Page 148 of The Even Odder Couple

Then a fourth voice warbles, “Which one is Tess?” That’s Big Mama.

“Tess is the one in the blindfold,” my mother says.

“We’re on a FaceChat,” Spencer tells me. Then he clears his throat. “I asked you all to join us today so Tess could witness me asking you for your blessing. In person. Is everyone onboard for what’s about to occur?”

“Yes!” my sisters and mom call out in unison.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” Big Mama says.

“I’ll tell you after,” my mother says.

Spencer squeezes my hand. “Tess, just so you know, I already spoke to Darby, Olivia, and your mom individually. But I wanted you to hear their voices too. Since they can’t be here with us today.”

“Thank you,” I choke out. Sparks of excitement light up my body. Then my sisters and mother and grandmother take turns saying “goodbye” one by one. They also say “I love you” and “call us afterward,” before signing off the chat. These are my people—my first family—and Spencer included them.

I feel like my heart might burst. Then slowly, tenderly, Spencer slides the blindfold down.

And I gasp.

He’s in a tuxedo. His hair is a wave above his forehead, and his dark eyes sparkle behind black frames. He looks like a billionaire genius. A dapper tycoon. The most perfect groom on a wedding cake.

“Isn’t this theexactoutfit you wore to the gala?” I ask.

“I had to get a new shirt and jacket.” He shrugs. “My shoulders got a little too big.”

I squeeze both his biceps. “I guess I can forgive you.”

“So,” he says. “We’re here.”

Glancing around, I see we’re in the parking lot of an unfamiliar strip mall. There’s a dumpster next to the truck. Odd place for a proposal.

“Where are we?” I ask. The blindfold’s still hanging around my neck.

He points to the shop in front of us.Paula’s Piercings and More. “It’s a tattoo parlor.” He splays his hands. “Surprise!”

“Hold on.” My hot sweats shift to cold. “I don’t understand.”

“I can explain.” He grins at me, like he’s totally thrilled we’renotgetting engaged. “On the day Frank and I made the bet, he said I’dneverhave the guts to get a tattoo. So I figured I’d show him I could be zany. I’m spontaneous now, right? And who better to do this zany, spontaneous thing with, than the woman who’s responsible for loosening me up. Of course, I’m still me. So I wanted to ask your family if it was okay first. And you just heard them say they were good with it. So. Should we do this?”

I gape at Spencer. I don’t know what words will come out if I try to speak.

“At first I thought we should get matching designs,” he says. “Something meaningful to both of us. Likelooking for love in all the wrong places.”

“But then you came to your senses?” I manage to squeak out.

“Yep.” He nods. “That would take up way too much space, and my pectorals aren’t that big. Then I thought you could getMeasure Twiceand I’d getCut Once. You know. To represent how you think things through a little more now, and I get crazy and do stuff on a whim.”

I blink. And blink. And blink.

“Tess?”

“What?” I choke.

He takes a beat. Tilts his head. “I’m totally kidding.”

There’s a long pause, then he starts to crack up. I fly at him, shrieking and laughing, and wishing I had a bag to hyperventilate into because he almost gave me a heart attack. “You’re sooo lucky I love you,” I say, “or I’d probably kill you.”

“Ooooh.” He arches a brow. “Maybethatshould be our tattoo.” He winks at me, and I want to be mad, but I can’t even be mad, because the truth is Spencer Crane gets my heart pounding like no other. And I am so here for it.

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