Page 14 of A Royal Promise
“Now for the rules. Our friendship needs to remain our top priority. So, rule number one: No catching feelings. I don’t want to lose you.”
“You’ll never be able to get rid of me.” Drew took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug that melted her anxiety away.
Once she took a step back, she felt stronger and more ready to take on the situation. “Okay. Rule number two: No PDA unless it’s necessary to keep up our façade.”
He crossed his arms across his chest. “Are you trying to escape my bear hugs?”
“I would never.” She smiled at him. “We can still hug. Anything we have done as friends will still be okay. Just no kissing or more couple-y things unless it’s necessary to convince someone we’re together.” Bri shifted uncomfortably at the thought of kissing her best friend.
Drew’s cheeks turned a light shade of pink. “Okay, I can manage that. Is it okay if I add a rule?” Bri nodded, so he continued. “I can’t risk this information getting out. Rule number three: No one except us can know this is fake.”
“I don’t necessarily like that we have to hide the truth from our families, but I understand why we need to.” Bri bit her bottom lip. “What if we have one person on the outside who knows? Someone we both trust to not say anything, who isn’t a family member.”
“Maybe Rosalie?” he suggested. “We’ve been friends with her since we were all kids. Plus, she just went through an arranged marriage herself, and we know she’s trustworthy. Besides, Icalled her on the way here to sort of…get my head on straight. So she already knows I told my parents we were engaged.”
“I can’t believe you told her first!”
“I had to. She’s the one who convinced me to just be honest with you.”
She looked thoughtful for a moment then nodded. “I can understand that. I think she’s the perfect person for us to talk to whenever necessary. Now, onto rule number four: No going on other dates while we’re engaged.”
“I wouldnever.”
“Well, I knowyouwouldn’t. That would require you to go on dates withanyone, which you rarely ever do. I was saying it more for me. I want you to know I’m not going to be out on dates with another man while we’re fake engaged to each other.”
Drew’s gaze dropped to the treehouse flooring as he shuffled his feet. “I appreciate that.”
“Do you have any other rule suggestions?”
He shook his head. “I think that about covers it for me. How about you?”
“I think what we have is a good start. We can always amend the list.”
“Works for me. It only seems right we seal the deal the old-fashioned way.” Drew extended his pinky toward her.
When she met his gaze, he smirked. Bri wrapped her small finger around his and squeezed lightly.
Before she knew what was happening, Drew was dropping to one knee and pulling a red velvet box out of his pocket.
“What’re you doing?” she gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth.
“No one will believe us if you don’t have a ring.” He popped open the box to reveal a stunning white gold band studded with small diamonds surrounding a large, cushion-cut diamond in the middle.
Bri leaned toward him, examining the ring up close. “It looks so real.”But it has to be as fake as this engagement. There’s no way Drew would give me an actual ring.She watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard.
“Brielle Margaret Elizabeth Clairmont, will you marry me?”
While she didn’t want to get married right now, Bri hoped to someday. Hearing her best friend say those words impacted her more than she’d thought possible. Her heart beat faster in her chest as she looked into his eyes, surprised at the tenderness and sincerity she saw there.
“Why, of course.” Bri playfully curtsied to him as she offered him her left hand, trying to lighten the mood. He slipped the ring on her finger, and it was a perfect fit. She grabbed his hands and helped him stand back to his feet. “We should probably go fill my family in on the news.”
Drew’s face paled. “Is your dad going to be mad I didn’t ask for his permission?”
She shook her head. “You already know how much he loves you. But it wouldn’t hurt to lean into the idea that we wanted this to be a surprise for them.”
He gave one decisive nod. “Let’s do it.”
Drew carried her tumbler of peach tea down the ladder, and she followed behind him.
