CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Really?
You drop that on a girl and send her on her way to work with a kiss and a smile and just walk in the house like nothing happened?
Kerri had to nudge me four different times as I just stopped mid-activity and stared into space.
“Miss Greene, are you okay?” she asked, the last time. “You don’t seem yourself.”
I wasn’t myself. Myself wasn’t a person who normally got completely and thoroughly fucked all night and then told I love you the next morning. Myself didn’t know what the hell to do with this person she was walking around in today.
Carmen called me.
“It’s beautiful out, let’s take the day off,” she said. “I was going to work on some briefs today, but screw that. Let’s grab Lanie and go play at the Lucky Charm and just have some fun. Bring Angel.”
Normally, I would have laughed at everyone’s attempt to get me playing hooky, knowing it was something I’d never do, but today I was—I was a looped out freak on a sex hangover. Maybe I did need to break away and clear the cobwebs. And when was the last time I brought Angel to do something that carefree?
That was the selling point.
I asked Nick to cover, Kerri to back him up on the floor (and crossed my fingers on that), called Angel that I was picking her up, and I was off.
I almost texted Bash, was so tempted, but no. This was a girl’s day, and my stomach was already in knots from this morning. I needed to ponder that more. When I was alone. Because—I was an idiot.
We played for hours. Rode kiddie rides like fools, rode the bumper cars so everyone’s brains could get knocked a little loose, and we all looked at the roller coaster construction going on. They could have that. I wouldn’t be going up there.
We shopped at the little shops, went in Bash’s only because his truck wasn’t there, and ate pizza and chocolate-covered cheesecake and fried everything till we wanted to pop.
It was the best girls afternoon and evening, ever. I hadn’t seen Angel laugh and have that much fun in a long time, and I found myself really looking at her and listening to her. She was almost sixteen. A young woman, with maturing facial features and a more maturing body. Her childhood was almost over, and it would be gone in a blink and she’d be off doing whatever she was going to do. It made me stick even more to my guns about the money I tucked away for us to start living a little.
“Y’all, we need to make this a thing,” I said as we strolled slowly, all of us too full to make any sudden moves.
“I’m for that,” Angel said, hope in her smile.
“I have a client in Cherrydale who co-owns a big antique trade-days thing once a month,” Carmen said. “We should check it out. It’s only maybe an hour away.”
“Yeah, maybe y’all could do that one without me,” Angel said, scrunching her nose.
“Oh come on,” I said, poking her in the side. “Home décor and antiques don’t get you giddy?”
“Hey, don’t knock it,” Carmen said. “They make some major bucks renting space for people to sell their crap. His son is getting married this spring and you wouldn’t believe the kind of money they’re dropping.” She winced. “Did I just say that out loud?”
“Well, we’ll check that out,” I said, looping an arm around Angel’s neck. “But we’ll do some fun stuff too.”
“How did it fare with Mr. Aaron at school this week?” Lanie asked Angel.
She shrugged, and averted her eyes. I knew she was still embarrassed about that.
“He’s been really quiet,” she said. “I haven’t hung around him, but one of his friends told me he’s been weird. That he was going to start taking a cooking class?” She lifted an eyebrow in question. “What the heck?”
Sully brought Bailey to see my father and—that other stop. I clamped my lips together. No way. Wow.
“Someone else I haven’t seen since that night is Kia,” I said, half wondering if Bailey zapped her, too. Not really. But if there was one thing I’d learned, it was that nothing was out of the question.
“Sully said she’s taken off for a while,” Carmen said. “Headed down to the Gulf or something.”
Was it bad that that really didn’t hurt my feelings? Probably. I never saw any women try to be her friend, and a little poke in my side said I should have tried harder. For Bash’s sake. Then again, Bash’s old “benefits buddy” and I would most likely never be on a comfortable radar.
“Y’all,” Carmen said, glancing at her phone when it buzzed. “It’s almost dark. Let’s go sit down by the water, or ride the Ferris wheel and check out the town lights.”
“Or go in the rowboats!” Angel said.
“Unless there’s a shirtless boat boy named Jorge willing to row it for me,” said Lanie. “Then no thanks. I’m too full.”
“So then the Ferris wheel,” Carmen said. “It’s right there.”
“No thank you,” I said. “I don’t do Ferris wheels. But I’d be happy to watch y’all.” I breathed in deep, and enjoyed the crisp air that smelled of popcorn. It was just what I needed, this day. I felt so invigorated.
“Doesn’t look like it’s working, anyway,” Angel said. “It hasn’t moved in the past thirty minutes.”
“Well, I want to see,” Carmen said, nudging Lanie, who suddenly wholeheartedly agreed.
We kept strolling, and I eyed them. “What are you two conspiring?”
“Nothing,” they said in unison.
“You forget I have a teenager,” I said, looping an arm around Angel’s neck and laughing. “I live with a professional liar. I know the signs.”
