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Leigh gave her a look.

‘The second time, anyway,’ Alex amended off Leigh’s look.

Leigh smiled. She turned and saw the dress. ‘That’s notyours, is it?

‘Nope. You want it?’

‘Not really.’

‘Shame. We could get a discount.’

‘Hmm, how romantic,’ Leigh smirked.

‘You want a romantic proposal?’ Alex asked.

Leigh laughed. ‘I’m not expectinganykind.’

Alex, her hand trembling, reached into her desk drawer.

‘What are you doing?’ Leigh asked, suddenly nervous.

‘I’ve had this in here for months. I was waiting for the right time. But I don’t think it’s coming.’ She took out the box and went around her desk. She sat down on the edge of her desk and flipped open the box to reveal a diamond ring. ‘Will you marry me?’

Leigh nearly fell off her chair. ‘Youwant to marryme?’

‘Yes,’ Alex said with certainty.

‘But you don’t believe in marriage.’

‘No,’ Alex conceded. ‘But I do believe in you.’

Leigh tried to speak, but only a squeak came out.

‘Was that a yes?’ Alex asked.

Leigh nodded. ‘Yes, it was a yes. I mean, yes, a yes. Yes.’

‘Can you say yes once more?’ Alex asked, trying not to get too overwhelmed.

‘I seemed to have forgotten how to speak,’ Leigh apologised.

Alex laughed nervously. ‘I’m scared, too.’

‘But you’re the one proposing,’ Leigh pointed out.

‘You might have said no,’ Alex mused.

Leigh gave Alex a look that made her feel like jelly. ‘I think you know I wouldn’t have said no to you,’ Leigh said.

Alex was a bit worried she was going to pass out, so she decided to slip the ring on, just in case. That way, when she woke up, at least she’d know she was engaged.

But the ring didn’t get past the first knuckle. ‘Oh no.’

‘It’s the wrong size,’ Leigh said with a nervous smile.

‘I took one of your rings to get measured!’ Alex cried.

‘Maybe I ate too much salt today?’ Leigh said desperately.