“So you talked, and you’re good and he’s good?” Jamie asked.

I nodded. “Yeah. We’re good.”

Our next stop was the university bookstore on Virginia Tech’s campus. Jamie gave me a mischievous smile. “Ready?”

“My birthday present is at the Virginia Tech bookstore?”

“Trust me. You’re going to love it.”

Halfway through the store, I saw a poster. Nikki Giovanni. Poetry Reading and Book Signing, 2 PM. I turned to Jamie. “Are we . . . Did you?”

He cocked his head, motioning to the back of the store. “Come on. I think she’s back here.”

Only a few chairs on the back row remained empty. We took our seats and looked to the front, where Nikki Giovanni herself sat quietly waiting for her introduction. Several bookstore employees bustled around her. One leaned in and whispered a question, which made her smile and nod.

I turned to Jamie. “I can’t believe you did this. How did you even know how much I love her?”

A flash of discomfort flitted across his face, but it was gone so quickly I almost wondered if I’d made it up. “I saw her book on the shelf in your office. I figured if you had her collection, she must be a favorite. That the signing was on your actual birthday was really just a stroke of luck.”

I shook my head. “She is a favorite. She’s amazing.” I reached for his hand. “Thank you. This is the most incredible present anyone’s ever given me.”

He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I’m glad you like it.”

For the next hour, I was riveted on Giovanni and her poetry. I hung on every single word. Most of what she read I already knew, but to hear her reading was miraculous in ways I couldn’t describe. We waited in line after she finished, then we purchased a copy of her newest collection, which she signed for me. In every sense, it was an entirely perfect afternoon. Back in the car, I stared at my new book, running my hand over the cover.

“Jamie, thank you for this. For today.”

“You’re welcome.” He smiled and reached for my hand. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

“Yes. Very happy.” And I was. Hesitations, distance, disconnectedness. All gone by the end of the day. Yet again, the second I’d started to doubt, Jamie had swept in and reminded me why I’d fallen in love with him.

The thought gave me pause. Had I fallen in love with him? I’d never said it out loud, but after the day we’d just had, I felt it. Keenly.

It was nearly dark when we made it back to my apartment. Jamie shifted the car into park and leaned over, resting his hand on the back of my seat. “Happy birthday, Lane,” he said softly.

I grinned. “Thank you very much.”