Page 206 of Fake it ’Til Fall

“Puck,” I whisper, because apparently in a crisis I address the dog.

Puck wags his tail once.

Unhelpful.

“Forrest.”

“I had a speech,” Forrest says.

“Of course you did.”

“It was bad.”

“I would have loved it.”

“You didn’t hear it.”

“I love many bad things. Your first romance-novel notes. Your old couch. Your refusal to admit cardigans improve a room.” My voice wobbles, which is humiliating because I am standing in socks and holding a house key while a dog in knitwear supervises my collapse.

“I loved you before I knew what to do with it. Before I was brave enough to say it without making it sound like a joke. I loved you when you bought Puck a blanket and called it logistics. I loved you when you asked me to eat like I mattered. I loved you when you looked at me in my mother’s house and made it feel like I could choose myself without losing everyone else.”

He breathes out a laugh, but his eyes stay on mine.

“I love you,” he says.

The words still hit like the first time.

Maybe they always will.

“I love you when you take over my apartment and call it atmosphere. I love you when you argue with Puck like he has legal standing. I love you when you make donor spreadsheets at midnight and pretend it’s not because you care too much. I love you when you’re afraid and do the thing anyway.”

My vision blurs.

Very rude.

Very Christmas-y adjacent.

“You taught me that a future doesn’t have to be handed to you by people deciding you’re worthy,” he says. “You can build it. You can choose it. And you chose me.”

He pulls a small ring box from his pocket.

I make a sound.

Not words.

Words have left the building.

Puck noses my knee as if reminding me to remain upright for his father.

Forrest opens the box.

The ring is simple and beautiful and exactly unfair. Not huge. Not flashy. A delicate band with a stone that catches the Christmas lights and throws them back at me like it has been holding them for this specific moment.

“Daisy Thorn,” Forrest says, voice rough, “will you marry me?”

I stare at him.

At the ring.