Page 1 of David's Proposal

1

LIZ

Colorado

Wednesday

On campus

“Liz? Liz??”

The second time the woman bellows out my name, I walk at a slower pace, dragging my stare over the stretch of grass, checking the students in the alleys.

A few sit on the benches. No one is looking at me.

“Liz? I’m here,” the woman shouts again.

I stop and flick my eyes over my shoulder and then up. Way up.

“Thea…?” I murmur incredulously.

She waves at me through the small opening of a large window at the end of the corridor on the second floor.

“Wait for me,” she says, flashing a bright smile.

I do just that, grinning softly and standing awkwardly in the middle of the alleyway.

Eventually, I pull closer to the entrance of the building and expect her to walk out any moment now.

A red beanie catches my eye first. And then the woman who cuts her way through groups of people carrying backpacks and talking loudly.

“She gets more and more beautiful with every passing day,” I murmur to myself, watching Thea push through the doors and take the stairs down.

“Hey,” she says, a few feet away from me.

Every person in the space she quickly closes turns their head to witness our warm reunion.

It’s like we haven’t seen each other in years.

“Everything all right?” I ask, opening my arms for her.

We hug.

“Yeah, yeah…” she says, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

The sun coats her lashes and her lips with a warm glow that makes her look even more alive.

“Are you done for the day?” she asks, pushing her eyes down and checking my clothes.

I wear shaggy white jeans, a baggy red sweater, and a black headband with mouse ears.

She laughs, entertained,, and I smile at her amusement.

“You’re crazy. Is that how you walk into class?”

Pulling my lower lip between my lips, I give her a silent grin.

“Mm-hmm.”

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