Page 146 of Friends Don't Kiss

I smile at that idea. Luke’s become a good friend. But when I’m proposing, it’ll be in my words, and in my voice. It won’t be Hollywood-worthy. But it’ll be me. One hundred percent me. Simple.

“Yo, Colt. You got a minute?” Chris calls from the reception area. “Holy shit! That looks awesome,” he says, getting on his tiptoes. He rubs his three-day scruff. “She’s gonna love it.”

“Be right there,” I say, wiping my hands.

“So, listen,” he says when I join him, “remember when you guys brought a bunch of local ingredients to me for the baking competition in Boston?”

“Uh-huh?”

He rocks back on his heels like he’s super happy with himself. “I’m thinking we should do the same for Kiara.”

“Really?”

“That’s a great idea,” Ms. Angela pipes up from her corner.

“It was actually Annabel’s idea. She called me,” Chris says.

At that moment, Willow comes in to drop off her mom whose car we’ve been working on.

“What was Annabel’s idea?” she says, handing her mother a cookie and taking one for herself.

“Annabel thinks we should send some local ingredients to Kiara for her capstone project,” Chris says.

She makes a face. “Are you sure that’s allowed?”

“Annabel suggested it.”

I trust Annabel. If she thinks it’s a good idea, I’m all for it. “I wouldn’t know where to start,” I confess, crossing my arms.

“I’ll handle it,” Chris says. “I started talking to local farms, and I’m brainstorming with Annabel what to bring her.”

“She’s partial to maple syrup,” I answer right away. “Wait—bring her?” I ask right as Alex comes in and wraps herself under my cousin’s arm. She’s really showing now, and the vision of them derails my thoughts for a beat.I want this with Kiara.

Chris squints. “We think you should bring the stuff to her.”

How did I not see that coming? I rub my cheek. “I dunno, man.” I don’t want to impose on her. Break her routine, her concentration. There’s also a small part of me that’s not a big fan of being the bull in a china shop, but I can deal with a little humiliation.

“Colton,” Alex says, “you need to show her she means something to you.”

“Uh-huh,” Ms. Angela says.

I blink. Is she for real? “She knows that!”

“I’m with them on this one, Colt,” Willow says. “You’ve come this far, what’s a little plane ride?”

“Yeah, boss, what’s some contraband for the love of your life?” Orson chimes in, coming out of nowhere.

“Told you you got to show her!” Emma yells from my office.

“What if I don’t bring the right stuff?”

“You leave that part to me,” Chris says, tapping my shoulder.

“I’ll start a collection for the plane ticket!” Willow says. “Echoes first.”

Ms. Angela sets her knitting needles down to get on her phone. “On it!”

“Great!” Willow says, then empties a box of tissues, writesHelp Colton Bring Kiara Homeon it, and sets the improvised collection box on the counter.

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