Page 173 of Holding On

"I love you," I tell her as we lie in bed later, after having sex, of course.

She smiles. "I love you too."

I turn on my side, facing her. "So how are you as a travel companion?"

"I don't know. I haven't really traveled much. Why?"

"We're going out of town next weekend. It'll be our first trip together. I wondered if you're someone who sleeps on the plane, reads a book, talks the whole time."

"Sadly, I've never been on a plane. I've only been on car trips."

"You've never once been on a plane?"

"Nope. Next weekend will be my first time."

"First of many."

"What do you mean?"

"When I'm playing pro ball, you'll be flying to see all my games."

"I will?"

"Wives always travel to games."

She coughs and her eyes get huge. "Excuse me? Wife?"

I laugh. "Girlfriend. I said wife just to see how you'd react. And it was priceless. Hilarious. You should've seen how big your eyes got."

She rolls them at me, smiling.

"So for the record, what's your opinion on marriage?"

"I'm never doing it."

"Never?" I ask, surprised.

"Nope."

"You know when people make absolute statements like that, it usually backfires and they end up doing exactly what they said they wouldn't do. Hence the never-say-never phrase."

"I've seen too many marriages fail. Why bother getting married if you're just going to get divorced?"

"Half of marriages don't end in divorce."

"And half do."

"I thought you were a glass-half-full type of girl."

"On most things, yes. Not on marriage. Speaking of marriage, specifically weddings, my mom's going to be here next weekend to set up a wedding at that hotel we had brunch at. Apparently she gave management her card when she was here and they called her to do this wedding."

"Are you gonna go see her?"

She sighs. "I feel like I should."

"I can go with you if you want."

"Really? Because I could really use you there."

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