Page 139 of Nerdplay
“I’m ready to give us a chance if you are,” he says.
“You’d have to travel back and forth to the Poconos.”
“I like to drive.” He holds my gaze, and I am in danger of being swept away by those Caribbean eyes.
“It might make sense to spend weekends at my house,” I say.
“Or maybe even half the week,” he says. “And if things don’t work out, I can leave you in peace, no mess.”
I narrow my eyes. “Why wouldn’t things work out between us?”
He drops another kiss on my eager lips. “A contingency plan. Any decent lawyer has one. If you’d rather I sell my house to convince you that I’m serious about you…”
“Don’t be silly. I think it’s a good plan.”
“Mark this day down, folks. Cricket Abernathy gave me a compliment.”
“Oh please. I’ve been complimenting you since the day we met. Don’t you remember how I mentioned your nice car?”
“You called it a douchemobile.”
“Okay, then what about your suit?”
“You shit all over it.”
“I believe that was Buffy.”
“Yours was metaphorical.”
I tilt my head back to look up at him. “Are you sure this isn’t a last-ditch effort to get your grubby hands on my property?”
“I’d rather put my grubby hands elsewhere.” He slides them down to covet my backside.
“All right, counselor. Then I accept your generous offer.”
When he kisses me again, my mind goes blank. I forget all about the storm and Nathan, about Patrick the Prick and Matt Lyman, LandStar, and the money that would’ve changed my life.
After all, I don’t need money to change my life when Charlie Thorpe already has.
Epilogue
Laura fusses over my hair. “They’re a little too low. We need to raise them or you’ll look like one of the Spaniels.” She is determined to honor Carrie Fisher in her iconic Princess Leia role and get the buns exactly right while I fidget in my white dress. It’s a simple sleeveless shift with a lace overlay on the bodice.
“These flowers are going to die before you finish,” Angela says, holding the floral crown intended for my head.
“They’ll be fine. This is a no-negativity zone.” Gloria holds my bouquet, a riot of color thanks to the choice of local wildflowers. Her smile is as bright as the golden daffodils in her hand. It feels good to see that smile again. Her mother died right after Christmas, and she’s finally getting into a groove of her own. I know it’s been hard for her to mourn the same woman twice—first the mother she didn’t get in the early years and later the one she did. She deserves all the happiness I feel today and then some.
We chose May 4th for our big day, and the invitations read ‘May the Fourth Be With You.’ Ben wanted us to get married on Pi Day and serve pie instead of cake, but we decided to leave that date for the math lovers, which we all know I am not. Naturally the wedding takes place at the campground.
“Who’s looking after Buffy while you’re here?” Laura asks.
“My new neighbor, Ellie. She’s great with animals.” There’s that sparkle in her eye that I’ve noticed every time she mentions Ellie’s name. I decide to leave my prying until after the honeymoon.
Charlie’s sister pokes her head into the cabin. “Tee time, ladies.”
Butterflies swarm my stomach. Not the ones that spread anxiety, but the good kind that herald joyous excitement.
The sun is shining as I vacate the cabin. The temperature is a perfect seventy degrees. No wind to mess with the carefully crafted donuts on either side of my head.
