“Tess, will you marry me?" Toby laughed.”

“A 'T' for Tess, a 'T' for Toby.”

“When you knock off work tonight, go looking for Toby, because, trust me, he will be looking for you.”

“I like you, Tess.”

“I love you, Tess McGee. I don’t do big funny or heartfelt speeches in front of people at birthday parties, but I’m excellent in private alcoves in beer gardens.” He paused. “Okay, that sounded really bad, what I mean is …”I kissed him into silence. I pressed my forehead against his with a sigh. “I love you, too, Toby. In fact, that’s what I was going to tell you before we walked into the beer garden. Right before the really bad singing started.”Toby chuckled. He let out a sigh of relief. “Ready to reminisce?”I whispered my final word before he closed the distance.“Always.”

“Tess, there isn't a drunken, screaming netballer in the world that would have made me not want to ... continue.”

“Do you want some words of advice, Tess?”I glanced at Adam’s profile as he sipped.“Don’t give your heart away too easily.” He turned to me. “Make him earn it.”