“Good choice.”
I watch Spencer toss a ball to one of the team managers before he runs a few strides to our area of the field, and he hops up on the fence to wave to us.
I touch Hadley’s shoulder. “Look, someone came to say hi.”
Hadley waves her hand furiously at Spencer. A few teenage fans are skipping down the steps of the stadium to get to the net fence and speak to Spencer, but his attention remains on us.
I blow him a kiss before the mob of fans blocks our view. It doesn’t matter, Spencer has to get back to his team, as the game is about to start.
“These people came here to watch my daddy?”
“Yep. I mean, the whole team, but if you want to know a secret. Psst.” I pretend to look around for eavesdroppers and then lean close to Hadley. “I think they came to watch him because he is super good.”
“Like better than my tap dance?”
“Nobody is as amazeballs as you during that winter recital dance, but he's close enough.”
She smiles with her toothless front on display because she’s lost another tooth, which makes me snort a laugh because the fairy sent her a letter explaining that she will now be getting smaller surprises because the fairy is switching to e-pay and it's tax season. It was a ridiculous letter but did the trick because everyone except Spencer agreed one hundred dollars was a bit too much.
“Where do you think my grammie and grandpa are?” Hadley wonders as she focuses on her hot dog.
“They're here. They were waiting for their burgers that seemed to take longer.” Spencer’s parents are always kind to me. We never talked about it, but I know they’re aware of what Spencer told me. Maybe one day they will share more when they're ready.
Spencer and I, according to some, are still in the early stages. It’s been over eight months since he showed up on one of my blind dates, and nearly a year since our hotel escapade, but our speed is a winning formula.
Still, I would have no problem if he were to surprise me with the next step because I feel ready, and everyone around me also confirms that I’ve chosen a keeper.
* * *
A few weeks later,I’m walking down the hall in the Dizzy Duck Inn. I was told by the receptionist that Spencer was waiting for me in the private dining room, as he is finally cashing in on his private-chef experience that he won at the auction months ago.
I toss my phone into my purse right before I reach the door.
The moment I twist the handle, my eyes are hit with a scene from a fairy tale.
I stop in my tracks, and my entire body stills as I soak in the setting.
The room is illuminated by candles everywhere and white fairy lights hanging from the ceiling. Champagne is on ice in a bucket near the table set with expensive white table linen.
The hue of light creates a glow, which only highlights Spencer’s satisfied smirk as he leans casually against the windowpane, yet he is dressed in nice jeans, a crisp white shirt, and a dark blazer.
“What’s going on?” I manage to say, but a smile is slowly dragging up my lips. My heart is beating so fast because this doesn't feel like a normal dinner.
He slowly walks my way, his eyes smoldering, and when he reaches me, he collects my hands knowing damn well he has thrown me off.
“This is where it all started,” he reminds me.
“You want to make another video?” I deadpan, but deep down I think I know what’s happening.
He laughs before walking me a few steps to the middle of the room. “I once heard you like grand gestures.”
I tilt my head back slightly. “Perhaps.”
“Damn it, I knew I should have gotten the hot air balloon,” he jokes.
“Depends. What is this?” I’m not sure that I’ve blinked in the last minute.
Spencer tucks his hand into his blazer.
