Chapter 4: Roses, Confessions, and a Daring Answer

4.

In a daze, I followed him out of the hotel. The tile was cold under my heels, and the wind nipped at my bare shoulders.

It was chilly outside. I shivered, goosebumps rising on my arms.

He noticed and took off his suit jacket, draping it over my shoulders. The fabric was still warm from his body.

Wait, he was wearing a suit? I was too mad earlier to notice. He always hated wearing anything too formal or restrictive.

"Where are you taking me? You’re sketchier than that piano guy."

He glanced back.

"How can you compare me to him? That hurts, Savannah."

This smooth-talking guy. He tried to look offended, but the corners of his mouth twitched.

Finally, just before we reached the hotel’s back garden, he stopped. He actually looked nervous. His hand squeezed mine, a little too tight.

He held my hand, leading me deeper inside. Even before we got there, I saw a glimmer of light. My heart skipped.

I had a feeling I knew what was up. The air smelled like roses and anticipation.

Sure enough.

A few steps later, the whole courtyard was filled with roses. Red, pink, white—petals everywhere.

A helicopter above shone a spotlight, and a path of roses led the way. I blinked up at the sky, mouth hanging open. Was this for real? Okay, this was either a wild fantasy or Carter was seriously extra.

All the people from the hotel were out in the garden, hyping us up.

"Ahhh! My ship is real!"

"What a perfect couple!"

"Damn, Savannah the campus beauty is on a new level tonight—they look so good together, I’m dying."

"…"

Flustered, I looked up at Carter. He was looking at me too, eyes sparkling with something I’d never seen before.

"You… you did this?"

Playing dumb.

"Yeah?"

He mimicked my questioning tone.

"And this is for…?"

Obvious.

He grinned.

"A confession."

"Who are you confessing to?"

I thought I’d combust—everyone’s eyes were burning. My cheeks were on fire.

"To you, of course."

He took my hand. Could he be any more roundabout?!

He led me into the sea of flowers. The crowd’s cheers grew louder. I was so nervous I wanted to crawl into a hole.

"Savannah Brooks."

He pulled me to the center, then pulled out a bouquet of roses from somewhere. It was huge—like five of my faces.

My gaze darted around. I spotted the dark-skinned linebacker and the weak academic nearby… I strongly suspected Carter had dragged them here on purpose.

He knelt on one knee, then fished something out of his pocket. I looked closer—it was a small box.

Oh my god, was this a proposal? So soon?

"Savannah, I’ve liked you for so long."

"Honestly, I’ve liked you since the first day we met."

"You were so cute, spraying me in the face with a water gun."

"And the way you insisted I take the clay figurine you made was so charming."

"I don’t know if you like me, but I just like you."

"This is our token from when we first met."

He opened the box. Inside was a little clay figurine. I gasped, remembering the crooked little animal I’d made for him in kindergarten.

"You said you liked me, so you gave me this."

"I took it seriously."

"I like you too."

The crowd, who’d been dying to interrupt, erupted.

"Oh my god! It’s childhood friends!"

"Such a gorgeous couple—they’re keeping the hot ones in-house!"

"Why wasn’t my childhood friend this cute?"

"Childhood friends to lovers? That’s some rom-com magic."

"Someone kill me to add to the excitement!"

"Don’t ask—it’s a decade-long crush!"

—

5.

"Waaah, where do you find a childhood friend like this?! Does the government hand them out? I want one too!"

Are they crazy? Carter is not that great!

"So…?"

Blushing, I looked at him. The lights made everything shimmer, and I felt like I was in a rom-com.

He swallowed nervously.

"So… would you be my wife—no, no, I mean, will you be my girlfriend, Savannah?"

Maybe it was the alcohol, but my head was spinning. Under the lights, I looked at him.

I don’t know what got into me, but right in front of everyone, I hooked my finger under his chin.

"Next time you kneel, I want you to propose."

"And next time, there better be a ring in that box."

God, what am I saying?!

"Ahhh! Savannah is so cool! I can’t take it, she’s so dominant—I love her!"

"Help, so sweet! Is this what mutual love feels like? I want it too!"

"Hey, isn’t that the music department heartthrob? Why does he look so upset?"

"Maybe it’s just the lighting—ahh, this is too sweet, I’m getting diabetes."

Carter stared at me, like he couldn’t believe what he’d heard.

"What did you say?"

"Are you serious?"

"Proposal."

"Will you marry me?"

"Can I propose right now?"

"No."

"Too rushed."

"This setup is way too small for a proposal."

"I—I’ll go set up a proper proposal right away!"

He was talking a mile a minute. I grabbed him before he could run off.

"What’s your hurry?!"

"Don’t make me smack you at the best part."

He put on a wounded look.

"Got it, Savannah."

I took the flowers from him, then hooked his arm.

"Alright, I agree. From now on, you’re mine!"

We partied late into the night at the hotel. Everyone kept trying to get me drunk. Carter drank a ton too, even taking my share. By the time we left, both of us were tipsy.

His house is right next to mine, so his family’s driver drove us home.

Suddenly, I felt something warm brush against me. Before I knew it, Carter took my hand.

We’d held hands plenty of times before. But this time felt totally different. My heart was in my throat, and the world outside the window blurred by.

I was so nervous I didn’t dare move. We held hands in silence the whole way.

I don’t know how long it was before the car finally stopped at my house. I got out, and so did he.

I looked at him curiously. He was looking at me too. The moonlight was beautiful. His eyes were so gentle.

He leaned in and gave me a soft kiss on the lips. Before I could react, he quickly tasted my lips.

"Hey, your lipstick tastes like chocolate. Not bad."

"…"

What the—when did he get so smooth?! Too much!

Blushing, I yanked my hand away and bolted into the house. I barely slept that night. Carter sure picked the "perfect" day to confess.

The next day, finals week kicked off in our department. We were so busy we barely talked. I was buried in flashcards and caffeine.

Finally, after my last exam, I went to the bathroom—and suddenly, warm hands pulled me into a corner.

I looked up to see Carter’s handsome face. Yesterday’s kiss flashed through my mind.

"W-what are you doing?"

His gaze slid from my eyes to my lips. He pecked me quickly, like a bird stealing crumbs.

"Just flirting."

"You—you… if you want to kiss me, why sneak around?"

The two of us, squished in the back of a bathroom—this was so, so embarrassing. If anyone walked in, I’d die on the spot.

He chuckled.

"As long as you don’t ghost me again."

What’s that supposed to mean? What is he even talking about?! I—I—when did I run away?!

Winter break came fast. The housekeeper couldn’t come cook for me for a few days. I wanted to try cooking myself.

After I nearly burned the kitchen down, my parents banned me from cooking. They said I could just order takeout.

I woke up at night, starving, about to order food when I suddenly smelled something delicious. Eyes lighting up, I went downstairs and saw Carter in an apron.

"When did Cinderella get here?"

I hugged him from behind. He smelled so good. Like rosemary and something warm and familiar.

"Showed up while you were snoring away."

"Almost done—go sit for a bit."

He’s really a great cook. The kitchen was filled with the sounds of sizzling and the smell of home.

—