Page 5 of My Accidental Holidate

Okay. I got this.

“I can handle it,” I whisper while nodding my head like an idiot as I talk myself off a ledge.

Still not confident that I won’t pass out, I sit down and focus on her. Is the swelling going down? Is she really going to be okay? Shit. Should I offer her something?

“What can I do? Can I bring you something? More water? Wine, what about medicine? A tampon? Chocolate? Do you need a hug—”

What the fuck did I just say? A tampon? I cringe in embarrassment and try to recover.

“Sorry, I’m sorry. I’m in crisis mode.”

The now returning to normal beauty assures me that everything is fine, and I can’t help blurting out my next question.

“Is your boyfriend coming back?”

Smooth.

I’m about to kick myself for asking when she vehemently protests and I want to do a cartwheel or something equally as childish. I introduce myself and am rewarded with her name, her voice sounding a little less like Mickey than it had before.

We’re going to be okay.

I smile at the simplistic beauty of it. Suddenly overcharged with adrenaline and too much energy, I stand and excuse myself. I head back to the bar and pour myself a shot of tequila to take the edge off then fill another glass of water for Lucy. I drop the water off at her table and make my way to the kitchen. The least we can do is feed her something that won’t kill her.

I spot a slice of our black forest cake sitting by itself on the metal shelf reserved for pickups and snag it. Peter flags me from the bar on my way back to Lucy’s table, and I set the cake down smiling at her, then make my way to see what Peter wants.

“Listen, don’t be mad, but I told Dad about Lulu. He wants you to bring her to their anniversary party Saturday.”

Pop!

A balloon bursts next to me and I turn to scowl at the person to popped it, only to see Lucy flailing her arms.

“I don’t have time for this,” I tell Peter as panic floods me again and I hurry back to Lucy. “Do you need an EpiPen?”

A reddish-brown curl sticks to her flushed cheek and she looks at me making the universal gesture for choking. I’m practically a fucking doctor, highly capable of preforming the Heimlich Maneuver, but I freak out and start thumping her on the back like she’s a toddler.

She gulps at the air as I watch a diamond ring fly out of her mouth and roll like a toy across the floor.

My panic turns to horror as I remember the engagement dessert that’s supposed to happen tonight, and I dive for the ring. I crawl under the table and pick up the ring between my thumb and pointer. I slowly back out from under the table and turn, effectively placing myself before Lucy on one knee.

“Oh my God, he just proposed!” I hear from my right.

My eyes move from Lucy to where my grandmother shouted just behind her. I barely notice her as my eyes flick to the annoyed customer and I correctly interpret that this was supposed to be his big moment.

I look back to Lucy and beg her silently for help. Pointing at the pissed man covertly.

“Yes?” Lucy says, plastering a smile on her face and in that moment she makes me ridiculously happy for reasons I can’t understand. I stand and pull her into a hug, spinning her around and whispering apologies into her ear.

But am I truly regretting what happened?

I don’t think so.

3

Kurt

“Thank you for everything,” I say to Lucy, holding the door for her as we leave the restaurant. My family was insistent that they could carry on without me. “I’ll straighten things out with my family tomorrow.”

Lucy giggles, looping her arm through mine as we walk to my car and tilts her head back to look at me. “Are you kidding?”Holy fuck, that smile.“Aside from almost dying twice tonight, this has been the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Although,” she says biting on her lower lip and looking away. “I think Beth might actually be heartbroken when you tell her.” Beth being my mom.

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