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At the stadium, we started by inspecting the stage. They'd started transforming the arena on Monday. Building the stage and the requisite light installations took time. We checked in with the sound technicians as well. Everything was running according to plan. The concert was sold out, so the stadium would be at its full capacity. Lastly, I went over the emergency evacuation plans with the head of security and floor operators.
"Let's sit down a bit," Amber said once we'd completed our tour. We headed to the chairs in the VIP section that had been arranged on the arena floor itself, in front of the stage.
"I tire so fast it's not even funny. And I'm sleepy all the time." Amber brought a hand to her mouth to cover her yawn.
"If you want to take time off—"
"I don't. I'm not sick, just slower than usual." After a few beats, she folded her arms over her belly. "So... are you going to bring me up to date?"
"On what?"
"How did the talk with Lori go?"
I hadn't intended to tell Amber anything, but on Monday morning, she took one look at me and knew.
"Haven't spoken to her yet."
"I thought you wanted us to come out here as an excuse to gossip."
"God forbid we actually work, huh?"
"Why didn't you talk to her?"
"I'm giving her some time to cool off."
"How much time exactly do you think she needs?"
"I figured a few days would be good. I've got some things to explain, and I want her to be calm when I do that. I saw on your calendar that you have a meeting with her today. I want to go in your place."
Amber punched my arm. "I knew you hadn't really dragged me out here for work. Thank God. How do you know I'm meeting her?"
"You put ‘baby shower planning’ in your work calendar, which is synchronized to mine."
"Any reason you're hijacking my date instead of getting one of your own?"
"I want to take her by surprise." Their lunch date was in ninety minutes. That still gave me time to buy flowers. I wasn't big on flowers, but I wasn't about to show up empty-handed after our fight. "Where are you meeting, anyway? There was no mention of a location in your calendar."
"Griffith Park."
After she told me the exact location in the park, I kissed her cheek and took off. First stop, the nearest flower shop.
***
I wasn't going to lie; my palms were sweating a little when I entered the park. People were milling around in the alleyways, their chatter forming a constant background noise that was punctuated by horn blares now and again. As I drew nearer to the ice cream truck, I spotted her.
She was sitting on a bench with her legs crossed. Her dress reached midthigh, displaying her beautiful skin. She didn't see me approach because she was bent over a large folder that no doubt contained some samples or pictures for Amber. Her blonde hair was hanging over one shoulder, fluttering in the light breeze. She straightened up when I sat next to her.
"I was expecting Amber."
"I'm a much better date though," I said with as much cockiness as possible, hoping it would help her relax. A very small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
I held out the flowers. "These are for you."
She closed the folder, pushing it behind her, taking the flowers in her arms. The vendor said she'd mixed tulips with roses and freesias.
"Thank you. They're beautiful."
I shifted closer to her. "I want to tell you many things, Lori, but I'll start with the most important one. I love you. I'm crazy in love with you. Occasionally, that might make me do crazy things. I know I'm a bit of a hothead, and that I act on impulse. But I promise to work on that, to talk things through with you. On Saturday, I wasn't pushing you away... not exactly. It's hard to explain what was going on in my head. I guess I was disappointed in myself, and I didn't want you to see that." On a deep breath, I added, "I didn't want to disappoint you."
