Page 14 of The Moment Promised

“I don’t need the summer off,” I squeak.

Pete looks between us. A grin grows across his face. “You know what, I’m going to make it mandatory. You work too hard, and if Finn thinks you need a couple months off, then time off is what you’ll get.” He doesn’t give me time to protest before he walks away.

“How could you do that?” I lean across the table, pointing an angry finger in Finn’s face. I have enough money saved that I could go a few months without working, but that’s not the point.

“You’re making a scene, love,” he says, relaxed, grabbing another slice of pizza.

“I need to use to ladies’ room.” I throw the napkin occupying my lap on the table. On my way to the bathroom, I spot Pete. “Psttt. Pete, come over here quick.”

“What’s up, lava girl?” He’s called me this since I was a kid because of my red hair. I don’t mind though, it’s just Pete. If anyone else called me lava girl, I’d probably rip them a new one.

Since Finn basically got me fired for the next two months, I’m going to make something happen I know he’ll hate. “Can you do one of those embarrassing restaurant birthday songs that makes everyone look at Finn?”

“I’ll see what I can do, you want a molten lava cake?”

“You know it’s our favorite.” I smile.

Pete tosses a rag over his shoulder, making his way back to the kitchen.

I wash my hands in the bathroom to waste time, then walk back to my seat. I bite my cheeks, not to smile.

“What’s with the knowing smile, Adeline?” Finn asks.

Crap.

“Pete told a really funny joke on my way to the bathroom.” I look down. Maybe Finn will think my flushed face is a reflection from the red table.

“Okay,” he says, wary, as he cocks his head.

I turn around at the squeak of the kitchen door flying open. Pete walks out with a plate of lava cake, and a sparkler stuck in the middle. My now ex-coworkers clap in sync.

A smile overtakes my face from ear to ear.

Pete sings his own version of “Happy Birthday.” My laughter gets lost as the guests clap and sing along. I glance at Finn, his nostrils flare, and he is giving his famous death glare to everyone in the restaurant.

Tears spill out of my eyes from laughing so much. It gets to the part of the song that says, “Happy birthday dear...” and everyone pauses because they don’t know his name.

I stand up and yell, “Finn Walker!” Pete gives me a cheeky smile and a thumbs up. The singing ends with the slice of lavacake set in front of Finn. By the time the attention is off our table, Finn gives me a murderous glare.

He yanks my hand, inspecting the ring he once bought me years ago for my birthday. “Oh Adeline. Adeline, Adeline,Adeline. You can’t possibly think I’m going to let you get away with this.” He pulls the ring off my index finger and gets down on one knee. Is he about to...no. I grimace.

I immediately start shaking my head aggressively.

Please no.

I silently plead with Finn not to do the thing I think he is about to do.

He speaks painfully slow, “Adeline Marie Miller?—”

“Sh! Stop it,” I whisper, smacking his shoulder.

He looks up with devilish eyes. “Will you marry me?” he asks, so loudly conversations all around come to a halt. I think I hear Pete giggling somewhere.

I stare at him wide eyed. Red patches light up my face and neck. I want to crawl into a hole and never leave. I hate all the eyes on me, I feel like each one is burning a new hole into my skin. To get this over with I just nod my head and Finn jumps up with hands in the air of victory.

“She said yes!”

The restaurant goes wild with whistling and cheering. I’m sure the whistling is coming from Pete. I turn my head to see but Finn pulls me into a hug.

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