Chapter 10: Moved and Seconded

By the second Saturday, Cassian had apologized to the first-year in person.

He had also taken his grandmother's ring out of his mother's desk.

His mother had handed it over in a velvet box and said, "Don't lose it, don't say sure, and don't make a speech."

He made a speech.

He stood up at the dinner table with the box in his pocket and his hands shaking.

The retriever looked up.

"Item one," Cassian said.

His mother already had her pen out.

His father already had his fork in the air.

"I have known Noah for thirteen days," Cassian said. "I know that's short. I've been told it's very short."

"Told by whom?" his mother asked.

"By you. Twice. In the hall."

"Noted."

"Noah sat on the edge of my bathtub on the first night and rinsed soap out of my eye," Cassian said.

"He asked me what I wanted, and I didn't know, and he didn't give up on me."

Noah put his napkin down.

His face had gone very still.

"I want to say something in a full sentence," Cassian said. "I want to marry you."

"I'm not asking because someone told me to," he said. "Or because it would end an awkward conversation."

His voice cracked on the last word.

"I'm asking because I want it."

He took out the box and opened it.

The ring was thin and old, with a small grey stone.

Nobody at the table breathed.

"Moved," said Cassian's father, in a very odd voice.

"You can't move it," said Cassian's mother. "He hasn't been answered."

"Seconded anyway."

"Sit down, dear."

Cassian's father had never been told to sit in front of a guest in his life, and he sat.

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