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“That you’re getting involved because you’re lonely. You were always latching onto boys in high school because you had few friends.”
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I dated in high school. I didn’t latch onto boys, and how would you know? You were always traveling.”
“We were doing for those in need. I’m sorry we weren’t there to hold your hand all the time.”
I removed some lip gloss from my purse and reapplied it to my lips. My look-alike mother stared at me.
“Since when do you use lip gloss?”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, mother.”
“I guess not.”
She shrugged her shoulders and walked out of the bathroom before I was finished. I looked at myself in the mirror, feeling defeated. When I got back to the table, Austin was handing his credit card to the waitress for the bill. He fixed on my face and smiled at me.
“Austin, I invited you. At least let me pay the tip,” I said.
“I have it but thank you.”
I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. My mother gave me a chaste kiss on the cheek as did my father before we walked out. I was silent as Austin pulled out of the parking lot.
He squeezed my knee. “You’re quiet. What happened in the bathroom?”
“The usual bullshit. I don’t want to rehash it.”
We stopped an intersection, and while we waited for the light to turn green, Austin reached into his shirt pocket and held out his fist. “Open your hand.”
I looked at him, confused but opened my hand. In my palm, he placed a platinum diamond encrusted band.
“I planned on asking you to marry me at lunch, but your parents are impossible. I felt like I was at the inquisition.”
“You’re asking me to marry you?”
“You know I wanted to.”
“Even after that clusterfuck of a lunch?”
He nodded as he shifted the car, and we began moving again. “I’m not marrying them. I’m marrying you. Say, yes.”
I slipped the ring on my finger. It was a perfect fit and not at all what I was expecting.
“Why did you choose this?”
“You said you didn’t want a regular engagement ring, so I thought outside the box.”
“It’s beautiful. Yes.”
He took my hand in his and kissed the back then the finger with the ring. “I love you, Sammy.”
“Thank you, Austin. For all that you are and all that you make me.”
“I didn’t make you. You made you.”
“More. I need more.”
“Christ, Samantha, you’re going to be the death of me. What brought this on?” he panted.
“You’re my fiancé now. I want to know that you can satisfy me.”
