Can't Let You Go

***TALLY/HONEY***

"Hello my darling little girl!" Zayan coos as he hugs me when I arrive at his store.

"Ugh, I have missed you! I hate that I can't talk freely on the phone with you and I have news. Big news, Babe. Let's go to the back and sit down." We snuggle together on a velvet loveseat. "I have like five juicy things to tell you, but I'll start off with the most shocking. Liam Bennet--"

"'Jaanu.' You're talking about my Jaanu. How is he doing? When do I get to meet him in person?" Zayan interrupts me.

"Patience, I'm getting to that. Liam-- Wait. Why is he 'Jaanu?'" I always seem to let Zayan sidetrack me.

"I can't call him Oppa or Hyung now that he's not in Korea. So, this is a more culturally appropriate alternative."

"What does it mean?" I tilt my head like a curious puppy.

"Nothing much, it's just a term of endearment for your friends in one of the Indian languages. It's like 'dear,' don't worry about it."

I have a feeling it's more than that, but I need to get back to the point. "Stop distracting me and hold onto your hat. Liam Bennet... issss... William Hazen."

Zayan bolts upright. "The fuck you say?" His voice lilts high on the last word.

"I know, right? Liam turns out to be a William, no explanation needed. But a Bennet becomes a Hazen when that's your mother's maiden name. She's Patrick Hazen's daughter. Whoever called Dad to set up the date purposely used 'Hazen.'"

"Well I guess that solves the mysteries of where the money 'Liam Bennet' uses to pay for your college comes from and why none of the 'William Hazens' we found online were the right one."

"Yeah, but that's not the end of the story." I clear my throat. "You know what I decided to do the other day, right? To propose to Carter Hazen?"

Mimicking dramas of yore, Zayan puts his fingers up to his mouth as though he's going to bite his nails and nods his head.

"Well, I diiiddd..." I pause for the effect I know Zayan loves.

"Go on, go on."

"Then out of nowhere... Liam shows up and drags me away from the table!"

"No!" Zayan hits me.

"Uh huh! But I was all like 'Liam Bennet, go back home and live your life, I've got this under control.' And he's like 'Carter's a terrible husband, at least give the cousin a call.' So I do. And you know what?"

"What?"

"The phone in Liam's pocket rings! I was like 'weird coincidence' and then I hear his voice saying 'Hello Tally, I'm William Hazen.' I argue with him a bit about keeping secrets, but the next thing I know, he proposes to me!"

"EEEEE!!!" Zayan squeals at a pitch I didn't know humans could make. "What did you do?!"

"Well, I forgave him for hiding the truth, but I didn't exactly answer him."

"Girl! What is wrong with you?!"

"Nothing! I'm trying to save him from himself! But he's determined to get dragged into my mud so without breathing a word to me, he shows up at my house for breakfast and announces that we're engaged!"

Zayan proceeds to hit me several times with a little throw pillow. "You should have rushed your ass right over to tell me this!"

I hold up my arms to block him. "I know, I know. I'm sorry, but I'm swamped and under heavy scrutiny."