On our third anniversary, Samuel Vance did something he'd never done before. He invited me out for a murder-mystery party game.
I thought it meant something.
The last scene of the game was a proposal. He dropped to one knee and held out a prop ring.
"Millie Harding, will you marry me?"
My eyes went hot and I nodded, my hands shaking.
Then Patsy Baxter, sitting in the corner, pulled off her mask and leaned in with her phone up.
"I can't. It's just a game and she's actually crying. Somebody's desperate to get married."
One of the other players clapped Samuel on the shoulder. "You win. This round's on me."
I stared at the ring in my hand and slowly opened my fingers.
Samuel set down his character card, his voice easy. "They said you couldn't tell the game from real life. I actually vouched for you."
I looked at the prop cards scattered across the table and gave a small, tired laugh.
"You're right. I can't tell the difference."
"This round, I'm out."
1
"Millie Harding, can't you take a joke?"
I'd barely pushed through the glass door when Samuel's voice came from behind me.
The early-autumn night was cool. I stopped walking.
He caught up in a few quick strides and stood in front of me, his brow faintly creased.
He reached up and straightened the collar of my coat where the wind had knocked it askew.
The gesture was as natural as ever, with that gentleness that was his alone.
"Everyone came out to have a good time. You walk off with a face like that, what are my friends supposed to think?"
His tone was even. No blame in it.
I watched his hand leave my collar.
That same hand, a moment ago, had held the ring for the bet perfectly steady.
"Samuel, today is our third anniversary."
He blinked.
"I know." He sighed and reached to take my hand. "Isn't that why I brought you out to celebrate? The game was Patsy's idea. She said the more people, the more fun."
"Patsy's idea?" I stepped back from his hand.
His hand froze in midair.
"There you go again. Patsy just got back from overseas. Everyone got together to welcome her home, and we celebrated the anniversary at the same time. What's the harm?"
"She's young, she talks without thinking. You're going to be her sister-in-law. Why hold it against her?"
Heels clicked behind me.
Patsy came trotting out, wrapped in Samuel's suit jacket.
"Sam, is Millie mad at me?"
She caught the hem of his jacket, her eyes rimmed red.
"I really was only joking. I didn't know Millie couldn't take a joke."
Samuel patted the back of her hand, his voice going much softer.
"It's fine. She's just been under a lot of pressure at work lately. Her mood's off."
He turned back to me, and his tone returned to normal.
"All right, Millie, you've made your point. Come back inside. The ring's just a plastic prop. If you want one, I'll take you to the counter tomorrow and you can pick out a real one."
"Consider today my debt to you. Just don't leave everyone standing there with nowhere to go."
I looked at him quietly.
Watched him keep Patsy tucked behind him.
Three years ago, when we'd first gotten together.
He took me to meet his friends, and one of the guys made a crude joke, teasing me about my short skirt.
Samuel turned on him right there.
He took my hand and walked out without looking back, his face cold the whole way.
That night, under a streetlight, he held me tight and said, "From now on no one gets to hurt you. Not even me."
But now, to make Patsy smile, he'd put my dignity on the betting table with his own hands.
"There's no need." I slid my hands slowly into my pockets and said it.
Samuel frowned. "No need for what?"
"No need to buy a ring." I looked into his eyes.
"Samuel, I'm not making a scene. I've just stopped seeing the point."
I raised a hand toward the street, and a taxi pulled over.
I opened the door and got in.
Samuel stayed where he was, watching me through the window.
In the rearview mirror, he lowered his head to light a cigarette and turned to listen to Patsy.
My phone lit up.
A message from Samuel.
【Stop standing out in the wind. Go home early.】
【Patsy's going to IKEA tomorrow. Go with her and help her pick out some furniture. She just moved and doesn't know a thing about it.】
My fingertip hovered over the screen. In the end, I didn't reply.
