At lunch, a grade five student came in and ushered her outside again. There was a picnic set up on one of the tables outside. She was told to sit and her waiter would be with her. Lunch was chicken for two, but after a few minutes her stomach was growling and she was beginning to wonder if she was going to eat this one alone.
She heard the school doors open behind her and she turned to look. There he was, dressed in a suit. He kissed her cheek and sat down beside her wordlessly.
Mandy sputtered on all the things she'd had to say this morning. What did the notes mean? Thank you for the car. What the hell is going on? You've disrupted my entire school. I love you.
Which thought should she start with? She wasn't quite sure. So, she just stared at him.
"How is your day going?" he asked, after he unfolded his napkin and put it in his lap. "I apologize for the lack of wine." There was apple juice in a wine glass in front of her.
"Well, some asshole disrupted my entire day. But, I did get some lovely flowers and a beautiful car." She smiled at him. "Thank you for everything."
"I was told to do something big."
"By whom?"
"Corey's one night stand."
Mandy sputtered on her drink. "What?"
Kip laughed heartily. "After we talked last I started plotting. And then Colton called and I decided I need to take action, except I wasn't sure what. So I went to ask Corey."
"Corey? Seriously? That's who you went to for romantic advice?" Mandy drolled.
Kip smiled. "Yes. And there was this girl with him. It was too funny to watch them together. But anyway, she told me to get you a bigger ring than the one I had. Which you've already seen so here." He pushed a black box across the table.
"I thought this was an engagement ring."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a white box. "This is." He put it back in his pocket with a teasing grin. "I'm getting ahead of things. Eat your lunch. I've been working hard all morning, I'm starving."
"Where were you hiding all morning?"
"The principal's office. That's why he was in a meeting."
Mandy shook her head. "Sneaky." She reached out to him and he met her, lacing his fingers with hers. "I missed you."