Chapter 20: Not in Public

Tommy pushed the glass door open with his shoulder and walked into the middle of my office.

Nobody stopped him, because he wore a suit and carried himself like a guest.

"Pao," he said. "Please. Give me two minutes."

"Tommy, this isn't the place."

"It's the only place you'd see me. You blocked my number."

That was true.

I had blocked it on Christmas morning, and I had not felt one bit sorry.

The whole team had turned to watch, and Franco sat frozen at the end of the table with his binder.

Tommy came to a stop three feet from me.

His hands were shaking, and the ring box shook with them.

"I've been thinking for three weeks," he said. "I'm not good at saying things. I know that."

"Tommy."

"Let me say it. Please. You always let me say it."

He went down on one knee on the gray carpet.

A woman by the window put her hand over her mouth.

Somebody's phone came up, and a man next to her gently pushed it down.

"I'm sorry about the lights," Tommy said. "I'm sorry about the photo and the Christmas thing."

"I know you are."

"I'm sorry I never asked what you wanted."

"I love you. I've loved you since the diner. I'll move to Austin. I already looked at apartments."

He opened the box.

The ring was small and pretty, with a single stone.

I could tell he had chosen it himself, because it was the kind I would have picked.

That made it harder.

"Will you marry me?" he said.

Behind me, I felt Seth go still.

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