“Yeah?”
“I fucking love you.” Then she hung up.
First clue down.
I stood there staring at my phone like it might combust in my hand, my chest buzzing so hard I had to pace to keep from vibrating through the floor. I pressed my palm flat to my sternum and took one breath. Then another. Then I laughed, low and disbelieving, because holy shit—she was actually doing it. She was following the trail. She was playing along. She hadn’t freaked out or panicked.
She’d saidI fucking love youand hung up.
Quinn poked his head into the film room a second later, eyebrows high. “Did she cry yet?”
“No,” I said automatically. “But I might. She’s excited.”
He grinned like a proud menace. “Of course she is. Dude, y’all are perfect. Do I wish she would leave you for me? Yes, but if it ain’t me, you’re the next best.”
“You’re not invited to our wedding, for the record.”
He snorted. “Bullshit. How you not gonna invite your QB? The press would eat you up. Chicago loves me, brother.”
I flipped him off, grateful despite his stupid mouth. He loved shit like this, and fun fact—he used to create logic puzzles and sell them online with his mom. I thought that was the coolest thing ever, but I’d never tell Quinn that.
My phone buzzed, and I forgot about Quinn entirely.
Em: okay FIRST OF ALL I AM AT THE MUFFIN PLACE
Em: SECOND OF ALL WHY DID THE LADY BEHIND THE COUNTER SAY “OH YOU’RE THE GIRL”
Em: THIRD OF ALL THERE IS A NOTE UNDER MY NAPKIN, AND I AM SCARED
I laughed out loud, scrubbing a hand over my face.
Me: read it
Me: also tip her, she is a co-conspirator now
Three dots blinked. Disappeared. Blinked again.
Em: You said this place tasted like happiness. Next stop: the place you built with your hands. The place that made you grow,
Em: NOAH
Em: ARE YOU SERIOUS
I leaned back against the table, staring at the ceiling. “Yeah,” I muttered to myself. “I’m serious.”
My phone rang again immediately.
“I’M GOING TO THE SHOP,” she announced, breathless and laughing and very much on the edge of tears. “WHY DID YOU DO THIS ON A DAY I’M ALREADY EMOTIONAL?”
“I take it these are good shouts?”
“Of course they are good shouts, Noah. It’s not every day a girl is going to be proposed to! Who let you in the shop? I was just there? Who betrayed me?”
“Baby, I have keys to the shop.”
“Oh yeah.” She laughed and then squealed. “This is so exciting.Oh my gosh. Wait, should I change my clothes? Or redo my makeup?”
“No. I want you exactly how you are. Don’t change—” I paused. “I can’t handle waiting longer than I am. I need you with my ring, okay? Put me out of my misery.”
