Page 176 of Smoke and Glitter

She smiles, but her attention stays on the plate.

The brass has been polished since she saw it during construction. The fingerprints are gone, the dust is gone, and the year I added months ago sits beneath the name exactly where it belongs.

Autumn looks down the length of the room.

"You really put it here."

I slide my hand around her waist. "Where else would it go?"

Her eyes come back to mine.

There is already too much happening in them.

I point at her. "No."

Her eyebrows rise. "What?"

"You're about to cry in my bar."

"I am not."

"You're close."

"I'm having an emotional response."

"That's crying with better PR."

She laughs and leans into my side. For a while we just stand there.

People crowd the tables. Glasses move across the bar. Someone near the front door is laughing loud enough that I can hear him over the music.

Autumn looks around again.

"It's beautiful, Sam."

Once, I would've answered by telling her everything I still wanted to change. Now I look at it with her.

"Yeah. It is."

She goes quiet.

When I glance down, she's smiling.

"What?"

"Nothing. I'm letting you have your moment."

"Dangerous."

Her hand slides over my back.

Someone calls my name from behind the bar, and I start to turn.

Autumn catches the front of my shirt.

"Sam."

I look back at her.