86. Kassian

Chapter eighty-six

Kassian

Sunday, February 25, 2024

T his must be some sick joke, or maybe she really didn't realize her mistake. Because seriously? Lunch at the café directly across from Love Park while I wallow in my own misery over my failed proposal.

There's no way Kat would be this intentionally malicious, so she must've just had a craving for something at this café, though I can't imagine what. I'm seated at a table outside, waiting for her to arrive, and this menu looks pretty horrendous. There's not a single thing I could imagine actually eating here.

Maybe I'm at the wrong place?

The waiter brings a couple of glasses of water as I wait, my stomach churning with bile. I don't know why I even agreed to this. I don't want to be out of my apartment today. Then again, I couldn't sleep last night because everything in my apartment reminded me of Aiyana.

Even thinking her name fucking crushes me.

How stupid could I have been? I know this woman. I knew she'd say no, and yet, I still asked, hurting us both in the process.

It took everything in me not to bang down their damn door last night and demand she speak with me. Tell me what I could do to change her mind. Give me some sort of explanation for why she can't or won't commit to me. Clearly, Kat wasn't against us being together, so she can't keep using that as a reason.

Though I guess she doesn't actually need a reason anymore.

She said no, and that seemed pretty damn final to me.

Or rather, she took off like a speed train to hell and didn't look back. I was in so much shock that I couldn't get my legs to move me to chase after her. Which is for the best. She clearly wants me to stop chasing her.

I guess I don't know her as well as I thought.

Checking my watch, I realize Kat is ten minutes late, and I haven't gotten a text from her. Loud music playing from across the street jolts me from my thoughts.

I look around, trying to figure out who the hell started playing this fucking song while I'm over here trying to recover from the worst proposal in the history of proposals.

As if to add repeated insult to injury, Bruno Mars's voice rolls around me, singing about looking for something dumb to do, which would almost be funny if it weren't so goddamn ironic. 1

And in the next line, he sings about wanting to marry the person he's singing to. Oh, come the fuck on! You can't be serious right now.

A couple jump out onto the sidewalk, dancing and twirling. Then a pair of children run toward them, the larger one helping the other into a little hop. Which I'm sure would've been cute if it weren't for the fact that I'm beyond miserable right now.

Hell, even my own sister hasn't shown up for me.

As the thought passes through my mind, several more people dance out across the street, spinning and jumping in front of the giant "LOVE" sign.

Bruno continues singing about a little chapel where he can take this person he's thinking about and marry them in secret.

I feel like banging my skull into a brick wall right now.

Not only is someone proposing, but they're playing one of my favorite songs, and they've got a fucking flash mob!

I'm even more pissed that I'd normally love this kind of thing. Flash mobs are my jam. Hell, I'd probably try to join in under literally any other circumstances.

The crowd keeps growing, more and more people joining in as hundreds of onlookers watch the spectacle. I look around, trying to pinpoint who the lucky person is because it sure as shit isn't me.

I stand, unable to tell who it could be, but I'm over this shit. Kat still isn't here, and I'm exhausted. I'll just get a hotel across town so I can get some sleep and maybe search for a new fucking penthouse because it doesn't feel like I'll ever recover if I have to think about Aiyana every moment I'm home.

Not that I won't be thinking about her anyway.

Taking one last look over at the crowd, I turn to leave, but my eyes snag on a couple of women whom I recognize. The shorter woman's hair is a pastel-pink color. I couldn't miss it anywhere.

Rose and Charlie are dancing in this goddamn flash mob?

Then I see another familiar face. Gianni?

And a few more. Matt, JJ, and Kyle are with their wives.

My eyes scan the crowd, trying to catch up and decide if this is some sort of fever dream.

The lyrics continue on about being ready when she is.

And the next thing I know, Kat and Ale come into view. Ale is spinning my sister around as she twirls not so gracefully, her face a contorted mess of anxiety.

The shock is slowly leaving my body as I realize that I know most of these faces. The crowd of dancers is filled with all of Alessandro's family; even his mother is swaying from her wheelchair with his father.

Zuni is rushing toward me, her tablet in hand, as she shouts, "Kas!"

"What is going on?" I ask in a rush, confused and overwhelmed.

She puts a firm hand on the center of my spine and pushes me across the street toward the spectacle in front of us.

Just as my feet make it to the edge of the sidewalk, "Who cares, baby? I think I wanna marry you," floats through the speakers. The crowd parts, and there, positioned in the center of the "LOVE" sign, is Aiyana, down on one knee.

My body takes over, rushing to her despite my shock and confusion.

My heart is fucking bounding out of my chest as she grabs my hand, and I fight the urge to wipe away the tears slipping down her cheeks. "Kas, for years, you've loved me unconditionally even when I couldn't do the same," she tells me, her voice strained. "You've shown me what it's like to be so fucking obsessed with a person that all other words lose their meaning. You've been nothing but incredible to my family, and for reasons we'll have to discuss when there isn't a huge crowd around, I had convinced myself we couldn't be together. And I am so damn sorry," she cries, her voice cracking on the sob. Her words are barely making it in, but I think the shock has officially worn off.

She put on a flash mob… for me?

"Kas, I don't just 'think' I wanna marry you. I know I do. So, if you haven't changed your mind, will you marry me?" she asks me expectantly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

My heart heaves in my chest, all eyes on me.

I drop to the ground in front of her, my palms cupping her cheeks. "Yes, my little viper, every day of the week, I'll choose you," I tell her urgently.

A laugh bubbles out of her, but it's partly a sob. The emotions warring inside her are begging to come out.

I lean in to kiss her, but she pushes me back. "Your ring," she chokes out, grabbing my left hand and sliding the metal band on.

"I thought only women got an engagement ring?" I ask, quirking a brow at her.

She smirks at me. "I'm all about equality, but you can feel free to swap that for something else later."

I chuckle. " Now, can I kiss you?"

"There's one more thing," she tells me as she slides her sweater down her shoulder a bit more.

My eyes widen. "Is that my name ?" Written in black cursive lettering, my name is etched into the delicate tan skin on her collarbone, the skin surrounding it a bit red and puffy, and a thin layer of ointment is layered overtop.

"Aiyana! You got a tattoo!" her mother exclaims from behind me, reminding me that she's still there.

"She what ?" her dad's voice shouts from the tablet she's holding up.

"Oh, shut it." Aiyana chuckles at them, leaning into me. " Now you can kiss me."

I don't hesitate, pulling her to me and pressing my lips to hers in a desperate kiss. Hoots and hollers erupt all around us, but they fade away as pure joy settles into my bones.

I got the girl.

1. Marry You – Bruno Mars