I AM HAVING déjà vu.
“Sit,” Lenic orders me, patting his lap. He is sitting on my desk chair in the studio.
I narrow my eyes. “What’s going on? You’ve been acting really shifty lately…”
“I’m not shifty.”
“Yes you are. Well, lately. You and Delphine have both been acting weird around me lately. I want to know what you two are scheming.”
“Do as I say and you’ll find out why.”
I smile uncertainly, perching myself carefully onto his lap. He kisses me on the cheek, then turns to face my iMac. “Hey, how did you get my password?”
“Delphine.”
“She can’t go around giving everyone my password.”
He laughs. “Cheesecake69 isn’t hard to crack. Besides, if it wasn’t for her … this wouldn’t have been possible.”
“What wouldn’t have been possible?”
“It’s your turn to shut up and watch.”
Holding the mouse, Lenic guides the browser to YouCube and then filters through to Delphine’s personal vlog channel. Confused, my face puckers. “What are you doing on Delphine’s channel?”
“Gimme me a minute. Don’t have a bloody clue what I’m doing.” It is 2017 and Lenic still has trouble working the Internet. It’s freaking adorable. Staring at him with a smile, I kiss him on the cheek. “There. Look.”
I turn to face the screen and notice the video has ... Wow. Delphine’s managed to get over seven million hits on her video. Why didn’t she mention it?
“Ready?” Lenic asks, smiling a toothy grin. I feel his leg underneath me jiggle up and down. He is nervous. He is never nervous.
“No…” Suddenly, my pulse skitters.
He barks out a laugh. “Too late.”
He hits play and my eyes don’t blink when Lenic pops up on the screen. I recognise the wall behind him. It’s the one in the studio. “What…?” My jaw hangs open.
“Felicity Saint James, I (beep) love you. Will you marry me? (He smiles at the camera.) Guys, comment down below and tell her what you think she should say. I’m hoping it’s a yes. Thanks guys.”
I turn my head towards Lenic. “I wouldn’t change a single second of my life with you, Felicity. So what’d you say, beautiful? Are you in? Or are you out?”
I don’t have to think long on what my answer will be. Sometimes the most unimaginable things happen. Lenic is not the angry, vicious and bitter man I first met. He no longer sails on the old beaten-down ship that was liable to collapse. He fixed himself up and is stronger than ever. He is a changed man — a better version of himself. The best kind. And although he grew in the storm for a while, he grew better in the sunshine.
“I think … I should read the comments first and find out what thirty-three thousand people think I should do.” I scroll down the page and select the Top Comments on the drop-down menu.
Tiffany Smiling: Yes! Say yes! OMG! Do it! You two totally would have like the cutest babies ever! xoxo
Mike Chan: Please make love to me.
Brit TV: Don’t marry her! Marry me instead, Tempest! I love you so much! You’re it for me. Mine! xxxxxxx
Cock Pilot 369: Get out of the closet and put your huge cock in my pit. Men know how to suck better than a girl and you know it, big boy.
I feel his leg jiggling faster underneath me. I turn to him. “I think I should listen to … Cock Pilot 369.”
“Felicity,” Lenic growls, “you’re killing me here.”
Giggling, my fingers fly across the keyboard as I shield it from his view, and then hit return before he can read it. There is no flicker of doubt as I watch him read my answer. He saved me. In exploring Lenic’s scars, I have come to accept my own. And for that alone, I owe him everything. I owe him to never let go.
Felicity Calling: Yes! YES! I love you. You’d better have a big black ring. You know I only take it big and black. Felicity xxx
Chuckling, Lenic starts to tap something on the keyboard.
Felicity Calling: Let’s make babies. Love you more. Lenic xxxxxxxxxx
My mouth opens wide. I quickly type a reply.
Felicity Calling: That was a joke! He was joking, guys. Felicity xxx
I swing around, my eyes as wide as saucers. “R-Right?”
He shrugs a shoulder, giving me that lopsided grin of his that still melts my heart. “It’ll be fun to try.”