Page 88 of Authentically, Izzy
“You say that with such certainty.”
And then his lips twitched ever so slightly, a tiny glint resurfacing in those familiar eyes. “Ever sinceyourealized I wasn’t your cousin, I’ve become more and more certain that I’d never meet anyone like you again... and I don’t want to. To my mind, you’re more than enough for me. Fairly perfect, actually.”
“But... but how can you be sure of that already? We’ve only known each other a few months and just met in person.” Even as she asked, her heart pinched against the doubt. Just looking into his face, realizing his care, well, maybe she knew the answer too.
“We’re not teenagers who are still trying to sort out what we want from a life partner.” He offered a gentle shrug, his grin peekingthrough just a little more. “Except for your current doubt, you’ve been everything I’ve wanted. How could I have known you’d not only be smart and kind and ridiculously creative, but also beautiful and funny and as much in love with stories as I am. Maybe even more so.”
His words pieced together like the ending of a romantic comedy. She did love him. He was real and authentic and simply wonderful in all the ways she didn’t know she wanted so badly. And the very idea of starting a day without knowing he thought about her somewhere in the world nearly brought her to tears... and she was already crying.
She didn’t know how everything would work out between them living on two separate continents, but at the moment she was certain of one thing. It was time to step into the heroine role. Seize the day. Claim her future and her Brodie. And take up her courage.
“I want to be with you too.” She sniffled, wiping at an errant tear. “I never imagined someone like you existed anywhere else but in a book, and then you showed up and I’ve had this fight-or-flight doubt that any of this was really happening. And if itwasreally happening, I’d envisioned all the ways I’d mess it up, because you’re so muchbetterthan any book.”
And then his smile flared wide as he breached the distance between them. “The highest of praise.”
“I mean it in a very nonfiction sort of way.”
“Aye, I believe you do.” Without another hesitation, he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. As he closed the distance, her breath caught in anticipation, and then... his forehead hit the front of her hat.
Her eyes flew wide. Hersharkhat! Had she hobbled down Main Street with a broken heel wearing a shark hat? Heat flooded her face and she opened her mouth to explain, but his knee-weakening grin stole her words.
Without so much as a glance around, Brodie nudged the shark-face, cloth teeth and all, up to perch higher on her head, and with atouch to her chin, he took her lips with his, regardless of the street, the passersby, or even a honking horn here and there.
Every doubt dissipated with his tenderness. Every fear dissolved with his gentle touch. This was what she’d been waiting for her whole life. And in one fluid motion, her foot, the heel-less one, tipped back and then popped up in instant synchrony with the perfection of this man and her heart.
Bring on tomorrow. She was ready for happily ever after.
From: Izzy Edgewood
To: Luke Edgewood, Penelope Edgewood
Date: May12
Subject: An unexpected-yet-expected journey
Luke and Penelope,
I just saw Brodie off at the airport and I’m sitting in my car crying like a baby. This is ridiculous. How can I miss someone I’ve just met? And his flight hasn’t even left yet! I’m losing my mind. He’s wonderful. Too wonderful. Ridiculously wonderful. And now he’s gone and I have to figure out what to do with that.
Plus, to add to the dilemma, he asked if I had any “holiday time” coming up in June. When I questioned why, he wondered if I’d be willing to fly to the Skymar Islands so I can MEET HIS FAMILY!!! (Yes, the capitalizations were necessary.) In fact, his exact words were, “I know it’s a great deal to ask, but if I help purchase your ticket, would you come to Skymar for a week or two... or, perhaps, forever?” Moments like this are when I wonder if I read too much fiction. Men don’t speak like that in real life, do they? I mean, isn’t that one of the reasons I read fiction?
Do you think Bilbo felt this way when Gandalf showed up at his door and bullied him into an adventure? I mean, Brodie isn’t bullying me, of course. He’s wonderful. But . . . well, I’ve never even been on a plane before. I don’t even know if I can. I mean, I CAN, but . . . can I? And a part of the population of Skymar don’t even speak English. And it’s an island! You all know how I feel about boats, and islands are kind of like land-boats.
But how can I NOT go? I’m bound to him through books and laughter and heart-stories and words I’ve never spoken to anyone. And though I’m not a particular fan of self-absorbed and prickly Edward Rochester, his quote to Jane Eyre about ribs and strings and bleeding inwardly has become painfully poignant at this very moment as I contemplate the thousands of miles between me and Brodie. So Imustgo! But how can I go?
Besides, I’ve always wanted to travel to some of the places I’ve read about. Always. And people survive flying every day, even if my parents didn’t.
Help!
Irrational Izzy
PS: I really am a grown-up. I promise. And I know exactly what I’m supposed to do. I just need to melt down first.
PPS: He’s real, right? You guys saw him too?
From: Penelope Edgewood
To: Izzy Edgewood, Luke Edgewood
