Ted says he’ll email me the official offer and contract soon. I hang up, feeling an ounce lighter than I did when I answered the phone.

I turn to relay the news to Mom, who takes a break from taking orders to squeal, then pulls me into a jump hug.

“Oh, I’m so proud of you!”

She chats about how she’s going to book a holiday dinner at Travaasa for her book club so she and her friends can try my gourmet menu.

I smile till my cheeks ache. Then I go to the truck window and wave over Penelope to see if she can help me pull off the idea that popped in my head while talking to Ted.

“So this is going to sound nuts, but hear me out.”

•   •   •

“You ready to do this?” Penelope glances at me as we sit side by side at my dining room table.

“Definitely.”

I smooth the low ponytail that’s slung over my shoulder with one hand, then run my other hand over the fabric of the silky blouse I’m wearing. This is the most dressed up I’ve been in weeks. But today’s the day I need to pull out all the stops.

“Okay,” she says. “Then let’s get started.”

She adjusts her phone, which sits atop the table, so that there’s a clear shot of her and me on the screen.

I’m about to make the grandest gesture I can think of. For Callum. My stomach is doing roundhouse kicks at the thought of how personal I’m about to get.

In the end, it will all be worth it. I hope.

I glance at Mom, who’s watching from the living room. She flashes that same encouraging smile she used to give me when I was nervous about a test or presentation in school. “You’re going to do great, anak.”

“Thank you, Mom.” I really, really hope so.

Penelope pulls up Instagram on her phone, then starts to stream a live video. My heart thuds against my chest harder than ever before. I’ve never done a live interview on social media before, let alone one where I’m about to get this personal. From the inside of my chest it feels like my heart and lungs are playing the bongos. The frenzied movement even shakes the fabric of my white blouse. But that’s just the adrenaline talking. I want to do this.

Penelope tucks her blond hair behind her ear then smiles at the screen. “Hey, everyone. I know you’re used to seeing live videos of me chowing down on yummy food or filming gorgeous sunsets, but we’re trying something a bit different today.”