Then he lifts a hand to his forehead, blocking out the bright light, peering out at the theater. What is he doing? He’s staring all the way up the aisle, where Levi and Hazel are standing. They must have rushedover there from backstage, and I’m guessing Zuri and Nisha are at Dog Tails with all the pups, including Captain, who’s there tonight.
Except—wait. I think I see a familiar tail thumping.
Then Sawyer says into the mic, “Captain, bring it.”
And my dog trots down the aisle, one red rose held delicately in his teeth.
My eyes well with happy tears.
I fling a hand to my mouth. I’m a hot mess all over again—of tears, of excitement, of surprise. Complete and utter surprise as my dog trots up the steps and across the stage, then drops the rose at my feet.
“For you,” Sawyer says.
I bend and take it as I try to find words. But none of theI was hurt,I felt discarded,I felt unimportantmatter anymore. Not when he’s saying he’s sorry and telling me he loves me in the biggest, boldest way possible.
So I do the only thing I can. I cup his cheek and press a kiss to those soft lips in front of the whole town. A shiver races down my back.
When I let go, I say, “I love you too.”
Then I turn to the audience, take his mic, and say, “Sam Silversmith makes me hit the high notes.”
Laughter carries across the theater.
And then my world tips upside down when Sawyer hoists me up, tosses me over his shoulder, and carries me offstage.
40
SHOWER SONGS
CHLOE
In the lobby, I’m still floating on cloud nine. I feel like I’m the one who got engaged—I’mthatbubbly,thathappy. I keep showing off my rose to everyone. “Look. He had my dog give it to me,” I say to Bridget, even though, of course, she was there.
In the second row. She saw it.
“Yes, it was perfect. But so was the number,” she says, then whispers in my ear, “I told you so.”
I arch a brow. “Did you?”
She straightens her shoulders. “I told you to tell him how you feel. And you did. And it worked out.”
Damn. She has me there. “Fine, you’re right,” I say when my attention snags on a handsome man in a suit, lingering at the edge of the lobby, his eyes laser-locked on…Bridget.
“Do you have a secret admirer?” I whisper, forehead-tipping toward him.
She shifts her gaze to look at him. He has neat brown hair, intense eyes, and a mysterious air about him. Scruff lines his jaw, and he’s broad and strong.
“I don’t know. Do I?” she asks, a little breathy.
“I think you should swipe right,” I say.
She rolls her eyes, turning away from him and focusing back on me. “Anyway, the show was amazing. You’re incredible and…can I say it?” She gathers Ripley, Banks, and Sawyer close. “We should do karaoke.”
Sawyer smiles. “Yeah, we all should. Next week?”
“It’s a date,” I say.
“A double date,” Banks adds.
