Page 114 of Stepping Up to the Plate

Epilogue

• LOLA •

December

It’s a little after three p.m. when I slink into Brady’s condo. I was hoping to avoid him until tomorrow but he would suspect something if I didn’t at least pop by. As I pull my coat off, I see him come out of his bedroom.

“Hi, sweet girl,” he greets.

“Hey, babe,” I reply. He walks over and gives me a quick kiss on the lips, grabbing my coat to hang up in the closet. He sticks his hand out at me expectantly for the scarf I technically didn’t need. Even though it’s December now, the weather is still pretty mild. It was a balmy fifty-five degrees today.

“You planning to wear that scarf all day?” he jokes.

“Maybe,” I quip. My voice sounds shakier than intended and he narrows his eyes at me.

“Hand it over, Lola,” he says.

“No, thank you.”

“No, thank you?”

“Yep, I am good keeping it on.”

He scrutinizes me further examining my neck as if he has x-ray vision and can see through the scarf. I’m sure his mind is spinning but there is no way he will guess the reason I don’t want to take it off. It all started with a pitcher of margaritas…

The night before…

“I love you two so, so much,” Carina mumbles.

“We love you, too, Meatball,” Tiffany laughs.

“We should do something to commemorate our love,” my cousin asserts.

“You’re already married, sweetie,” I inform her. “As much as I love a ‘why choose’ I don’t think Robby or Brady would be happy having to share or be shared.”

She snorts. “No, we should get tattoos!”

“You want to get a tattoo?” I question, surprised.

“Yes! Friendship tattoos.”

I glance at Tiffany who has a grin on her face that rivals Tim Curry’s when he discovers Kevin was using a stolen credit card inHome Alone 2.

“Oh no. I know that look, Babs. Whatever you’re thinking, don’t. We already have friendship bracelets. We’re good.”

“Too late,” Tiffany singsongs, whipping out her phone. “I’ve been studying up on Greek gods and goddesses lately and decided which one we each are.”

“Of course, you did,” I mutter.

“Anyway,” she glares at me pointedly before continuing. “I was considering getting a small tattoo to symbolize my goddess. It would be the perfect way for us to get friendship tattoos without being cheesy or matchy-matchy.”

“Oh, fun! What goddesses did you come up with?” Carina asks as if this isn’t a harebrained idea.

“You, my beautiful bestie, are Demeter, the goddess of harvest since you ensure people are fed.”

“I love that!” Carina exclaims.

“You, my adorable little Bunny, are Eos, the goddess of the dawn. You bring light to our lives every day.”

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