Page 123 of Structure of Love

“Hi!” He turned to give me a quick smile. “The color we picked out looks…not quite right. Here, take a look.”

He had painted samples on three different walls in the big room, and I saw what he meant. In the deeper, shaded part of the room, it was almost mustard yellow. “Eww. No.”

“See? This is why I paint samples and then look at them. The swatch and the dried paint on the wall are sometimes two different colors. I didn’t think you’d like that one. So take two, but I’m overthinking and need your opinion. Which do you like best?”

All of the options he presented were masculine earth tones, one of them a sepia tone with a hint of green, and the othersgrew progressively more green in tint. I looked them over, and they were all nice, but the first one, that sparked joy. I pointed to it. “That one.”

“Yeah? I debated between that one and the one next to it. I think it’s a good option. This will be your wall color. Assuming it doesn’t turn yellow on us when it dries. I’m still peeved at the other paint.”

“Assuming it behaves, definitely that one, then.”

Asher made a note on his tablet. “I’ll get this over to the painters. They’re waiting on me, so they should be able to start tomorrow.”

“We on schedule, then?”

“A little ahead, actually.” Asher promptly rapped his knuckles on the floor. “Knocking on wood so I don’t jinx us.”

“Yeah, please don’t.”

It suddenly occurred to me I had one of Gage’s friends. Alone. That was harder to manage than you’d realize. I’d been trying to get someone alone all week so I could float an idea past them, because I was stupidly in love with Gage, and I might have been projecting a little of what I wanted. I needed an in-person sounding board. Plus, Asher was Gage’s BFF. If anyone knew his ring size, it would be Asher. Butterflies started up in my stomach. While I knew the guys liked me, I wasn’t sure if they approved of Gage being with someonelikeme. Let’s face it, he could do way better. But I didn’t think they were that two-faced either, so…time to put it to the test. Even if it made my stomach twist into knots. “Um, Ash. Got something to run by you.”

Asher rose to his feet, head canted in question. “Yeah?”

“Not business related. Uh, this sounds too fast, I know, but I’m tempted to propose to Gage the night before the grand opening of Blackbird.”

Asher’s eyes widened in delight. “Yes! Do it!”

His immediate enthusiasm caught me off guard. “For real?”

“Absolutely do it.” Asher leaned in, like he was speaking in confidence. “Gage has been debating for months how long you two have to date before he can propose.”

Pure joy lanced through me. So I wasn’t alone? Gage and I had agreed to date with marriage in mind, but I felt like I was rushing things a tad. Hearing he’d also been trying to find the right timing was like finding wind in your sails. I punched the air, I was so excited. “Then I’m doing it.”

“You got three weeks,” Asher pointed out. “You know his ring size?”

“I don’t and was hoping you did.”

“Well, fortunately for you, Zar has the same ring size. I’ll tell him to meet us at the jewelry store after work and he can try rings on for you.”

“How can you possibly know they have the same ring size…?”

“When we get drunk together, we talk about strange shit sometimes, let’s just say that. Anyway. I know for a fact it’s the same size.” Asher’s expression turned mischievous and he waggled his eyebrows. “I also know Gage has a proposal present for you.”

“So you weren’t kidding when you said he’s been tempted to propose.”

“Oh, I wasn’t kidding. In fact, please propose to him and put him out of my misery. The wistful puppy act was only cute the first day.”

I laughed. “I can’t even imagine it.”

“Be grateful. Also, Gage is not huge on pomp and ceremony, so something private will go over better.”

“Good to know, and noted. Thanks, Asher.”

Asher’s expression softened. “You are incredibly good for him, Logan. And honestly, I consider you a friend too. I would love nothing better than to see my two friends be happy together.”

I hugged him. “I’ll do my damnedest.”

Asher hugged me back before releasing. “Now, if we’re going shopping after five o’clock, that means we both have to go back to work. You, go do the responsible things. I’ll get Zar to pick us up. Unless you want to meet us somewhere?”