Page 79 of The Luck of Finding You
“You can’t call her that,” I warn.
“Not for a few more hours,” Annie says in a sing-song voice. “After that, I officially have a sister.”
Yup. That’s right. I’m going to propose to a woman I’ve been dating for the past year. Some people might say that’s fast (those people probably haven’t read a romance novel.) Some might say it’s crazy. The ladies in the book club will say I took too long.
I say it’s perfect.
* * *
I slipthe ring box into my pocket and get out of the car. Annie heads into The Book Shop just like we planned, and I make my way over to the little café. They aren’t actually open today, with it being Thanksgiving and all. But when I told the owner my story and my plan, he agreed to let me in for a little while this afternoon.
I call Tally. “Hey, uh. Annie wanted to drop her stuff off at the apartment and fix her hair or something before we came over. But now my car won’t start.”
“What!” Tally whisper-screams into the phone. “Gran is going to kill you if you aren’t here in an hour to eat.”
“I know. Can you come get us? I’m really sorry.” My car did break down two weeks ago, and the mechanic told me it would be fine. But when I told Tally about it, I might have told her that he said something like this could happen again. I needed to get everything set up for today.
“Okay. Yes. I can come. Gran will not be happy. Are you guys just at the shop?” I hear her keys jingle as she grabs them.
“Yup, just at the shop,” I tell her. “See you soon.”
“See you.”
“I love you,” I tell her, because I am now incapable of ending any conversation with her without saying these words.
“I love you too, Noah,” Tally says, her voice softer now. “I’ll see you in a few.”
I set my phone on the table in front of me. Now all I have to do is wait.
After what feels like eternity but is really only fifteen minutes, I see Tally through the window. My heart thuds furiously in my chest, only not out of nerves. Out of all the things I have imagined since that day I walked in here and saw her sitting in this booth, I never let myself hope that this moment would happen.
I watch as she pulls open the door, glancing around the empty café, her eyes falling on me and our little booth. I grin and wave to her.
“What’s going on?” She hurries toward me, her eyes wide. “What are you doing here? Annie said I’d find you here. Gran will kill us if we don’t get back.”
Gran actually knows exactly what’s happening right now. I knew I wouldn’t be able to steal Tally away for more than a minute unless I told Gran exactly what was going on.
“Sit for a second.” I gesture to the seat across from me.
“What’s going on?” Tally asks again as she slides into the booth.
“I just wanted a minute alone with my lady,” I say.
Tally snorts. “My lady? That makes me sound so fancy.”
“You are pretty fancy,” I say, laughing. I’m grateful she’s relaxed a tiny bit since she walked through the door.
Suddenly the table between us is too much. I jump up and slide in next to her.
“I feel like I’m experiencing déjà vu. Only this time is much better than the last.” Tally leans in for a kiss, but I pull back slightly. I know myself well enough to know that if I kiss her now, I won’t be able to stop.
“Tally,” I whisper.
“Noah,” she whispers back. She’s oblivious and I love her for it.
I slip a hand into my pocket. I want to kneel for this, so I get out of the booth. Tally tilts her head at me, reminding me a little of Mo.
“Noah?” she asks as I slide down to one knee. Her eyes grow wide.
