I looked up, noticing the balloons and a “We Believe in You, Andrea!” banner hanging in the corner.
“You can’t hold off on checking your CPA exam score forever.” Everly held out her phone. “It’s time for you to look, so look.”
“I forgot my portal password.” I shrugged.
“Lucky for you, I know it, so I logged in already.” She smiled. “It’s the same one you use for everything.”
“Well, why don’t you just do it for me?”
“I don’t know your Social Security number by heart.” She deadpanned. “Put that in so you can know for sure.”
I let out a breath and took the phone, clicking over to the exam results page. I entered my course number and watched the calculator spin.
When it stopped, my final test score appeared.
I blinked once. Then again, just to be sure.
My chest tightened so suddenly I forgot how to breathe.
“So?” Everly asked.
I couldn’t answer.
“Is the zombie look on your face a good or bad thing?”
“I passed.” The words didn’t feel real in my mouth. “I got a perfect score.”
Everly and Lisa hugged me, and the bartender brought over a round of champagne.
“The gentleman at the rear booth insists,” he said.
I looked over and saw Harrison taking off his coat in a corner booth. He set his phone face down on the table, and I waited for him to pull out a laptop, but he didn’t.
He didn’t pull out any files either.
“I hope you don’t hate me for inviting him,” Everly whispered. “But if you do, this was Lisa’s idea.”
Their voices blurred into background noise as my pulse pounded in my ears.
I slid off the barstool and moved toward him.
He looked up, his eyes holding mine in a way that made the world around us disappear.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hello.” He smiled. “Congratulations on passing your exam.”
“What if I’d failed it?”
“Your sister hasFuck the CPA Examprinted on the back of the banner.” He smiled. “She said she would’ve gotten you drunk and made me your designated driver.”
“She’s a real piece of work.” I laughed. “I thought you were working late tonight with Ciara and Aaron.”
“I was,” he said, pulling me into his arms, “but being here for your special moment was more important.”
“Does it make you see why people need additional breaks and vacations, then?” I looked into his eyes. “So they, too, can celebrate special moments?”
“It only makes me see that you have an effect on me.” He tilted my chin up with his fingertips. “Off days and breaks are still reserved for the weak.”
