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And then everyone was clapping.
Oh.
Oh no.
The whole diner erupted into applause, people standing up to get a better look, phones coming out, someone shouting, “She said yes!” even though Deepika hadn’t said anything, just stared at me with those impossibly dark eyes.
“Wait—” I started.
“We’re not—” Deepika said.
But it was too late.
The moment had taken on a life of its own, and we were just passengers now, holding on for dear life.
Outside, I heard the rapid-fire click of a camera shutter.
The paparazzo, the one I dismissed earlier, was pressed against the window now, camera aimed directly at us, shooting as if his career depended on it.
Because from his angle, this looked like—
“Shit,” I breathed.
I finally stood up, and Deepika grabbed the ring from my hand, clutching it like a lifeline.
“This is bad,” she whispered, eyes wide.
“So fucking bad,” I agreed.
10
IT HAS CHARACTER
DEEPIKA
If I were watching this in a movie, I’d call it fake and rate the movie with one star because it felt so scripted.
But there I was.
Our phones started buzzing, and we pulled them out simultaneously.
Twitter was exploding, making me sigh and him groan.
@CelebInsider: BREAKING: Olympic Swimmer Liam James Proposes to Actress Deepika Sharma After Viral Engagement Party Fight! Enemies to Lovers CONFIRMED! #LIAMIKA
The photos were already everywhere. Liam on one knee, with me crying and my grandma’s ring between us. It looked perfect and so romantic, as if something out of a rom-com movie.
Nothing like the complicated and messy reality.
“Blake is going to kill me,” I muttered.
“Xavier is going to murder me,” Liam said.
We looked at each other. And then, impossibly, we both started laughing. It was hysterical and slightly unhinged laughter that came from a place of pure absurdity.
Because, of course, this happened.
Of course, a moment of genuine apology and reconciliation had turned into an accidental fake proposal that was now viral on social media.
