The Wicked Prince

“Aramis?” I called out. “The food is going to get cold.”

“I’ll be right out.”

I sighed, opening the bottle of wine he’d picked out for tonight. It looked fancy, expensive, but then, most things he picked out were. It was something I was used to, but still somehow surprised me each day. It was hard to explain. My parents had always been into the finer things, but they made a big deal out of them. Aramis kind of brushed off his riches because it was all he knew. I fixed the wine glasses on each of our place settings and stepped back to admire it all. When he finally showed up, I’d expected him to be wearing his favorite sweatpants and T-shirt. Instead, he was wearing jeans and a crisp dress shirt. I frowned.

“Are you going somewhere?”

“No. Why?”

“Why are you so . . . dressed?”

“Dressed?” He chuckled, sitting down at the head of the table. I was sitting to his right. “Would you rather me be naked?”

“I mean, I wouldn’t be opposed.” I shrugged. “But I mean, you’re dressed, dressed.”

“I’m starving.” He started drinking some wine and serving his food, ignoring my question, but I was too busy staring at him to care about my food, despite my growling stomach. “You seem hungry.”

“I am.”

“So, eat.”

“I’m trying to figure you out.” I narrowed my eyes. “Are you going back to Elias’s place to have a drink?”

“Maybe. Should I?”

“I don’t know. I’m just trying to understand why you’re dressed so nice.”

“I’m wearing jeans.”

“You know what I mean.”

He sighed. “Fine.”

“Fine what?”

“I was going to do this after dinner, but since you’re so nosey and keep asking questions I guess I’ll get on with it.” He stood from his chair and got down on one knee beside me. I gasped, then gasped again, my heart hammering.

“Oh my God.”

“Joslyn. You’re the best thing in my life. I don’t ever want to imagine being without you. Will you marry me?” He pulled out a ring, a massive diamond on a beautiful gold setting. “This is the ring my father gave my mother. It’s the ring his father before his gave his wife, and his father before his gave his. It’s been in my family for generations and I can’t think of a more deserving, special person to give it to.”

My mouth dropped as he started sliding it on my finger. I felt tears begin to trickle over my cheeks, but I couldn’t understand why. I was so happy I felt like I was about to burst.

“Joss?”

“Yeah?” I wiped my cheeks.

“Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” I shouted. “Oh my God. Yes!”

He finished setting the ring on my finger and laughed as he kissed me. “I thought for a second you were going to say no.”

“I’m just so . . . was that why your mother wanted to speak to you today? How many people know about this?”

“Basically everyone.”

“Everyone?” I blinked. “Even Adeline?”

“Even Adeline.”

“What!”

“They’re pretty good at keeping secrets when they have to.” He smiled.

“I can’t believe we’re getting married!” I looked at the ring again. “Are you sure I should have this ring? It feels . . . important.”

“You’re the most important person in my life. I’m absolutely sure you should have it.”

“I just . . . wow.”

“Fit for a beautiful princess.”

I met his gaze again and the reality of all of this crashed down on me. “A princess.”

“My princess.” He smiled as he leaned in and kissed me softly.