Page 24 of A Very Merry Matchup
I freeze, mid-squat.
“You know?” I hear Antler Head whisper above my head to the left.
“Of course I know,” I hear Troy whisper above me to the right.
And now I know. Wonderful. Is this a good time to attempt an inconspicuous crab walk off the porch all the way to Beau’s truck?
“You’re not mad?” Antler Head’s legs press against my left shoulder.
“Why would I be mad?” Now Troy’s legs are sandwiching me in from the right.How is this my life right now?“You know this is the best Christmas gift I ever could’ve asked for.”
“But we said we weren’t going to try again until—”
“Who cares what we said? Since when has anything evergone like we said it would? It’ll be okay. Whatever happens, we’re going to be okay. You know that.”
“Ivy?” I hear Beau’s voice call out. “What are you doing?”
Other than giving my thigh muscles one of the most strenuously awkward workouts they’ve ever experienced? I have no idea.
“This house isn’t on the list,” I hear Beau say as I unwedge my shoulders from between the newly expecting parents’ kneecaps and scramble back to my feet.
He must’ve found the cat. A new scratch lines Beau’s cheek next to his dimple, which is making a big appearance as he climbs the porch steps. “Hey, Troy. Misty. How’s it going?”
“Great,” says Troy. “Misty’s pregnant.”
“And Troy didn’t lose his job, thank the Lord,” says Misty.
“Well, hey, that’s great. Congratulations,” Beau says, shaking Troy’s hand and patting Misty on the shoulder. “Would you like a candle or something?”
“The gingerbread one would be nice,” says Troy.
“Sure. Keep the socks, too. Sorry about the basket confusion.” Beau gives me a look likeWhy were you popping a squat between two people trying to have an intimate conversation?I look back at him like,Sometimes weird things just happen, okay?
Misty uses the socks to wipe her nose as she sniffles. “So are you two together or something?”
“No,” I say the same moment Beau wraps an arm around my shoulders and says, “You could say that.”
“Except you shouldn’t say that since we’re not together.” I slip out of Beau’s arm and retrieve the basket off the porch floor before this delivery gets any stranger and all my weird symptoms return.
“Some people have been known to say we’re engaged. Isn’t that right, Ivy?” Beau gives me a playful bump with his elbow.
“Ivy?” Misty gives me a closer look. “Wait. You’re not the nurse who saved Beau’s life, are you?”
“No,” I say the same moment Beau wraps an arm around my shoulders and says, “You could say that.”
“You two seem to be on the same page about as well as Misty and me most days,” Troy says, taking another appreciative sniff of the gingerbread candle.
“You look awful cute together,” adds Misty. “Sure you’re not a couple?”
“Oh believe me, I’m sure,” I say. Though I’m a little less sure why I haven’t moved away from Beau’s arm again. Because it’s cold. And my thigh muscles are still recovering. I need his warmth and support. But mostly I just need to get off this porch.
“She has these big plans to marry a nice boring teacher after she turns thirty,” Beau says, relieving me of the basket with his free hand.
Misty snorts. “Yeah, I remember having big plans for the type of guy I thought I wanted to marry, too. Then along came Bozo here. Out went those plans,” she says, tilting her face up for a quick kiss.
“It’s all that sweet talking she does,” Troy says, leaning down for another kiss. “How could any man resist that?”
I drop my gaze when their next kiss doesn’t stop. Pretty sure that’s our cue to go. Beau must think so too, because he clears his throat and says, “Well, Merry Christmas, guys,” and guides me off the porch with his arm still draped over my shoulders.
