“Perfect.” I look down at Dolly when she nudges her cold nose into my ankle and smile when I see her pink leash in her mouth.

“I’ll take you outside when we get back.” I pick her up and kiss her head as I carry her back into the living room, placing her in her pen so she doesn’t get hurt running free in the house while we’re gone.

We reach the restaurant at seven on the dot, and as soon as we walk through the door, I spot Lynn and Mica already seated at a table, waiting on us. We tell the girl at the front that we’re with them, then walk to the back of the room.

As soon as Lynn sees us, her face lights up, and she starts to wave.

“Hey.” I laugh, giving her a hug when she stands as we reach the table.

“I’m so glad we were able to get together.” She rocks me from side to side as Mica and Eli do that whole one-armed back-pat thing men do when they greet each other.

“Me too.” I give Mica a hug, then slide into the booth, and Eli slides in next to me.

“So….” Lynn grins, holding up her hand, and my mouth drops open when I notice the glittering diamond ring on her finger.

“Stop it!” I cry, grasping her hand from across the table. “When did this happen?”

“Yesterday.” She looks over at Mica with a sappy smile. “He proposed when we were at the zoo last night for the Beer and Wine Festival.”

“I love that. Congratulations, you two.” I glance up at Eli as he repeats my sentiment. “I think we need champagne.”

“We definitely need champagne,” Lynn agrees from across the table.

“I’m good with beer,” Eli mutters, and I elbow him in the side. He looks down at me and sighs. “Or champagne.” Mica laughs.

When the waitress comes over to take our orders, we ask for champagne, but since they don’t have any, we order tequila shots, which are not the same, but we are at a Mexican restaurant, so… when in Rome.

Feeling a little tipsy after shots and a margarita, even after eating fajitas, I look up at Eli when Mica asks playfully, “When are you going to propose to Emma?”

Of course, he and I spoke about getting married and having kids before I moved in with him almost a year ago, but since then, that subject hasn’t come up again. And being me, I’ve never wanted to be the woman to hound a man into popping the question, so I’ve left it alone, figuring he would do it when he feels the time is right. But we’ve been together for almost three years, and that time still hasn’t come, so I’m as curious as everyone else.

“Emma and I are good with the way things are right now.”