Page 71 of Retool

“That’s what made it so romantic,” I said.“It was a moment of raw emotion.”

“Because you didn’t have a plan.”

“Bobby had a ring,” Indira said as she topped up Fox’s coffee.“And a plan.He asked me for some feedback, and I told him his idea was lovely.”

“Wait, youknewhe was going to propose?”I asked.

“Of course, dear.”

“Okay, yes, well, I didn’t have a plan because I was at a disadvantage—” I tried.

“You can say that again,” Fox muttered.

“Why didn’t you get down on one knee?”Keme asked.

“Because I—it wasn’t the right time.”Everybody stared at me.“And the coffee table was right there!”

“I can’t wait to see the FLOWERS!”Millie announced.

I kind of stumbled into the next silence.

Millie’s (loud) excitement transformed into (equally loud) disappointment: “DASH!”

“What don’t you people understand about a wellspring of raw emotion?”

“You should have taken pictures,” Keme told me.

That betrayal cut deep.“Youhatepictures.I said I wanted a picture of the two of us, and youlaughed.And then you hit me with that pillow.”

Keme shrugged.

“Did you have to talk him into it?”Fox asked with what sounded like despair.

“No, I didn’t have to— No!”But they were allstillstaring at me.“Clearly you didn’t understand, so I’m going to have to explain it again.In detail, this time.”

Fox groaned.

Keme reached into his hoodie for his earbuds.

Millieperked up.

And Indira patted my shoulder as she pushed the apple cinnamon crumb muffins my way, saying, “They’re teasing, dear.We’re all happy for you.”And then she added, “It would have been nice to have a ring, though.”

Keme actually snickered.

I was about to object to this treatment—and inform them of my sudden decision to elope, and that nobody was invited except me and Bobby and Gilberta from the Cakery (listen, I couldn’t trust this wedding cake to anybody else)—when my phone buzzed.

It was Bobby.

“Will you please tell these jokers that my proposal was heartfelt and beautiful and full of—”

“If he says ‘raw emotion’ one more time,” Fox said, “I’m going to suffer a fit of emesis.”

“Full oflove,” I snapped.“Tell them!”

Bobby’s silence lasted a beat too long, and then he said, “Your proposal was really sweet, babe.”

I couldn’t help the shrill rise to my voice.“Really sweet?”