jaw. Using his bit-down-to-the-quick nails, he pushes back my hair to nibble on my neck.
“I know. But it matters to me. I’ve never been farther than the Grotto.” My voice issoft as I trace my finger down the bump of his shoulder to the top of his beefy arms.
I pull back. My toe rolls a pebble marring the perfectly swept landing in front of my family’s manicured house.
“What if you go away and never come back?”
I give him a hug, which he returns, his thick arms holding me tight. “When you go to the gym, you say there’s no such thing as weakness,just an undeveloped muscle. I’m undeveloped, Shane. Like there’s some part of me that I need to work out. And I’m not gonna be able to do anything if I stay here. I’m gonna experience so much. It’ll be good. You’ll see.”
“Maybe,” he says with an unconvinced tilt of his head. He pulls away from me, and thumbs my lip, studying my face. “You mean a lot to me. That’s all. I can’t imagine howit would be if I lost you.” His laugh is self-deprecating, and he twists his wrists. “I wouldn’t know myself without you.” He smiles shyly, but it fades fast and his earnest eyes join mine. “So you’ll really wear my ring?”
I nod and give him a warm smile. “It’s from you. I’m so glad you’re my closest friend.”
“And you promise to come back to me—”
“Come on you two, break itup.” Randy comes out of the house, dangling the keys before Shane. “Let’s go, loverboy, before you get in more trouble. Have fun in Spain, Kim. I know you will.”
Shane’s eyes linger on me. “I’ll see you when you get back.” He turns around and says, “Oh, and one more thing. I hope it’s all you dreamed about. I hope you experience everything in Spain. Skype me when you get there, okay?”
“Okay.”
With one last squeeze and kiss, he gets into his Nissan, Randy in the passenger seat.
His engine roars to life, and he backs down my driveway. He waves and drives off, brake lights flashing red at the stop sign. The car turns, vanishing out of sight.
I head back into my room, avoiding my parents. I need a moment to sort out my head because too much has happenedtoday. I’m used to getting things done fast—homework, meals, decisions—so I can go and do what I want after. But right now, I need some time to reflect.
