I'm His Lover

put, that my marriage was set up. No one knew that it was planned, of cou

gement pictures. We took the pictures from a place where you wouldn't b

ng. I pretended to cry to make it seem more real, and then we took a picture where we were hugging an

ebook and Instagram. I get Instagram, but what's the point of Facebook? I hate to say it, but all the

t, how long have we been dating? Lots of similar things. They wanted to see it. I

ls, as I like to call them, were talking about me behind my back at lunch and

best friend. Maya. But since she was on vacation with her parents, she was mad that I had

o come over that night. She said yes, of course. She won't say anything t

was sorry for being angry, and they became best friends again. I'm kidding. That's not how we are. We fight

I can't listen to music because my phone died and a

's looking at the door, but I'm so out of it that I don't even notice.

ernandez, my "fiancé." "What do yo

g finger. I looked at the time and saw t

ward Mr. Martian. He hadn't even seen Mark

go up. I stopped him from

to Mr. Martin as I point to the door. I can

ks, "

ul? "I'm going to get my ring. I had t

ve me his full, undivided attention. He didn't even say anything when I said I was intere

t away. As I walk toward the door, I can feel that everyon

fter leaving school, he

ha

aching out

"What? I can't put my

laugh. "Well, I gue

, and I still don't know where we're go

r was, "T

l!" I pretend to pout, but wha

rls enjoyed going to the

rl." I say, "I'm takin

to understand t

o the mall is Kay Jewelers. I sigh.

t's going to be our first date." As we walk up to the counter, he smiles at me. It looks

s attention. "I feel terrible. I'll be with you right away, sir."

ked up. "So, how can I help you? A nice pair

her. Says Mark. He is too good at making things up. When I'm with

the face I know so w

hie's real name, but I call him Richie. You might be confused

ed me where my classes were and gave me advice on how to de

uch of what happened, but I do remember that he once asked me for my middle name and street name. I c

Richard, we kept calling each other by that name all

e Savi, or how we knew each other. "Uh. Mark, I think this is ei

to meet you.

t to be polite. He was probably tr

I ask. The ring par

. I work here now." Richie pointed to the store w

ing my blush. Mark looks at me in a s

" Mark asks. Getting back to why

ve anything old, Richie?" I

ck and look

rk looks at me. "Hav

a strange l

" He asks again, but thi

year, he was just a good friend. When it comes

ime to ask Maya or tell her off. "So I looked in

und the one I want. I grabbed it. Richie takes the tray away b

just say it's rose gold with small diamonds on the band and a big irid

ly." I say

try." Mark

m glad it works. It's hard to change the size

ing yours?

't want to just say yes and then f

s something, and comes back with a small pi

ose it, so you have to let me pay for it." Mark says as

as I do now. This ring is just right for me. It's loud and strange. People said that about me when I was a baby. I w

pays. "Well, I hope you like the r

want to hug him, but I don't want to lean on the

when we were a short distanc

this isn't real, it mak

each the car. "So what should

And making a few jokes. "W

says it with a smil

er. I suggest. I can't believe I came up with that. I g

ays. "Where would

meeting?" I ask avo

ould you li

hich one you'll

I," she sa

u p

es

N

N

ys, "

to choose." I

staurant that's not too far aw

, when you said it was cl

, nope."