Page 119 of Over the Edge

She does a spin. The black silk flows like water against her form. “Too much?”

“If it wouldn’t ruin everything we’ve done for Javi, I would pick you up and carry you away.” I walk up to her and pull her flush against me. I kiss her cheeks before finding her mouth.

“I think I would let you,” she says.

“Noted.”

She twists in my arms looking around. “This looks great.” The normal array of couches has been pushed to the corners of the room. The piano and a microphone have been set up along the wall furthest from the door. Buckets overflowing with daisies have been positioned along the perimeter.

“Are you ready?” I ask.

“Nervous, but in a good way. I haven’t performed one of my songs before. This will be my first time, even if I’m only at the piano and not singing.”

“Well, I haven’t performed one of your songs before either, so it will be mine too.”

“That’s such a bad joke,” she says but still lets out a light laugh.

“I know what you mean, though. It’ll be great and I’ll be right there with you,” I tell her.

Quinn walks into the room dressed in all black in the style of a stagehand or non-descript photographer. She’s agreed to slip in and film the entire thing.

“Javi just texted they’ll be here in five minutes. I’m going to turn off the light. He’ll flip it on when he comes in and that’s your cue to start,” Quinn instructs, adopting an all-business tone.

“Got it,” Evelyn says. We pull apart and take our positions, her at the piano and me behind the microphone, then the room descends into darkness.

Neither of us risk talking on the off chance we’ll ruin the moment. The first sign for us to prepare is the warm, purposefully too loud greeting from Haven.

“Someone must have turned off the lights,” says Javi.

Even though I was expecting it, the sudden light takes a moment to adjust to. Still, we only have a second to jump into the song. I give Evelyn a quick nod while the world is still coming into focus and she starts, not missing a beat. The intro is short, but just before I start singing there’s a quick gasp.

“Dance with me?” Javi asks. Kathrine nods through her awe and he pulls her close.

They sway together as I sing, and Evelyn plays along.

I’m in a rush to do nothing at all, except to do nothing with you.

It’s Sunday in July and I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

As close to you as the sun when it kisses your skin.

At the end of the song, Javi sinks down onto one knee and starts to talk. I don’t listen, I’m caught up watching Evelyn. Tears are collecting along her lower lashes and her eyes are on the couple. This woman did this for perfect strangers. Sure, I might have said yes without her. But if it weren’t for these last few weeks, I’m not so sure I would have.

She raises her hand and wipes away a trailing tear.

“Yes, of course I’ll marry you. Yes, a thousand times yes,” Kathrine says, and I’m pulled back into the moment.

I move quietly to join Evelyn on the piano bench and start to play another of her songs. Her eyes gleam, and I lean in. “I told you I listened to them. I might have forgotten to say I learned them too.”

She kisses me and I don’t know how I manage it but I keep playing, it’s probably because I’ve played it so many times that I don’t have to think any more.

I continue through Lyla West’s slower songs until Javi and Kathrine are done. Quinn sends them the video and then they’re on their way to dinner.

“Is being a proposal planner a thing? We’d be great at it,” Oliver says, still riding the high of the day, a grin splitting his face.

We’re all back at the rental, doing our best to stretch the day as far as it can go. For the first time, we’ve set up the fire pit and we’re clustered around, sitting on Adirondack chairs.

“If you’re interested in a massive pay cut,” Quinn says pragmatically.

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