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Claire rolled her eyes. “Fine. Thirty or thirty-one. Either way, forty works.”
“So it’s Mia and Noah, Claire and me?” Graham confirmed.
Claire scowled. “This didn’t work out like I planned.” She turned eyes on Noah. “You haven’t given any input. Who do you want as your backup?”
He stilled.
“We all know he’d pick Mia,” Graham said. “Face it, my dear. I’m your man.” He winked. “And what a lucky woman you are.”
Claire scrunched her nose. “I have to know all my options. Come on, Noah. Between Mia and me, who do you want as your backup?”
He hesitated, unsure how to proceed, especially with the question hanging between him and Mia. But after a few seconds passed, Mia angled her torso toward him and one dark eyebrow lifted. She looked incredulous. Irritated, almost.
He stifled a laugh.
That one look settled his nerves, and it was like everything fell into place. He met her dark gaze and kept his voice as nonchalant as possible.
“I pick Mia, if she’ll have me.”
Between the two of them, Mia had always been the talker. In a group or on their own, she carried the conversation.
She was so sweet and genuine, people never seemed to mind. Noah certainly never had.
Even when he’d disappear into the tree house in his backyard to read in peace, she’d often find him there. Unlike Nathan, who would interrupt without so much of ayoubusy?, she’d at least wait until he’d finished his chapter, peeking over his shoulder to make sure before she started rambling.
Then they’d gotten old enough for cell phones and the text messages never stopped. He could probably count on one hand the days that had gone by where they hadn’t conversed at least once that way.
Which was why today had felt so weird. He hadn’t heard from her at all since Claire’s birthday dinner Friday night, and he still had no idea what was going through her mind. He’d been more tense today than the day he started the series of tests that were part of the Architect Registration Exam. He hadn’t wanted to push her, so he just let her think.
But he’d thought of little else.
He settled onto his couch Sunday evening and was seconds away from popping the top off a beer when his phone lit up.
Mia:Okay.
He closed his eyes and his shoulders relaxed.
Noah:Did you just agree to marry me via text message?
Mia:I’ll do it in person if you open the door.
The knock sounded two seconds later.
He moved the cold beer to one of the Frank Lloyd Wright coasters Mia had gotten him for graduation, stood, and walked the several feet to the front door. Mia stood on his porch looking familiar and beautiful in a white V-neck and jeans. Her black hair was pulled up into a messy ponytail, as if she hadn’t had the patience to deal with it today.
“Hey.” Her voice was soft and a little hesitant, but her dark eyes met his in a steady gaze.
He’d planned to ask if she was sure, but now, having seen her face, he didn’t have to. She might be scared and a little freaked out, but she was sure.
He felt the same.
He stepped to the side. “Come on in.”
They sat side by side on the couch like they always did. She tilted her head when she noticed the beer, but didn’t comment.
“Wanna know what convinced me?” she asked, slipping off her shoes and tucking one foot underneath her thigh.
He lifted his eyes to her face. “Was it because according to Claire, we’ll just end up married at forty, anyway?”
