“Why!” I laugh to myself, frantic, and desperate, and so far gone for him. “Because I love you. Because I don’t want to lose you again. Not ever again. I read about that Curt Richter experiment on my way here,” I tell him. “And I know all about the rats. The wild rats fought for their survival. They were savages. They didn’t give up. You’re my rat, Joe. I want you to be my rat. I promise not to land you in deep water ever again. From now on we’ll swim together.”

I’m searching his face. All I care about is his reaction, not the massive public declaration I’ve just made. He blinks a few times, taking me in. He is still by the forklift. A good twenty feet away from me, at least.

“How is this time different from all the others?” he insists. “How do I know you won’t walk away tomorrow? Or the day after? Or in a month? I can’t do this anymore, Ever. I can’t put my heart in your slippery hands.”

“They’re no longer slippery!” I half beg, throwing my arms upward. “I swear. Sturdy as a surgeon’s. My only hang-up wasn’t about loving you—there was never any doubt in my mind that I loved you. It was about sparing you from the heartache of being with me. I thought I was cursed or something and didn’t want you to . . . I don’t know, I didn’t want anything happening to you, I guess. Like Mom and Dom.”

Every single person staring at us looks lost, entertained, and a little disturbed on Joe’s behalf. Joe, himself, looks mostly exhausted.

“Ever, you’ve put me through hell.”

“I know.”

“And you chose my brother over me.”

“No. No, I didn’t. I never would have moved forward with the wedding; I can see that now. I know this in my bones, Joe. It was always you. Always.”

“You’ve been flaky, indecisive, and torn about me from the get-go.”

“Whoa.” I lift my hands up in the air. “That part’s not true. I’ve always loved you. I was just not always sure that love was enough to get over our obstacles. But I am now. I’m sure.”

“One hundred percent?” he asks.

“One hundred and ten,” I assure him.

There’s a beat of silence. Clipboard Guy throws his hands in the air. “For Pete’s sake, kiss her already. We have three more deliveries to unload before ten!”