When the payment went through, I didn’t respond. I turned around, went into the kitchen and started making the soup. Max stood there watching me, probably worried I might poison Jane.

As if I would.

I’m generous. I even added two extra teaspoons of salt.

Then, out of nowhere, Max said, “Sadie Knight.”

I paused, looking up from the soup. What he said next caught me completely off guard.

“Let’s get married. Both of our parents can meet this weekend.”

I didn’t even flinch as I stirred the soup. Instead, I gave him a strange look.

“Did you lose a game of truth or dare?” I asked. I wasn’t even trying to be sarcastic.

It wasn’t the first time Max had “proposed.” Just a few months ago, he took me up some desolate mountain and at the top, he knelt down with a bunch of wild grass in his hand and yelled, “Sadie, let’s get married!”

It was a scorching hot day and the air felt thick with the heat and the crowd. I won’t lie—my heart skipped a beat. My pulse quickened and I said “yes” without thinking.

But then Jane started laughing. The whole group went silent, but her laughter echoed around us. It was unnerving.

I thought she was losing it.

But then Max started laughing, too.