Page 99 of Sparks Fly

“That Addison went away for the weekend.”

“With who?”

“I didn’t say.” He gave me a pointed look. “Not my secret to tell.”

“Thank you.”

“Dad didn’t push, but Mom definitely knew something was up.” He took another drink. “Addison never skips Sunday dinner without giving her a full itinerary and three business days’ notice.”

A laugh escaped me. “She skipped dinner for me?”

“She skipped dinner for herself,” Benji corrected. “That’s a bigger deal.”

I let that settle for a second.

“So?” He leaned against the workbench. “How was Mystic?”

“Perfect.” I tried to focus on the schedule again, but the smile pulling at my mouth gave me away.

Benji narrowed his eyes. “What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“That is absolutely not a nothing face.”

I set the clipboard down. “She asked me to be her girlfriend.”

His whole expression brightened. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

Benji stepped forward and pulled me into a quick hug. “Holy shit. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks.”

He released me but kept smiling. “So my sister has a girlfriend.”

“She does.”

“And that girlfriend is my work bestie.”

“Try not to make it weird.” He said.

“No promises.”

The shop settled into its usual rhythm after that. Customers came and went. One guy stopped in to argue about measurements for a custom gate he had already changed twice. Another checked on a railing project and spent ten minutes running his hand over the welds like he was inspecting a new car.

Around noon my phone buzzed in my pocket. I didn’t even have to check to know who it was, but I waited until I was alone in the back of the shop before pulling it out.

She had sent a picture of her desk buried in paperwork with a coffee cup balanced precariously on top.

Addison: If I don’t make it out of this office alive, please avenge me.

I leaned against the counter and typed back.

Me: I’ll ride through dramatically and carry you out.

The typing dots appeared almost immediately.