Page 63 of Ice Ice Maybe
“Who said you and I are together?” I said, trying to keep a straight face.
He pointed up, not buying my comment for a second. “It’s written in the stars, baby.”
I laughed. “I like it when you call me baby, but I do have to point out that it’s still daytime and there are no stars out. Nice try.”
Nolan pulled me closer. “Kiss me and we’ll replace the stars with fireworks.”
“Okay, not a bad recovery. A little too cheesy, but I’ll accept it,” I said, then closed the distance between us and pressed my lips to his.
A few seconds later, my ringing phone interrupted our kiss, and I reached for it to check the caller ID.
“It’s my mom,” I told Nolan.
“Answer it!” he urged. “Ask her what she was talking about when she said we need to plan a wedding. It has been driving me crazy and I don’t want to wait until we get back to San Diego to find out.”
I smirked. “Scared the wedding is for us?”
“Yes!” Nolan admitted. “Pick up. Now.”
The phone stopped ringing.
Nolan crossed his arms. “You’re trying to torture me, aren’t you? Why didn’t you answer the phone?”
“Because you were talking, and I was waiting for you to finish!” I said. “Obviously, something came up and she’ll call me back when she gets a chance. Is my future fiancé already getting cold feet about our wedding?” I bumped him playfully.
“My feet are not cold—they’re frozen,” Nolan smirked. “Anyway, it must be something else, but what?”
“They do have their big thirtieth wedding anniversary coming up,” I said. “Maybe she wants to throw another big shindig and get married again.”
Nolan shrugged. “But she saidweneed to plan a wedding to get your father on our side. I don’t see how it could be connected to their anniversary. Whether it’s a fake wedding or a real one, it’s a little too over the top for my taste. It also makes little sense of how that would win your father over when he thinks we are from two different worlds.”
“Being from two worlds has nothing to do with it,” I said. “My parents had a quickie wedding because her parents didn’t thinkmy dad was good enough for their daughter. They figured her parents would have to accept it after they had said ‘I do.’”
“And did they accept it?” Nolan asked.
“Not at first, but they eventually came around,” I said. “Nine months and two days later.”
Nolan smirked. “The day you were born …”
“It’s hard to resist a grandchild,” I said with a smile.
The phone rang again.
“Pick it up!” Nolan said.
“Tone it down!” I said with a laugh before answering the call. “Hi, Mom. You’re on speakerphone. Nolan is with me, and he’s paranoid that you want us to get married.”
“Nolan is a wise man,” Mom said.
We both stared at the phone, waiting for more, but only silence followed. The tension grew with each passing second.
Finally, unable to take it anymore, I blurted out, “Mom! Come on, what’s this wedding you were talking about?”
Her laughter erupted through the speakerphone. “Oh, you two are too easy! Relax, we’re not going to plan your wedding. At least, not yet. But I need your help with something special.”
Nolan and I exchanged glances, relief clear on both our faces.
“What is it?” I asked.