“Hey!” Angel protested.
“I’m just saying,” I began, as we rounded a curve where a display wall hid the entrance. I didn’t notice Carmen and Lanie slowing to transition behind us until I made the full curve. “I know sneaky when I—”
My feet faltered at the sight before me.
Angel laughed. “Uncle Bash? What are you doing?”
Someone pulled her from my arm and left me standing there by myself, looking at a scene that a movie couldn’t have done better.
Bash sat in a Ferris wheel seat, arms draped across the back and rose petals on the seat around him, lit up by the flicker of tiny tealight candles everywhere. With his Honey King crown on his head.
“Oh—my—God—”
It was adorable and—amazing. And my feet felt glued to the concrete. I couldn’t move. I didn’t know what to do.
“Allie,” Bash said. “My queen.” He took off the crown and made a little mock bow. I laughed and clapped a hand over my mouth. “Would you care to join me?”
I turned to the girls behind me and laughed at Angel’s oh-my-god mixed expression of gleeful delight and pure horror. Then something dawned in her face and she met my eyes.
“Mom,” she whispered. “A gesture!”
My heart skipped a beat and I blinked back emotion as I looked back at Bash. Oh my God, this man.
I glanced upward at the totality of the beast. “I would love to, but I can’t get on that thing, babe.”
He got up and maneuvered his way to me. “If I said I’d made sure it’s turned off, not moving, and locked down, would you change your mind?” he asked, holding out a hand.
I wanted to so badly, but the anxiety I knew so damned well squeezed at my chest and made my knees shake.
“What about me?” Sully said, appearing out of nowhere. “If I told you that I personally told the operator to leave, and turned off the motor myself, locked it myself, and Bash threatened my life if it moves, would you change your mind then?”
I laughed out loud, and Bash’s eyes danced as Sully slapped him on the shoulder and disappeared off to places unseen by the rider.
“Well?” he asked. “Trust me?”
“Oh, that’s so unfair,” I said. “But I guess when lives are threatened and all that, I can’t let that go to waste.”
“That’s my girl,” Bash said, taking my hand and guiding me back.
It was shaky as I sat in the seat, just knowing what I was sitting in. I looked up—
“Nope, don’t look up,” he said, sitting sideways to face me. “Just look at me.”
I turned sideways and focused on his face, smiling. Remembering this morning.
I love you.
My stomach flipped over and I pressed my hand against it. He did all this after saying that and letting me drive away, not knowing what I thought or what my reaction was? That was pretty friggin brave.
He pulled my bun free, letting my hair fall so he could let his hand play in it. Or distract me. Either way, it was good.
“Last night was amazing,” he said.
“Yes it was.”
“But now there are things to say,” he said. “And since you and I together have the relationship skills of a tree, I figured we needed something a little extra special to set the tone.”
I laughed out loud. “You may be right about that,” I said. I swallowed to get my nerves under control. “And you already got a pretty good head start,” I said.
He grinned but his eyes were serious. “I’ve never said those words before,” he said, sending goose bumps over my body. “Not to anyone but that girl over there.”
“Me either,” I breathed. “Was it scary?”
“Terrifying.”
I laughed and he smiled.
“But the second it was out there, I knew I wanted to do it again. And again,” he said. “I told you the other day about my kind of business being such a risk, being at the mercy of nature?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, so is this,” he said. “It’s a risk. It’s a gamble. I used to think everything had to be a sure thing—like the service was. Nothing in my life had ever been a sure thing until then, and I guess I thought love had to be that way too. But it’s not going to.”
He took my hand from my stomach and wound our fingers together, looking at the union.
“It’s a gamble,” he said. “A harvest. You put it out there and then it’s up to you to take care of it or let it go to shit, but my point is that we don’t know for sure.”
Bash’s eyes lifted back to meet mine, and the look—the same one from last night and this morning—slammed into me, taking my breath.
“The thing I do know is that I never want another moment spent like this last week. Without you.”
My image of his face swam with tears. “Me either.”
“Dancing around words and worrying about what might happen,” he said. “I’d rather chance that horrible maybe, than never love the woman I know better than anyone.”
He let go of my hand and cradled my face in both of his.
“Nobody knows the real me like you do,” he said. “And nobody knows Allie Greene like me: The you no one else sees. The one who’s fearless and scared at the same time. Who has no earthly idea how beautiful she is with her hair all falling out of a bun. The girl with the foul mouth that picks up Mr. Wilson’s napkin for him every day, who’ll fight to the death for her family and makes no apologies for it. My best friend. I know you. You’re the sure thing for me, Allie. The real deal. The rest is a leap of faith.”
Take a leap of faith.
Holy crap.
My tears blinked free and fell to my cheeks, where he whisked them away with his thumbs.
Say yes.
Bash let go of me and looked deep into my eyes with something that looked like he was about to jump out of a plane with no parachute.
Take a leap.
Sliding out of the seat, he went to one knee in front of me.
