"What should I say?" The words echoed in my mind as my heart pounded harder than ever. Jeremy's eyes were still locked on mine, full of hope and fear. I had dreamed of this moment for years, back when we were just two high school kids sitting under the school tree sharing secrets.
"I... I want to say yes," I whispered to myself, "because I've always loved him." But then another face appeared in my thoughts—Louis. His smile, his voice, his touch.
"Laranie," Jeremy's voice broke through my racing thoughts.
"Yeah? I'm sorry, I was—"
"It's okay," he said softly, looking away. "I understand if the answer's no."
"No, Jeremy."
He looked up, hopeful again.
"I mean… I'd love to be your girlfriend."
His eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yes," I said, smiling weakly. "Really."
He pulled me into his arms, lifting me off the ground and spinning me in circles. I laughed despite the weight pressing on my chest. What have I just done?
"Laranie, you've made me the happiest guy alive!" he said, his grin wider than ever.
"I love you, Jeremy," I whispered, because in that moment, it felt true.
He kissed me gently, the band behind us breaking into a sweet, celebratory tune. Candlelight danced around us as he poured another glass of wine. For a while, the world seemed perfect.
But perfection didn't last long. My phone began to buzz on the blanket beside us.
I froze when I saw the name flashing across the screen — Louis.
"Laranie," Jeremy said, noticing my hesitation, "aren't you going to pick that up?"
"I… I don't know," I murmured. "I was supposed to meet Louis earlier at home."
He frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing big. He just wanted to talk—about his girlfriend."
"His girlfriend? And why is he talking to you about her?"
"Because I'm the one who advised him to end things with her," I said quickly, trying to sound calm.
Jeremy sighed, his expression softening but still uncertain. "Just… be careful, okay? I don't want you to get hurt."
"I won't," I promised. "You trust me, right?"
He nodded slowly. "Yeah. I trust you."
The phone started ringing again, louder this time. I knew Louis well enough to know he'd never stop until I picked up. So I took a deep breath and answered.
"Laranie, where are you?" His voice was low, almost irritated.
"Hi, Louis. I'm out with Jeremy."
"I thought I'd find you home."
"We just went out for a bit. I'll be home soon."
"How soon?"
"About fifty-five minutes."
"Okay. I'll wait," he said shortly before hanging up.
I stared at the phone for a second, my heart thumping wildly. Jeremy reached for my hand.
"Guess it's time to go?"
"Yeah," I said quietly.
The drive back was quiet. Jeremy played soft music as we watched the city lights blur past the windows. When we reached my house, my chest tightened—I could see Louis's silhouette in the window.
I turned to Jeremy. "Thank you for today. It was… beautiful."
"At least let me kiss you goodnight," he said, leaning closer.
Panic rushed through me. "No, Jeremy—someone might see."
He looked confused but smiled sadly. "Okay. I'll call you later."
"I'll be waiting," I said, stepping out of the car.
I waved as he drove away, then turned toward the house, my heart pounding. The door opened before I could even reach for the knob. Louis stood there, expression unreadable.
"Welcome back from your outing," he said, voice calm but eyes sharp.
"Thank you," I said softly. "How was the burial?"
"It was fine. I've been here since seven, waiting for you."
"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "We stopped by the park to watch the stars and lost track of time."
He looked at me for a long moment, then sighed and smiled faintly. "It's fine. I'm just glad you're safe."
Relief washed over me.
Then he stepped closer, cupping my face in his hands. "You have no idea how much I missed you."
"Louis…" I breathed, but before I could say more, he kissed me deeply. The door clicked shut behind us.
His warmth surrounded me, his closeness both comforting and terrifying. The world outside disappeared as he whispered my name like a promise.
For a moment, it felt like time stopped—until a sharp knock broke the silence.
We froze. My heart raced.
"Who could that be?" I whispered.
Louis's expression hardened. "Go check," he said softly. "I'll stay out of sight."
He slipped toward the bathroom while I tightened my robe and slowly walked to the door. My hands trembled as I reached for the knob, whispering a silent prayer.
The knocking came again—louder this time.
I took a deep breath, turned the handle, and opened the door.
And there, standing on the porch under the pale glow of the streetlight, was—