“Ready?” he murmurs.
“For what?”
“For combustion.”
I laugh despite myself and take his hand. The second my boots hit pavement, confetti explodes over our heads. Actual confetti.
I blink through pink paper shrapnel and see Mrs. Dottie marching toward us in her orthopedic sneakers and a smile.
“We always knew you two would combust eventually!” she declares proudly.
She winks at me like she orchestrated fate itself.
“You planned this?” I ask.
She clutches her pearls theatrically. “Oh honey. We’ve had this banner in storage for years.”
Levi leans closer, breath brushing my ear. “That’s unsettling.”
I elbow him lightly. The crew closes in around us, clapping, hooting, slapping Levi on the back hard enough to make him stagger half a step.
“Did you cry?” Axel demands.
“Shut up,” Levi mutters.
“Did she?” Tyler adds, eyes bright with chaos.
I hold up my hand instead of answering. The ring does the talking. The reaction is immediate—cheers, whistles, someone yelling “Finally!” from somewhere near the engine bay.
Mrs. Henderson pushes through the crowd carrying a tray of cupcakes with pink frosting that readsENGAGED!
“This is all so sudden,” I protest weakly.
Mrs. Dottie pats my cheek. “Sudden? Darling, this has been a slow burn since high school.”
Levi’s hand settles at the small of my back, warm and steady.
He doesn’t look embarrassed.
He looks… certain.
My dad steps out of the chief’s office, arms crossed, trying and failing to look stern.
“Lieutenant,” he says evenly.
Levi straightens instinctively. “Chief.”
“You ask properly?”
“Yes, sir.”
My father studies him for a long beat. “And she didn’t coerce you?”
“She absolutely did not,” Levi replies calmly.
I snort. Dad’s gaze shifts to me. “You sure about this?”
I don’t hesitate. “Yes.”
