Page 41 of Size King

“I promise I’ll do that next time,” he says.

“Why didn’t you ask? Were you afraid I’d say no?”

“Yes.”

We both laugh. He holds me closer to him, hugging me to his firm chest. I run my damp hands across his wet abs, enjoying his muscles.

“I can’t believe you just said we were engaged like that,” I say in disbelief. “I can’t believe that even entered your mind! Since when does a guy ever think about getting married?”

“Not often,” he confirms. “But it happens.”

“Did you tell your grandparents you were going to propose?” I ask.

“Well, it’s a fake proposal, right? I guess I just didn’t feel like trying to explain the insanity to them; they wouldn’t have understood or approved. They’re pretty bad with technology, too. I almost imagine that maybe they haven’t even heard about me being engaged yet.”

“Aww, wellmyparents and friends are all having collective heart attacks. They can’t believe that I’m engaged and that it’s to you.”

“Did you tell any of them the truth behind the façade?” he asks.

“I did not,” she says proudly. “I’m a professional. This is, you know, for our job security and everything. I can’t tell my parents we’re faking it and just hope they won’t tell someone else. My mom talks to her sisters a lot.”

“Are your parents happy for you?” he asks.

“I think so,” I tell him. “It’s kind of hard to tell.I’mhappy with being engaged to you, though. I’ll keep up the charade for as long as you think is best. We may end up eternally engaged.”

“Nah, if we’re not married by next year, I’ll dump your fine ass,” he says playfully. “When should the wedding date be?”

“I think we should decide on fake weddings a little later,” I say. “Let’s enjoy being newly taken off the market.”

“Good, although I could write poems about your fine ass, you know,” he says blissfully.

I can’t keep it on the backburner any longer. “So…”

“So?” he says.

“What’s the story with the ring?” I ask.

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“Well, it’s meant for someone else, no?”

He is unable to hide the truth from me. There is pain on his face, and he clearly isn’t comfortable discussing it.

“Aiden, have you ever been in love before?” I ask while I play with the ring.

“I’ve never been in love before,” he says in a monotone voice. “And there is no story with that ring. It’s yours now.”

“I doubt that you’ve never been in love,” I press. “I think you had this ring for a while. You didn’t just go out and buy this. I’ve been with you the whole time. You were ready to say something entirely different just minutes before; unless you were lying, and you’ve had this planned all along.”

“I swear to you, I didn’t have this planned from the beginning,” says Aiden. “I only thought about it right before it was time to talk to the press.”

“So, youdidgo out and buy this?” I ask in confusion.

“I did buy that ring,” he says cryptically.

“Right, for someone else,” I surmise. “I’m just curious!”

“Maybe I just had the ring on standby for emergencies,” he says.