Page 116 of Crazy Thing

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DARIUS

The next day at noon, I’m sitting across from Robert Ross to finalize the waterfall transfer to me. We take turns scribbling our signatures on the requisite documents as Frank and Robert’s lawyer look on.

If this were a normal real estate business deal, I wouldn’t be here. I would have sent an associate from my Manhattan office to handle the paperwork on my behalf.

But it had to be me. I can’t let anything go wrong in this deal.

The property taxes are paid, the legalities have been settled, and now Ross can sell the property to me. Fucking finally.

Meanwhile, Ziggy is back at the office in Starlight Falls, making calls and rescheduling my afternoon, so that we can spend the rest of the day off work.

When the documents are signed, we all stand from the table. I extend a hand to Ross, thanking him for trusting me with this deal. We exchange well wishes. Then, I’m out of there, in a hurry to get back to Starlight Falls.

I arrive back at the office and Ziggy is waiting for me ather desk. She lights up, bolting to her feet at the sight of me. “It’s done? You did it?”

“The documents are all signed, Fairy Girl.Wedid it.”

Cheers go up around the suite where my other employees are listening in from their cubicles.

Ziggy rushes over, swinging her arms around my neck and planting a kiss on my cheek. “This is so amazing. I’m so proud of you.” She smiles at me. “Do you want me to follow up with your lawyer next week?”

“No, I’ve got it from here.”

She frowns. But I flash her a smile, hoping she won’t see that there’s more to the story.

Because there’s a tiny part of this deal that she doesn’t know about. And for now, I want to keep it that way. It’s a surprise, and I don’t want to blow it just yet. But with Ziggy’s inquisitiveness, I know that it’s going to be hard to keep this quiet.

“Okay, no more business talk,” I say before she can ask more questions.

“No more business talk?” She makes a big deal of standing on her toes and peeking over my shoulder. “Wait—who are you and what have you done with the real Darius Brighton?”

Chuckling, I capture her cheeks and press my lips to her forehead. “Seriously, Ziggy. I just want to enjoy this day with you.”

It works to distract her, but it’s also one-hundred percent true.

I squeeze her tightly. “Ready to celebrate?”

Her eyebrows pinch together as her blue irises pingpong between mine. “Celebrate?”

“Hell, yeah. Why do you think I asked you to clear the day?”

She laughs. “Well, I just figured you were going to be busy with waterfall business all day.” Her eyes twinkle. “But I won’t argue if we’re getting the afternoon off.”

She hurriedly puts away the file she was working on and powers down her computer. She gives instructions to the receptionist and the bookkeeper.

Then she turns to me. “Where to, Money Man? Or can I still call you that? I bet that buying the waterfall property will set you back a few gold bars.”

I chuckle, wrapping my arm around Ziggy’s middle as we head out the door. “I still have just enough cash to take my girl to the Peace and Pumpkins Festival. What do you say? Be my date?”

Ziggy’s eyes beam. But she’s trying to play it cool. Even still, I can tell that deep down, she’s jumping with excitement. She’s been talking about this festival all week. But between work here at the office and her shop in Honey Hill, she was worried she wouldn’t have time to check out the festival before it ended.

Holding hands, we walk from my office, just a few blocks to the heart of town. We stroll into the outdoor festival, a three-day event full of psychics, healers, crystals, and Ziggy's personal favorite—tarot readings. It’s not really my scene, but Ziggy’s in heaven, and seeing her happyismy scene.

She gets a palm reading done, she drags me into a photo booth, and then I buy her one of those fancy bowls of freshly cut fruit to snack on. The longer we’re here, the more I get swept up in the eclectic vibe.Everyone is just so chill and living at their own pace. This festival is proving to be the perfect way to celebrate all the work we’ve put into this drawn-out property mess.

Not surprisingly at all, we run into Ziggy’s aunt Rainbow, who has her own booth set up at the festival. She’s sellingsome of her usual farmer’s market produce and baked goods, so I make sure to stock up. Before I can pay, we’re suddenly surrounded by a bunch of the local women.All eyes are on Ziggy and me.

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