Page 141 of Loyally, Luke
A chime? He rolled his gaze heavenward, making sure God knew he got the humor of the moment. Then he drew in a deep breath of Ellie’s sweet citrusy scent and pressed a kiss to her forehead, like the romantic he was trying to hide. Maybe this happily-ever-after gig wasn’t so bad after all.
But he didn’t have to admit that to Penelope.
Ever.
***
Text from Izzy to Penelope, Luke, and Josephine:Brodie just showed me our plane tickets and itinerary after keeping the location of our honeymoon secret!! NEW ZEALAND!! He is taking me to NEW ZEALAND!! I am going to live my lifelong dream of being a hobbit! Move over, Samwise and Rosie. Here come Brodie and Izzy!
Izzy:Penelope, I thought you’d appreciate the capitalizations and exclamation marks.
Izzy:Luke, I thought you’d just appreciate Brodie’s perfect honeymoon destination choice.
Luke:For you, it’s stellar. He ran it by me a few months ago.
Izzy:You knew? Why are you so good at secrets and I end up telling everything?
Luke:I just like to have things to hold over people. It gives me a sense of superiority.
Izzy:Truer words have never been spoken... texted?
Penelope:Proof positive he’s meant for royalty.
Luke:Nope. Stop with the royal jokes. You’ve already exhausted them in person. Let’s not contaminate our texts too.
Penelope:But why not, when you’re such a Prince Charming?
Luke:You’re gross, Penny-girl.
Penelope:I’m wonderfully romantic. It’s my crowning achievement.
Penelope:And you should see them together, Iz. Ellie and Luke are sitting on the couch across from me in Grandpa Gray’s house and Luke looks so smitten. I can’t stop grinning. It’s adorable.
Luke:Never use the word “adorable” about a grown man. It makes me want to beat my head against a wall.
Josephine:New Zealand? Oh, Izzy, the scenery is magnificent. I don’t know if you remember that I visited there once. It was the only time I ever rode horses bareback across the plains with those glorious mountains on every side. Unforgettable.
Izzy:...
Luke:...
Penelope:Oh, Josephine. That’s... amazing.
Josephine:I was on a strictly fish diet at the time. For some reason, besides it giving me very oily hair, I often felt a sense of euphoria. It was where I met Patrick, if you remember. He was interning to provide foot care to poor communities.
Izzy:Josephine, you have completely altered my image of you in my mind.
Luke:So... let’s change the subject from the clear paradox Josephine has set up for the rest of us, because I don’t think any of us are prepared to process everything that unfolded there.
Luke:Mission: Impossible and The Last Samurai were filmed in New Zealand too. Hobbits, bioterrorists, spies, and samurai. Sounds like a place everyone should visit.
Penelope:Ew, clearly your romance gene is severely underdeveloped, Luke. Bioterrorists and spies for a honeymoon? Ugh. Though I’m not sure how well hobbits fit in with that either, but it will make Izzy happy and that’s all that matters.
Izzy:Speaking of secrets and romance... I’m so happy for you, Penelope. Engaged!!
Penelope:I’m in love with a wonderful guy! What can I say?
Josephine:And Matt has assured me he and Iris plan to remain in the U.S. with Penelope. He’s even started applying for citizenship. What a comfort!
