Page 121 of Rich and Bossy

“You’re both the worst. I don’t even know why I agreed to come to this game with you two.” Secretly, I love it. I’ve learnedthis is how they show affection to each other, by giving each other crap constantly.

My phone buzzes with a text from Campbell which I read between downs. This game is moving extremely slow, a defensive battle, so I don’t mind the distraction with three minutes left in the half and the score tied at zip.

Paxton notices, nudging me. “What’s up?”

“Campbell wants to know if I can come out to New York City to give a talk.”

He gives me a knowing little smile. “That’s pretty cool.”

I smile back at him. “Absolutely, it’s insane.” Campbell Page, inviting me to give a talk at an event she’s organizing. I’ve become somewhat popular, after organizing the first warehouse at a Rapid, which now has fifty other unions in process.

The wildest thing is, with John as CEO now, and the board restructured to not give him any fits for the next decade, I’m not even really sure they need them. But it’s good long-term protection for the workers.

“Do you want to do it?”

“Even if I didn’t, I would. After everything she’s done for us, you know?” She and Penn have been invaluable allies throughout the process of organizing the nonprofit Paxton and I now run together.

Paxton’s experience has been invaluable too, since he can provide insight into how companies the size of Rapid are run, the best ways for workers to leverage their bargaining power. He also has a lot of financial assets that helped get us up and running, when he cashed out a lot of his Rapid shares after resigning.

Finally, halftime rolls around, and I get out of my seat before stretching.

“Where you going?” Paxton looks extremely frustrated when he asks this.

“Thought I might go to the bathroom, if it so pleases my master.” I bug my eyes at him. “Lines get long. I don’t want to miss any of the second half.”

John exchanges a look with him. “There’s some kind of big presentation going on. You’ll want to see it.”

Why are they being so weird? “I’m sure I can run up there and get back if I hurry now.”

Paxton looks toward the Jumbotron, then jerks his chin in that direction. “They’re about to start. It won’t take long.”

Obviously, this means something to him, so I’m willing to wait a little bit. I plop back into my seat with a shrug. “Okay, weirdos.”

What are they up to? It’s something.

A voice rings out over the PA system. “Ladies and gentlemen, we ask for your attention during this special presentation.” The Jumbotron goes dark—but then my face appears on it.

What?

What am I doing on the jumbotron in front of like seventy thousand people?

“What is happening here?” I glance around, wondering if anybody else thinks this is as bizarre as it seems to me. Everyone else around me seems to think it’s perfectly normal. I recognize the footage from the interview with Leslie. “What’d you do, Paxton Briggs?”

Another face replaces mine on the screen. Paxton’s, his nose red, his breath fogging up in the cold night air. “I love Hazel.”

Aww. I still remember that like it was yesterday. My eyes get a little watery as the footage jumps to me tearing off my microphone and running for the door. The whole thing is set to music.

I would ask what’s happening, but I can’t seem to find my voice. It’s enough to watch as still images begin playing on the screen. Me and Paxton on my graduation day. The two of usstanding with my parents on the beach where we took them for vacation this past summer. There’s one of me standing in the kitchen with Paxton’s mom and sister, preparing a big family dinner, the twins pulling on my shirt to go play with them. There’s even one of them climbing on a frowning Paxton while I laugh myself sick in the background.

Words replace the pictures and video clips of us. I read them in a whisper. “This has been the greatest year of my life. Thank you, Hazel, for reminding me what matters most. Thank you for giving me the gift of loving you.”

I brush away a tear.

Now, a video of Paxton appears on the screen. “Hazel, would it be greedy to ask for one more gift? Look to your left.”

All of a sudden, it’s not images or words on the screen. It’s us, a live shot of me staring openmouthed at the Jumbotron. I turn to my left.

Paxton is already on one knee. The crowd goes completely quiet, the people closest to us recording with their phones. It feels like it’s all happening to somebody else, like I’m a spectator, too. Only it’s my hand Paxton is taking in his. My eyes he’s staring into.

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