The Proposal Plan by Charlotte Phillips Page A

thumb.
Your
thumb, to be specific. Trust me, even if your girlfriend is in charge, you want the world to think that
you
are. It’s an unwritten rule.’
    There seemed to be a whole book of unwrittenrules by which the average man lived, according to Gabriel.
    ‘So go on, then, enlighten me,’ she said sarcastically. ‘What does your average guy want?’
    ‘Well, he wants to feel like he’s the one in charge. He chooses when he makes you his wife and he chooses how he does that.’ He leaned in conspiratorially as if imparting a great secret, as if he might suddenly be lynched by a gang of average men if he were overheard handing over this information to the other side. ‘You’re messing with the natural order of things here, Lucy, and you need to tread carefully.’
    She bit her tongue as the waitress appeared with their order. As soon as they were alone again she leaned in towards him. ‘The natural order of things? I’m talking about proposing to my boyfriend, not time travel, for goodness’ sake.’
    ‘I just meant you need to do it in such a way as it makes him feel like he’s got the upper hand.’
    ‘You mean, make him think it was his idea all along.’
    ‘Exactly.’
    ‘Well, how the hell is that possible when thewords “will you marry me?” are going to be coming out of my mouth and not his?’
    ‘Your approach needs to be different. Submissive. As if you’re asking him an enormous favour. You could include that in the words you choose. Maybe say something like, “I would be honoured if you would consider being my husband” or “I feel my life is worth nothing without you.”’
    Lucy stuck two fingers in her mouth and made vomiting sounds.
    Gabriel raised an impatient eyebrow and looked at her as if she were a naughty toddler. ‘A little class would be good,’ he remarked. ‘I don’t suggest you take this attitude with him or all you’ll end up with is a resounding
“no”.’
    She sighed and rubbed the corners of her eyes wearily with a thumb and forefinger. ‘I don’t know, Gabe. I’m not sure I want to be his doormat just to get him to agree to marry me. I was thinking he would be delighted to be asked and see it as a massive compliment, not some challenge to his manhood.’
    ‘That’s because you’re a woman and that’s how you’d feel if he proposed to you. Men don’t think like you do. How many times do I have to tell you?’
    She decided to shift the subject a little. ‘OK, well, let’s come back to the exact wording of the thing. What about the location? Are you saying it’s fine to invite everyone who knows us as long as I portray myself in the subservient role, caveman style, or am I just better off asking him when it’s just the two of us?’
    ‘Much as I would be sorry not to witness you playing the role of submissive cavewoman to Ed’s captain caveman, you’ll have far more chance of success if you ask him on his own. If you invite along those Neanderthal football mates that I met, you’ll definitely shoot yourself in the foot. All you’ll achieve is to make him feel pushed into a corner. He can’t say no to you because a) he can’t be seen to be so cruel in public and b) he won’t want to scupper what you’ve set up to be a massive party.’
    She shook her head. ‘But that’s good, isn’t it? He will be forced to say yes.’
    ‘But for all the wrong reasons. If you push him into it you are just as likely for him to backpedal the moment the party’s over. At best he might resent you for putting him on the spot and that’s hardly the best start for a marriage made in heaven, is it?’
    She sighed. ‘I suppose not.’ She sipped hercoffee moodily. ‘Give me the perfect scenario, then, Einstein, and I’ll try and work with that.’
    A frown crossed his face and she saw him rearrange his features to hide it. It was so brief that she almost missed it. She couldn’t place what it meant, but then apparently it meant nothing because he carried on as