Page 164 of Fire and Icing

“That’s what one of the judges said to us in that contest,” Dustin says to Mitzi. “Or was it a host? I forget.”

Dustin’s mom walks into the kitchen. “Dustin, don’t you have a thing you need to do?”

He looks at the clock. “I have two things. Okay. Okay.”

He steps away from me and says, “Go have some fun. Mom and Mitzi and Alana have a whole afternoon planned for you and your gran. I’ll see you at the party.”

I look down at myself. I’m just wearing a t-shirt and jeans. “Should I change?” I ask Dustin’s mom.

“You look adorable. But one place we’re going might be just a step up from jeans,” Mrs. Reed says as if she knows Waterford like the back of her hand. Maybe she does by now after spending three days here. It doesn’t take long to see everything there is to see.

I quickly run upstairs and change into a skirt and my boots. I grab a cardigan and dash back downstairs. Alana Graves, the world-renowned movie star, is standing at the base of my stairs. Yes. She’s engaged to Dustin’s brother. Dustin waited until we were dating for two months to share that little news flash with me. I’m getting used to seeing Alana as just another normal person, but when she first walked into Gran's house, my nerves flared and I couldn’t even speak.

“See you at Emberleigh’s at five, Dustin,” Mitzi shouts into the kitchen from the foyer.

He pokes his head into the hallway. “See you at five.”

He’s already got flour on his face and down part of his shirt.

“See you at five, birthday girl,” he says with a wink.

I tell the women of the Reed family, “I’ll meet you out there.”

“Awww,” Dustin’s mom says. Then she shouts into the living room, “You see that, hunny? That’s what we used to be like back in the day.”

Dustin’s dad shouts back to her. “You want me to kiss you goodbye? Come back in here.”

“I’m good,” she shouts in to him.

We all laugh.

Dustin’s sister, Alana, Gran and Dustin’s mom walk out onto the porch and I look Dustin in the eyes while I slowly stroll toward him, a playful grin on my face. He makes me ridiculously happy. I never want to forget how much we’ve overcome to find our way to the kind of love we easily share now. I’ve let go of so much fear and hesitation. He’s teaching me to risk and trust. And I’m even getting better at flirting, something he seems to be able to do in his sleep.

“Thank you,” I say when I’m right in front of him. I put my hand on his chest and gaze up into his eyes.

“For what?” he asks.

“For being you. And for whatever surprises you have up your sleeve today.”

“I’m dying to tell you,” he says. “It’s literally killing me not to tell you.”

I laugh lightly. “I hope our children are just like you.”

“I hope they’re just like you,” he answers.

“Maybe one of each?” I smile up at him.

“Maybe two of each,” he counters.

Then he leans down and kisses me. “Have a fun day with my family.”

“I will. How could I not?” I turn to join them.

“And don’t believe any of the stories my mom tells you.”

I smile. “I want all the stories.’

“Why did I ever think this was a good idea?” He fakes a groan of lament.

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