Page 30 of More Than Meets the Eye

11

Jack

Just after we hung up, my phone buzzed, and I glanced down to see a text from Alejandro.

Carlos told me. Good luck! She’s too good for you, as Rose is for me, so that means we count our blessings every single day, right, my friend?

Finally. Was that so hard? A simple offering of good luck wishes, without some wild proposal suggestion, and … another text came through.

Also, you can tie the ring to a basilisk and let it loose in the pawnshop. If neither you nor Tess turn to stone, you’ll know it’s meant to be.

I sent him the poop emoji, because there’s no emoji for “I’m going to run you over with the tractor,” as far as I know. I should look into that.

Or create one.

I’d have gotten a lot of use out of it over the past few days.

Tess planned to take a nap and then do some cleaning, so I helpfully assisted her in changing out of her clothes, which is why it was nearly two hours later when I left to go talk to the guys at the swamp.

When I got there, the business was in full swing. Warm, sunny days attracted tourists to airboat rides like bees to honey. Darius, Charlie, and Mateo were out on boats, helping people who were tired of amusement parks try something different on their vacations, but Lucky had a minute to talk.

I plonked the beer and deli sandwiches I bought on the way down on the picnic table, keeping a wary eye out for the old dude, a twelve-feet-long alligator who probably weighed seven hundred pounds. He liked to hang out in the shade next to the table, probably hoping a sandwich—or one of the tourists—would fall on the ground to be snatched up for a snack.

“Have you heard from Molly lately?” Tess’s best friend, Molly, and Lucky had been casually dating, but Tess didn’t think it was going to last.

Molly’s band was about to hit the big time, and she was constantly touring. We were thrilled for her, but Tess missed her a lot. I was hoping to surprise her with a trip to one of Molly’s concerts soon.

Maybe as part of a honeymoon?

I froze, unable to believe I’d just had that thought. I hadn’t even proposed yet. There was no guarantee she’d say yes if I ever got up the nerve.

Honeymoon?

“Dude,” Lucky said. “Why do you look like somebody just punched you in the face?”

“Just a random thought. Never mind.”

He grinned. “So, it’s not because you’re planning to ask Tess to marry you?”

“Argh! Even out here, you heard?”

He pointed to his phone. “Text messages blew up. You’d better get on with it before Molly finds out, because she’ll tell Tess the minute she hears.”

I sighed. “So, you and Molly are still good?”

“We decided we’re better as just friends. She’s great, and I wish her the best, but I had my time out of Dead End, and I’m not interested in a life of concert tours and international travel. She’s going to be a superstar, and I’m thrilled for her, but she needs somebody who’s into that life.”

“Are you okay? Is she?” I was surprised Tess hadn’t told me about it. I’d had to hear way too much about the dating lives of all her friends.

“Yeah, we’re fine. She felt the same way. We were never particularly serious, just good friends, so it’s not a huge breakup or anything. But tell me about this ring.”

I pulled the sapphire out and showed him.

“She’ll love that. But I think you’ll have a better chance of her saying yes if you put it an actual, you know, ring.” He grinned when I punched him in the arm.

“Listen, I didn’t come out here for girl talk.”

“We could braid each other’s hair,” he said, backing out of reach.

---