“Everything important is right here.”
I roll my eyes, but I'm smiling. “Answer your phone.”
He grumbles but retrieves it, glancing at the screen. “It's Logan.”
“Then definitely answer it.”
He puts it on speaker. “This better be good. I'm busy.”
“Busy doing what at seven in the morning?” Logan's voice fills the kitchen, amused.
“None of your business.”
“Is Sin there? Hi, Sin!”
I laugh. “Hi, Logan.”
“Good, you're both awake. I have news.” A pause, dramatic. “We got it.”
Kai goes still. “What?”
“Silverpoint. The contract. It's ours.” Logan's voice breaks into a grin I can hear through the phone. “The council voted last night. Unanimous decision. ELK will be handling the city's entire clean energy infrastructure.”
“You're serious.”
Dead serious. Just got the official letter of intent. We did it, Kai. We actually did it.”
Kai sets down his coffee. For a moment he just stands there, processing. Then he turns to me, eyes bright, pulls me into his arms.
“We did it,” he says against my hair. “Emma, we did it.”
“You did it,” I correct him, but I'm grinning so hard my cheeks hurt.
“No. We.” He pulls back, hands on my shoulders. “Your campaign. The community angle, the schools, all of it. That's what tipped the scales.”
“He's right,” Logan says through the phone. “You should see the press coverage. Parents, teachers, local businesses, all singing ELK's praises. Whatever magic you did, Sin, it worked.”
I don't know what to say. This is what I do. What I've always done. Hearing it acknowledged, seeing the pride in Kai's eyes...
“We need to celebrate,” Kai says. “A party. Something big.”
“Already on it,” Logan replies. “Ethan's talking to the events team. We're thinking a gala. Black tie, the whole thing. Invite the council members, the press, everyone who made this happen.”
“When?”
“Two weeks. Give us time to do it right.”
Kai looks at me. “What do you think?”
“I think you deserve to celebrate.” I squeeze his hand. “You've worked so hard for this.”
“We,” he corrects again. “We've worked hard.”
He pulls me closer. Despite his healing ankle, despite the boot waiting by the couch, he spins me in a clumsy little dance right there in the kitchen. I laugh, hold onto his shoulders. For a moment everything is perfect.
“What are you two doing?” Logan asks through the phone. “I can hear shuffling.”
“Goodbye, Logan,” Kai says, hangs up.
