Page 19 of The Forever Game

Running my hand over it, I gaze around his progress.

“You’re doing good.”

“Yeah, no hitches yet. If things keep going this smoothly, I should be done by the end of the month.” He throws me a cynical smile. “But when do things ever go without a hitch, right?”

“True.” I laugh. “But you always manage to work your way through it.”

“What’s the time?” He hitches his tool belt before pulling out his tape measure.

“Close to three. You on school pickup today?”

“Shit, yeah. I am.”

“Want me to do it?”

“Nah.” Baxter starts closing windows and securing the house. “Kai’s got hockey practice anyway, and I’m his coach this year.”

His smile is big, pride for his stepson shining through strong.

“He’s having a killer year.”

“Right? At the rate he’s going, he might just become a Cougar.”

I laugh. “If he wants that.”

“Yeah, I know… Tammy keeps telling me to stop pushing and let him get there on his own, but just between you and me, I’ll be gutted if he gives up the game. He’s too good.”

“I’m sure he’ll keep loving it just as much as we all did. I’m hoping to come to his game on Saturday.”

“And this is why I love you.” Baxter winks at me, and we walk out of the house together. “Is Lani coming too? Tammy will be there. I’m sure she’d love the company.”

“Yeah, I’ll ask her. Workload has been amping up, but she might be able to squeeze in a game.”

“Good.” Baxter nods.

“How are the wedding plans going?” I slide my hands into my pockets as he unlocks the van and loads his stuff inside.

He laughs. “Not bad. It’s just been a matter of booking stuff, so that’s relatively easy. I’m not having to make any high-pressure decisions like the first time around.”

I smooth back my hair, which the wind keeps insisting on ruffling. “I can’t decide if planning a wedding sounds like fun or a nightmare.”

“I guess it depends on if you’re dealing with a bridezilla, which Tammy is most definitely not.” He slides the van door shut and turns to me with a smile. “I got so lucky.”

I grin. “We all did.”

“So, when are you gonna get off your ass and ask the Hawaiian Hottie to marry you? That woman is pure gold and you know it.”

“I do know it, but she’s not ready yet, and I want to respect that.”

“Is she really not, though?” He gives me a skeptical frown.

I shrug. “She says she wants to wait until after she’s finished with school. She’s got about a year left.”

“Yeah, I’m not buying it. Getting married while you’re studying does not have to be this big thing. I think you’ve both built the idea of a wedding into this huge, impossible task when it can be as simple as saying ‘I do.’”

“True.” I nod yet want to argue that he doesn’t have my mother, who will want to turn it into aNew York Timesfront-page event.

“And who says you have to get married right away? You could at least propose and put a ring on her finger, you know?”

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