Page 46 of Fall for You
He swore he could hear that smile again, even though she stayed quiet for a moment. And when she spoke, she was all business. “Then what are you waiting for? Go grab your running shoes and find an excuse to meet me.”
He chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”
He went to hang up, all ready to jump out of his seat and rush out the door.
“Eric?”
“Yeah.”
There was that smile in her voice again, soft, small, and so freakin’ sweet. “See you soon.”
Chapter Twenty
Ronnie was sprawled out on the living room couch, on the phone with her coach, when her dad entered, a bowl of popcorn in hand.
“I got it, Sergei.” She smiled at her dad and shifted over so he could sit.
The couch sank, and Sergei’s low voice droned on.
She liked her coach, but she’d heard it all before. So she was able to give all the appropriate yeses, noes, and murmurs to show she was listening, all while holding a conversation in charades about what movie her dad wanted to put on.
When he held out the popcorn bowl, she took a handful. “I understand, Sergei.”
Her dad winked, and she smiled.
“Just don’t forget the strength training,” Sergei added, in case she’d missed it the last ten times he’d mentioned it.
“I know.”
And then she said “I know” and “sure” and “already on it” another dozen times before he finally relented.
She hung up, a weight rising off her as soon as she pressed that little red circle on her screen, then settled in to watch a movie with her dad.
It felt weird, watching a movie in the middle of the day. But her father had always worked odd hours as a foreman at the mill, and it wasn’t rare for him to be killing time before his swing shift.
For her, though, watching a movie and munching on popcorn while the sun was out felt like she was breaking the law.
She kept looking at her phone as though Sergei or her agent might psychically know she was slacking off and call her to tell her off.
But her phone didn’t ring, and so she tried her best to enjoy it.
It wasn’t long, though, before Margot returned home from work. As an elementary school teacher, she got done early, and she didn’t seem to think it strange to find Ronnie and their dad vegging on the couch and covered in popcorn kernels.
“Hey, you’re here!” Margot’s eyes were bright with excitement—and fixed intently on Ronnie.
Ronnie shared a quick look with her dad before squirming in her seat. “How was work?”
Margot waved a dismissive hand. “Fine. The same. But you…” She perched on the edge of the sofa. “I was really hoping to see you.”
“Uh…okay.” Wariness slithered through Ronnie, and the feeling only grew as Margot started chatting a mile a minute about the fresh flower bouquets she’d been eyeing up in some bridal magazine.
Margot’s eyes went wide with earnest sincerity. “I know I said I’d already made my choice because the premade centerpieces were easier, but Ronnie…” She reached out and covered Ronnie’s hand with her own, giving it a squeeze. “I really think if we do the fresh flowers, it’ll make all the difference. My dream wedding will be complete.”
Ronnie stared at her. Her first thought was—Doesn’t having the love of your life as the groom make it a dream wedding?
Or having her friends and loved ones there to celebrate their union?
Was it really flowers and centerpieces that made it a dream come true?
