Page 160 of Give & Take

“Quit doing the things that aren’t going to serve you. Quit doing things that are actively hurting you or people you love.” She looks up at me. “Quit believing you’ll never do what you really want to do. Quit living life like nothing miraculous will ever happen.”

She keeps gripping my hand. “Quit telling yourself love is for other people.”

The crowd applauds heartily. Several people shout their agreement.

“This bookshop came about because I quit doing what I didn’t want to do. But it also came about because this mandidn’tquit. He never once quit believing in me. He didn’t quit coming after me when I tried to push him away. And honey,” she says to me, reaching under the podium and picking something up, “I hope you know I could never quit you.”

She slides something into my pocket. I reach my hand in, feeling the box I gave her eighteen months ago. The one with the necklace in it that glimmers, currently on her collar.

The one with the other piece of jewelry hidden inside. The one I promised I’d never pressure her intotaking or wearing. But that she could hand to me when she was ready, and I’d find the perfect moment to ask her to be mine.

My heart thunders nearly double speed in my chest. “Lana,” I say, suddenly not caring we’re not at all alone. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” she whispers. “I can’t wait to see what you come up with.”

Then to the crowd, she says, “Everyone, Pink Cheeks wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Raphael LaForest. He’s the one doing everything behind the scenes—everything from doing the inventory to picking the girls up from school.”

The crowd cheers my name, and I can’t help grin a dopey grin as I look out at them.

“Raph, is there anything you want to say?” she asks me. “No pressure.”

She knows I can say anything off the cuff. She didn’t need to warn me about this.

And I’m not going to squander this moment.

I pull the box out of my pocket.

Lana’s eyes go round. “Raph!” she whispers. “I meant if you wanted to say something about the bookstore and the…”

She closes her eyes, smiling almost ruefully. She knows she left the door wide open. Her cheeks, ironically, turn delightfully pink as I lean into the microphone.

“Thanks everyone.” I clear my throat. “So I know Lana wants me to talk about the bookstore and all the cool amazing things we have planned. But honestly, that’s for her to do. As for me, well, I have this box.”

I hold the jewelry box up, and a few gasps sound from around the room. Shelby and Chris start to tear up.

Lori has her hand over her mouth, actively on the brink of sobbing.

“So I’m going to take this opportunity, while you’re all here, to ask Lana to marry me.”

I’m nothing if not straight to the point. And the crowd clearly appreciates it. I wait until they calm down, trying not to be too cocky about how much they’re eating this up. I still need to get it right.

I pull out the ring—a simple diamond, ringed with tiny green stones the exact shade of Lana’s eyes, set in a thin gold band.

“Lana,” I say, “I would have married you the same summer we met. Hell, I would have married you that day, I was so smitten. I knew you were the one for me, I just wasn’t sure I could win you over. Once I did, I had to buy this ring. Even if you never wanted to wear it, to me, it meant everything. That you were the woman for me.”

The crowd ahs.

“Lana,” I say, gearing up.

“Yes,” Lana says.

The crowd cheers.

“I’m not done!”

“Sorry.”

“Lana, I would be honored if you’d be my wife. Will you marry me?” My voice cracked on wife. I barely made it through the actual question.

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