Auction - Longbottom Family
The ring box is heavy in his suit pocket as he sits. Across the table, Hannah beams, oblivious to Neville's nerves. He's surprised that he is even able to speak; he had overcome his speech impediment over the years, but it is intense moments like these that brought it back full force. His movements are stilted as he slowly eats his pasta carbonara, but Hannah hasn't noticed — pasta carbonara is her absolute favorite, and it's Neville who is the third wheel.
It also doesn't help that she looks incredibly breathtaking, in a sleek gold dress that glimmers in the dim light of the restaurant. Her hair is up in a hairstyle that Neville thinks is called a French twist, and gold earrings dangle from her ears. She looks so elegant, so ethereal, that he can't believe he's sitting here with her.
"Han?" he asks when she comes up for air. She doesn't hear him, eying his plate.
"Is something wrong?" she queries, looking slightly concerned. "You've barely touched your plate."
"No!" Neville's voice comes out higher pitched than he'd intended. He clears his throat. "No," he repeats. "Nothing's wrong, I'm...just not very hungry tonight."
Hannah sets down her fork and sips from her glass of champagne. "You, not hungry?" Her eyes darken with worry. "Please, tell me."
...Crap. Now he has to invent a lie on the spot, and everyone who knows him knows that he's a terrible liar. "I've got a lot on my mind," he semi-lies, relieved when it comes out sounding natural.
But Hannah doesn't believe it. Not really. "Neville," she says pleadingly, "you're scaring me. Are you…"
"No!" But this time, he intends for it to come out as firm as it does. "No, it's not that. It's...something else."
"Yeah?"
He fumbles. "Uh...I've been thinking about…"
He can feel the word vomit rising in his throat, but he quickly pushes it back. "Listen, Han, we've been dating for more than a year, and I'm wondering...where are we?"
"...Oh." Hannah purses her lips. Neville can see the wheels in her head turning. "I don't think there is a definite answer for that. Not really. But wherever we are...it's a good place. We're happy together, and it doesn't matter as much. It doesn't matter if we're married or we date forever."
...That does not help Neville's impending decision any. But Hannah's right. They're in love, they're happy, and that's all that really matters in the end.
He won't propose today. But he will propose someday and tonight had given him the reassurance he'd needed.
He digs into his food with renewed vigor. Hannah's laughing and he's stuffing his face and people are staring but he doesn't care.
Everything's okay.
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