Madison is grinning. Not just smiling—grinning, wide and bright and slightly evil.
Slowly, deliberately, she turns toward the tripod. Toward the phone that's still mounted on it. Toward the small red light that's blinking steadily in the fading light.
"Well, folks," she says to the camera, "what do all of you think?"
The blood drains from my face.
"Wait," I say. "Are you recording?"
"No." She's laughing now, actually laughing, her shoulders shaking with it. "It’s a live stream."
"A live—"
"You just professed your love for me in front of..." She turns to check the screen, and her eyebrows shoot up. "Oh wow. That'sa lot. Hang on, let me see the count." She leans closer. "Five thousand people, Jake. Give or take."
I open my mouth. Close it. Open it again.
Five thousand people just watched me pour my heart out in a rodeo parking lot. Five thousand people just watched me stake my claim on my girl.
"The comments are really coming in now," Madison continues, scrolling through her phone with obvious delight. "Let's see... 'Girl if you don't say yes I'm driving to Montana to kick you in the butt.'"
"Madison—"
"Oh, this one's good: 'IF YOU DON'T WANT HIM CAN I HAVE HIM?' All caps. Very passionate." She keeps scrolling. "'OMG that was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.' 'I'm literally crying in my car right now.' 'MARRY HIM YOU FOOL.'"
"This isn't—"
"'Did he say he owns real estate? Girl. GIRL.'" She snorts. "'Is his sister single?'" She glances at me. "Is she?"
"I—yes, but—"
"Ooh, I'll have to pass that along." She looks back at the screen. "'This is better than any Hallmark movie.' 'I would commit crimes for a man who drove two hours just to kiss me.' 'The way he said she smells like Christmas morning I am DECEASED.'"
"Madison." I step closer, trying to salvage what remains of my dignity. "Can you please—"
"'If she says no I'm starting a petition.' 'That man is down BAD and I am HERE for it.'" She finally looks up at me, her eyes sparkling. "The people have spoken, Jake."
"I can see that."
She sets her phone down, but the live stream keeps running, capturing everything. Then she turns to face me fully, and herexpression softens into something real. Something that makes my chest ache.
"I guess I'd better give the people what they want," she says.
"And what's that?"
She reaches up and cups my face in her hands, her flour-dusted fingers gentle against my jaw.
"Yes, Jake." Her voice is quiet now, just for me, even with thousands of people watching. "I would love that. All of it. The bakery. The truck. The adventure." She rises on her toes, bringing her lips close to mine. "You."
I kiss her.
Somewhere in the background, her phone is probably exploding with comments and hearts and whatever else people send when they watch a live stream of two idiots falling in love in a parking lot.
I don't care.
I've got Madison in my arms, her hands in my hair, her smile pressed against my mouth. I've got a two-hour drive home that we'll make together. I've got an old mechanic's garage that's about to become a bakery, and a food truck, and a whole future stretching out ahead of us like an open road.
I pull back just enough to rest my forehead against hers.
