The article sentence stayed on my screen while celebration moved around us. Nina watched my face shift before following my gaze toward the final section; recognition reached her expression without requiring explanation.
"I used your name," she said, releasing my hand while the published page remained between us.
"And the accident plus our date," I replied, keeping my voice low enough that nearby guests retained their evening.
"I thought the connection made the ending honest," Nina said, then stopped before intention became a defense.
The paragraph was tender, accurate, plus beautifully written; none of those qualities created permission. We had agreed that anything identifying both of us required another conversation.
"You asked the market vendors to approve their quotations," I said, scrolling toward the acknowledgments before returning to her, "why did I receive less choice?"
