Page 76 of To Have and to Scold

Her smile brands itself in my brain forever. “Maybe. Maybe I’ve come a long way.” She leans closer to me, pulling me down so she can whisper in my ear. “And maybe it’s because of you.”

I tug her close, wrapping my arms around her. I kiss her cheek, the warmth of her skin making me linger there. “There are a lot of things that are different about me now, because of you.” I kiss her once. Twice. “I think I haven’t given Elliott enough credit. I want to take the time to talk with him more about Portia and I guess just give them a chance. The benefit of the doubt instead of pessimism.”

“That sounds like a plan.”

“Like a five-year plan?” I ask. I shouldn’t ask about her future goals right now, except they’ve been on my mind, a lot.

Her expression grows serious. “The five-year plan is…well, there may be some wiggle room for things.”

“I like the sound of that.” What she might mean, I can only guess. But I hope it involves me in some capacity. She kisses me again, thoroughly, the kind of kiss a person never forgets.

Then I remember where we are and how there are eight teens just downstairs. “You said you needed some help up here. Was that just a ruse to get me here and away from those kids?”

She puts a hand on her heart. “Leo and his friends are so cute. But no, it wasn’t a ruse. I need help with all the things, Beck.” She pulls away from me and walks to the bottom shelf of the built-ins. I’m disappointed there was no ruse happening. And I’m disappointed we’ve stopped kissing.

Suddenly, Dallas is in wedding planner mode. “There’s a lightbulb out in the overhead fixture.” She rummages around and finds a box of lightbulbs to hand to me. “And we need to clean. Oh! And I found a couple of chairs at Good Will. They’re in my car.”

The expression she’s giving me isPlease help me with all the things?

“That car of yours is Aladdin’s Cave of Wonders.”

She giggles and goes on her tiptoes so she can envelop me in a big hug. “You’re my Cave of Wonders, Beck.”

I laugh. “I guess that’s a compliment?”

She presses a light kiss on my mouth, pulling away too soon. “Of the highest order.”

I kiss her again, more deeply this time. It feels good to get lost in the sensations of all that she is and everything about her that I love.

Until a thud and a scream from downstairs punctuate the air.

Chapter Thirty

Dallas

Have you heard how Valentina’s ankle is doing?I text Beck.

Last night, Leo’s date, Valentina, injured herself when she was walking down the hall to the bathroom with the rest of the girls. In this case, it wasn’t a good idea that they all went to the bathroom together—as groups of girls have done since the invention of indoor plumbing—because, due to their talking, Valentina tripped and fell, landing on her ankle wrong.

Beck texts back.It’s a sprain, not a break, so that’s good. Still, I feel bad for her.

Me:Did she have to miss the dance?

Beck:They managed to get to Prom late after Leo and Valentina’s parents took her to the clinic for x-rays. Leo says she insisted on still going. Said she rocked the crutches and was a really good sport about it.

Me:Very glad to hear that!

Beck:So? What about you? You ready for this wedding today?

I proceed to send him a long text with every emoji showcasing every emotion I can find that aptly describes how I’m feeling. Immature? Probably. But I have no regrets.

I don’t have time for regrets. I have to make everything come together perfectly today.

*****

I arrive at the venue early, grateful it’s a beautiful, sunny day. Beck and his friends Perry, Duke, King, and Coop are already there, unboxing the event chairs and setting them up in even rows on the beach.

There’s no time to dip Beck and kiss him into next Tuesday, but I do give him a massive hug. It’s interrupted by Mary asking me a question about the tablecloths through my headset.

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