Page 42 of The Charming Checklist
“I’m supposed to help clean up,” Ava said.
“Don’t worry about that,” Valerie called from a few feet behind Cole, where she’d appeared. “You helped set up.”
“Are you sure?” Ava said.
“Thanks,” Max said at the same time.
He was definitely better at getting what he wanted.
Valerie smiled knowingly, crossed her arms and nodded. “Cole and I will take care of it. Right, baby?”
“Yeah, get goin’, you crazy kids,” Cole added, holding Sub’s collar to keep him from running back to Max.
Max began to tug her along, and she half expected him to throw her over his shoulder like his spoils after a particularly tough battle.
Then he stopped. “You probably need your shoes.”
Ah, yes. Shoes would be good. And also, her purse. “I’ll be right back.”
She practically flew inside, where a few people were upstairs, throwing out “ooh” and “aah” exclamations over the view. The caterers had wrapped up and gone, and some volunteers were beginning the cleanup process. Ava found her sandals and slipped them on. She’d wedged her purse in a kitchen drawer. Her phone had several missed calls from Darcie and a new text message. Oh man, she hoped Darcie’s feelings hadn’t been hurt.
Darcie:Grab onto that man and don’t let go, or I will personally kick your ass.
Ava quickly texted back:
What happened? I don’t understand.
Darcie:You happened, honey. He couldn’t take his eyes off you all night long. Thank you for trying anyway. xo
It was just like Darcie to be so cool, and no wonder Ava liked her. Feeling better now, she put her phone away and was ready to fly out the door when Valerie caught her elbow.
“Hey, girl.”
“I’ve got to go.”
“Hang on.” Valerie smiled. “He won’t leave without you.”
“I know.”
“So, what happened here tonight?”
“I don’t really have time for that.”
“You have a minute. Cole is talking to Max.”
Oh dear. Probably asking him the same thing. But they were two grown consenting adults and what they were about to do was nobody else’s business. Frankly, she wasn’t all that certain what they were about to do, but she was ready to find out.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“I love Max. You know I do. But...” Valerie crossed her arms. “The list.”
“He told me to delete the list. He’s done with all that.” She smiled triumphantly and shimmied her shoulders. “And I guess Darcie isn’t his perfect match, after all.”
Valerie pulled Ava into a hug. “I’m happy for you, really. I just want you to be a little careful because it feels like...like you’re jumping in.”
“I’m sure that’s the way it looks, but I’ve already told you that I have real feelings for him. Now, if you’re done here, I have to go before he changes his mind.”
“Ha, ha. That’s funny. Don’t forget, make him work for it.” She winked. “You’re worth it.”
