They’re here to see the lobby, not to see me. They’re here to see the lobby, not to see me.

This thought came back to me every few minutes throughout the reception. When people came up to congratulate me for creating something so beautiful, so complex and meaningful, all I could focus on was the ring on my finger and what was going to happen after John’s dedication speech.

Carson was intent on making sure I met everyone who had anything to do with the art world, architecture, and design. So I couldn’t spend nearly enough time with the people I actually wanted to talk to—Hillary and Eric, my mom and dad, Hayden and Andi, even Renee and Anna.

Right after a woman I’d never seen before and I were done air-kissing and I’d finished thinking, “Who the hell decided air-kissing should be a thing? Why can’t we just say hello and be done with it?” she grabbed my hand.

Her eyes widened when she spotted the ring, not that it was very hard to spot, of course. “Oh, honey, congratulations!” Was she congratulating me for my engagement or for getting a great ring? “It’s gorgeous!”

Guess I’d been right to wonder. Should I thank her? I had nothing to do with picking it out, other than landing a guy with great taste who knew me incredibly well.

Perfect. “Thank you so much.” For recognizing my incredible taste in the man I planned to marry.

I couldn’t blame her. My ring was a gorgeous piece of jewelry and an even more gorgeous symbol of how amazing our future would be.

Carson stood next to me the whole night, guiding me around and telling me when to stop being afraid and staring at the floor, so I wouldn’t seem rude to the guests at the party.

He was right and wrong. I didn’t want to be rude to anyone, but that’s not why I was acting weird. Most of them had no idea what the most important part of tonight was. Not even Carson.

“Laney!” I glanced up to see John, the owner of the building and the one who’d hired me to design and build the installation. “People can’t stop telling me how beautiful your work is. And I can’t stop thinking how beautiful you are. So congratulations. I’m not sure if anything could make this night more special.”

When John winked at me, Carson pulled me a little closer to him, completely misinterpreting John’s intent. I wasn’t worried—he’d find out soon enough.

Then I looked to the woman on John’s arm. “Geez, Anna. You know everybody, don’t you?”

“There are probably a few people I’ve never met.” Anna’s eyes twinkled. But tonight, the twinkle wasn’t because she was messing with me or trying to ruin my evening. Tonight it was because I’d let her in on my secret, too.

I’d only shared my plan with the people who had to know: John, to get his permission; my dad, because he’d spent most of today at the courthouse getting a special one-day officiant’s permit; and my mom because I couldn’t not tell her. Obviously, Hillary and Eric knew, and I’d called Hayden this afternoon to ask if he’d bring his side of the family. Right after hanging up with him, I’d called Anna, figuring a private invitation was the only way to get her to come. I almost lost it completely when I heard how excited she was to have been included.

Actually, that was a lot of people. Oh shit. This was real.

“You ready for this, Laney?” she asked quietly.

Ready? Probably not. But I couldn’t wait, and I knew it was the right thing to do. “One hundred and fifty percent.”

Carson tensed when his stepsister leaned in closer to me, assuming she was going to pull a ninja move in five-inch heels, I guess. He grunted a warning when she wrapped her arms around me to give me a quick hug. Right before she pulled away from me, Anna quietly and politely told him to shut the hell up.

Family.

“Okay then. Let’s do this.” John and Anna walked up to a small podium next to the infinity fountain where the planning committee was already standing, smiling at me knowingly. Dang it, had John told everyone? Anna? My stupidly proud and happy parents?

How many people did it take to keep a secret? Oh well, in a few minutes, it wouldn’t matter.

“Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please?” John said into a microphone. Once the crowd had quieted, he continued. “Because of the tireless work of many, many individuals, I stand before you tonight to celebrate the unveiling of our new lobby. It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?” He waited for the applause to die down. “This lobby is an homage to our beautiful city and its amazingly talented and complex community. We’re here to celebrate art and, in a recent addition to tonight’s festivities, we’re also here to celebrate love.”

“Please tell me he’s not about to confess his undying love for you,” Carson whispered. “Because I got there first.”

I shushed him, not wanting to miss a second of this moment.

He gasped. “Oh fuck, what if he’s going to propose to Anna? I gotta warn him! Or hurt him, maybe.”

I put my hand on his arm and gave him a squeeze. “John’s gay, Carson.”

“You say that as if it would stop her from manipulating him into marriage.”

“So without further ado…” John looked at me. “Laney, want to come up here and get this thing started?”

I nodded, glanced at Carson, and took his hand.

“Go let everybody tell you how great you are, babe,” Carson said right before I started pulling him along with me. “Okay. I was going to heckle you from back here, but sure, I’ll come if you want me to.”

“You’re not the only one who can plan a surprise,” I said quietly.

“What’s going on, Lane?” He came with me because he trusted me, but his steps were wary and his eyes confused. He must have noticed my father getting settled next to the podium with Hayden on one side and Hillary on the other.

“Look carefully at the benches and tables surrounding you, everyone,” John said. “The first time I saw Laney’s art, I thought it was beautiful, because… well, because I’m not blind.” Small chuckle from the audience. “But until she brought her sketches to me and we started talking, I didn’t know how much passion she had, how much of who she is she put into her work, along with her incredible skill.

“And, before we go any further, I should tell you that Carson Bennett proposed to Laney in this very water yesterday.”

Carson groaned as the crowd awwed and applauded.

“Are your pants dry yet, Carson?”

“Wow. I really wish he hadn’t said it like that.” Carson pulled me forward a few steps to get away from whoever had tried to pat him on the back. “Can’t wait to see the headline on tomorrow’s gossip page.”

“Anyway,” John said. “When I heard about the proposal, I remembered an early conversation Laney and I had. She told me her design would represent the steps we all have to take to reach our goals.”

I stood there nervously with Carson, listening to John explain the for-public-consumption meaning I’d told him after realizing I wanted to keep the real one between me, Carson, and the people who loved us. Now I wished I’d given John an even simpler version because it was taking him forever to explain it to the crowd. I saw a few guests lose interest and go to the bar or step outside. Fine with me—I didn’t want anyone to stay for what happened next if they didn’t want to.

“And before we can move to the next lily pad,” John said, pointing to the tables one-by-one, “we have to find balance on each so we don’t fall into the water—i.e., make a catastrophic mistake—on our way to getting where we want to be. Each step…”

“Are you sure he isn’t in love with you?” Carson whispered. “If I’d known how long-winded he’d be, I would’ve gotten another drink.”

“Shut up.” It came out a little harsher than I’d wanted it to. I added, “And listen to how great people think I am,” so he wouldn’t notice how my nerves were gaining control over me with every passing second.

“…even more blessed because…”

“It’s nothing I don’t already know, babe. In fact, I think he’s playing your greatness down so Anna won’t slug him out of jealou—”

“…wanted to marry him in front of all of us. Right now.”

“Wait. What did he just say?” Carson asked loudly. But it was nothing in comparison to the gasps and applause from the crowd.

I didn’t look, but I imagined Carson’s eyes ballooning out like a cartoon character’s. Okay, I had to peek to know for sure.

No cartoon eyes, but he was turning in every direction, probably looking to see who John might have been talking about. But everyone was staring at us.

“You never listen, do you?” I asked, my eyes filling up with water while I waited for it to sink in.