Fuck.

I suck in a breath and look my best friend right in the eyes. “Sorry, I just didn’t see that coming.”

Her eyes well. “I said the timing was shitty.”

“No.” I shake my head and then take a deep breath. “The timing is perfect. You guys deserve this. And it’s going to be great. Can I help you plan the wedding? Did you set a date?”

There. That came out sounding reasonably sane. “Does your mom want a big Beacon Hill affair? Do you?”

Lark is watching me with shiny eyes. “Would you believe that I haven’t told my parents yet?”

“Really?” I laugh, and then swallow hard. “What are you waiting for?”

And then it hits me. I know exactly what Lark was waiting for. She sat down at this table without an engagement ring on. She isn’t wearing it yet. She hasn’t told her mother because she hasn’t told anyone. Not a soul.

Because of me.

Lark wanted to tell me first, so I could put on my stupid brave face and get used to the idea for half a minute before I have to talk about it with other people.

Jesus Christ. How did it come to this? I never wanted to be that delicate flower that others have to maneuver carefully around.

I fucking hate my life right now.

“Look,” I gasp. “You are the best friend I could ever have. And I’m so happy for you.” My eyes are wet, too, though I ignore it. “Is there a ring? I want to see it. Where did he propose? At the beach? Don’t you dare hold out on me.” The first tear rolls down my face, and I clutch my knitting in sweaty hands.

Lark hesitates another moment. We’re both stuck here in this awful place. Come on, I beg her silently. Help me get through this without forking over a fatal portion of my dignity.

She reaches inside her purse and emerges with a perfect little velvet box. She cracks open the lid to reveal a rose-gold band with a shimmering diamond solitaire.

“Ooh!” I breathe through my panic. “Put it on. It’s perfect.”

She does, and it is. “There’s no big proposal story, sorry. He asked me when we were waking up at the hotel in the morning,” she whispers. “We were just lying there listening to the waves crash outside. Just like that.”

“Oh.” I sigh with genuine appreciation. Of course he did. Because Zach knew it was the right time to ask her. He didn’t need a spectacular sunset, or a flash-mob dancing to their favorite song, or a table at a very exclusive restaurant. Zach and Lark are the real deal.

When they stand in that church and promise each other everything, they’ll both mean it.

I wipe my tears with the back of my hand. “Well, that is just perfect. Thank you for telling me first. I’m honored. Now when you tell your mother, and she tries to book the ballroom at some palace on Beacon Hill, I can talk you off the ledge.”