Page 101 of Love Me Like It's Real
I purse my lips and tap my fingers on my chin when Elsa groans and rolls her eyes.
“Yes we are, silly. Why else would Hayworth spend so much time with us this week?”
And it’s true. We’ve been glued to each other. Hell, we even went to a scented candle workshop on Tuesday. Turns out being in love doesn’t make you suddenly love all these cheesy events. But hey, at least we got a couple of candles for the house out of them.
He parks up at the city park parking lot and we walk just around the corner to the back of the Town Hall where there’s a big graffitied wall with a big red heart and a little chubby cupid in the top corner and a painted banner across the heart that readsLove Locks. In front of it is a fence full of locks and to the side is a stage where a band is playing rock music and on the other side is a pop-up bar from the Forbidden Maple, serving drinks.
“What is this?” Arya asks.
Hayworth lifts her in his arms. “This is the Love Locks concert,” he says. “See that fence over there?”
Arya nods.
“The town put it up to stop people from putting locks on the bridge outside of town because it was weighing it down and hurting the river underneath. And every year, the Season of Love festival ends here, with a concert and where people can lock in their love.”
“That’s so cute. Are you going to lock your love with Daddy?”
“Arya!” I start but Hayworth chuckles.
“Come on, girls. Do you want a drink?”
Elsa stalks up beside Hayworth and I watch them line up at the pop-up bar and bob my head to the music.
“You must be Felix,” someone says behind me.
I turn to face an older woman with short pink hair and a floral blouse that reminds me of one of my own and I smile. She’s arm in arm with a tall, sexy man with brown hair and striking hazel eyes who’s beaming at me.
“I am indeed. Do I know you?”
They both approach me and she offers me her hand. “I’m Hayworth’s mom, Olivia.”
“And I’m Jason. Hayworth’s friend,” the man says and shakes my hand too. “It’s so good to meet you.”
My smile deepens. “You too. I’ve heard so much about you, Mrs. H,” I tell her.”
“Really? My son talks about me? And please, just call me Olivia.”
“I meant from my daughter, Elsa.”
“Ah yes.” She nods. “Elsa is a wonderful, talented kid. You should be proud.”
“I am. Thank you.”
She shakes her head, lets go of Jason and grabs my hand with both of hers. “No! Thank you!”
I chuckle. “What for?”
“For that!” She nods behind me and I turn to look at Hayworth talking to the girls and laughing in the line for the bar. “You made him believe in love again. As far as I’m concerned you’re a superhero.”
I laugh again. “Oh I’m no hero,” I tell her.
“I beg to differ,” she says and pats my hand.
“Me too,” Jason adds. “You have no idea how long we’ve been waiting for Hayworth to see the light. We thought it was going to take a miracle.”
“Well, it sort of did,” Olivia says.
“And I can officially sayI knew it!” Jason grins.