A shriek came from the girls’ direction, but I felt like my throat closed up.
“Oh my—what are you—”
“I had a talk with your dad,” he said.
Tears fell freely down my face. “You—you did what?” I squeaked.
His hands shook as he took mine in his.
“You’re it for me, Al,” he said, his voice going rough with emotion. “We’re messy. We’re raw and rough and passionate, and we say the wrong things and stumble over each other, but there is no one I’d rather stumble through the rest of my life with than you. I don’t want ordinary. I want mind-blowing.”
In all my life, I’d never imagined a more messed up, perfect declaration of love. And it was being given to me. Mind-blowing? That was it.
“It doesn’t get better than this,” he said. “Better than us. So yeah, maybe it’s fast, but is it? Hasn’t it really always been—you and me and that little girl?”
He was right. It was freakish to admit that, but he was so right.
“So I went to see your dad,” he said again, blowing out a breath slowly. “It was a bit of a carousel ride,” he said, making me laugh through my tears. “But I’m ninety-nine percent sure he gave me his blessing.”
Say yes. Oh my God. Say yes.
“He did,” I said, my words choppy.
“How do you—”
“Trust me,” I said on a laugh. “He did.”
Bash reached into his pocket and drew out a satin pouch. Opening it, he reached in with shaking fingers and pulled out a ring.
I pulled my right hand free to press against my mouth, as full on ugly cry was about to happen. This couldn’t be happening. Not to me. But this man was making damn sure I got the full-court press. All the grand gestures. The ring he held was beautiful. Simple with gorgeous lines and elegance. He put the ring to his lips and kissed it, and in that instance, my heart nearly burst from my chest. I knew what it was.
“I love you, Allie,” he said, taking a breath to keep from breaking as he looked from the ring to me. “I love Angel—most of the time.”
I laughed till the tears took over and he actually had tears tracking down his face, too. I wiped one away and looked at the man I’d always loved and never knew how to say it.
“I love you, Bash,” I said, closing my eyes as he closed his. “Holy hell, that’s what that sounds like.”
He laughed and we opened our eyes.
“I told you,” he said, two more tears falling. “It’s terrifying. And forever is daunting, but I will love you forever if you’ll spend it with me.”
I didn’t have to hear my dad’s words again.
“Yes.”
A huge breath came out of him. “Yes?”
“Was I supposed to wait for a question?” I asked. “Because I’m new at this.”
“Marry me?” he asked, laughing and wiping tears away.
“Um—still yes.”
Bash was up and I was in his arms in a rush of oh-my-Gods and laughter. He lifted me off my feet and I wrapped my arms around his head, kissing him with all I had, as the peanut gallery back there was jumping up and down and hugging each other.
“I love you,” I whispered against his lips. “I love you so much.”
He closed his eyes and kissed me. “You don’t know how good that sounds.”
There was the sound of running footsteps and we were tackled by a teenage girl with tears going down her face, too. Weren’t we just the poster family for cheesy emotion.
“Ah yes, the girl child,” Bash said, putting me back on my feet and including Angel in our embrace.
“I didn’t know any of this,” she said, wiping at her face. “How did y’all date and I never knew it?”
“Didn’t date,” I said.
“Leap of faith,” Bash said.
“Don’t ever think of doing that, by the way,” I said.
Angel looked from Bash to me, and rolled her eyes. “Y’all are crazy.”
“Maybe,” I said, laughing. “Probably.”
“Or we’re just us,” Bash said.
“And insane,” she said. “But I love you anyway.”
“Something I say about you every day,” I said.
She ignored me.
“Do I have to call you Daddy?”
“Let’s stick with the tried and true,” he said.
“Oh thank God,” she said, wrapping her arms around both of us. “That would be so weird.”
Bash cleared his throat. “Mind if I finish, ladies?”
She pulled back. “What?”
He held up the ring and she jolted backward. “I’m so sorry. Carry on.”
“This was my mother’s,” he said, lifting my hand. “I’d be honored if you wore it till we find what you want.”
He slipped it on my finger, and I stopped breathing. To see a ring so beautiful there—it was just—unreal. I looked up at him, feeling all the feelings.
“It’s perfect,” I said.
“It’s not fancy—”
“It’s me,” I said, touching his face. “It’s us. It’s perfect.”
“I love you,” he said, his eyes so happy it was overwhelming. “Want to ride this thing to celebrate?”
“Not even a little bit,” I said.
“What do you want to do?” he asked.
I grinned, and Angel grimaced and put her hands over her face.
“La, la, la, I’m gonna head out with these ladies, kay?” she said, as Carmen and Sully and Lanie all came over to hug us.
“We’ve got Angel,” Carmen said, swiping under her eyes and flitting her hands at us. “You just go—”
I looked up at Bash. My best friend. My fiancée.
“What do you want to do?” I asked.
He grinned and pulled me close. “Trust me?”