Page 33 of Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love

“And I’m really glad you approve of my girlfriend,” I say to Izzy, “because she’s really amazing. Like, I see real futurepotential.” I’m going overboard a little, and I can see from Izzy’s expression that she’s surprised but loves it. “I don’t want to speak too soon, but I think she’s it for me.”

“Are you proposing?” Sadie looks like she’s about to fall out of her chair.

“Not today,” I say, but my meaning clearly hangs in the air as I hold Izzy’s gaze. “But I don’t want to wait long. When you know, you know.”

Izzy flops into her chair, a dazed smile on her face that she tries to hide behind a napkin.

“Wait,” Eloise says, shaking her head. “So, the two of you spent the weekend together, but you’re dating other people, and you met those people, and both approve of them, and it’s serious, and …”

Jake pats her on the back. “I think you summed it up really well there.”

“Oh,” Eloise says.

“Wow,” says Sadie.

“I really thought you’d be happy for me,” I say. “For both of us.”

No response.

“I’m happy,” Izzy says, and we share a smile.

“Me too.Reallyhappy.”

“That’s all we want. For you both to be happy,” Mom says, but she sounds like she’s talking about a fatal diagnosis of some kind. She sniffs, and Camden sighs and puts his arm around her.

Okay, maybe now we should dial it back. Izzy’s giving me wide eyes, clearly in agreement.

But as we both stand, ready to clarify that we’re actually dating each other, Ukulele scrambles onto the main table and sprints for the turkey.

Someone screams. Dishes clatter. A glass of wine goes flying, and a splatter of red paints the wall as the raccoon reaches the bird and goes straight for a leg.

“Ukulele!” Merritt shouts, clapping her hands.

Hunter charges, making his way around the table, but the raccoon is too fast. He rips a leg right off the bird, springboards off of Uncle Jake’s head, and disappears toward the back of the house. Davy and Danny leave their table and sprint after him, cheering like they’re in some kind of parade and not in high-speed pursuit of an animal who probably shouldn’t have been in the house in the first place. Hunter follows, and I’m not sure if he’s going after the twins or the raccoon.

“Izzy and I are dating!” I yell, and everyone freezes in place for a second, but they don’t immediately look happy.

“Each other!” Izzy finishes. “We’re dating each other!”

Aunt Eloise lets out a little gasp. “Well. Why didn’t you justsaythat?”

Izzy raises her eyebrows, propping her hands on her hips. “After the giant fumigation tent appeared on my apartment building, this seemed like a better call.” She spins to face Sadie. “What was the name of the movie they were filming last weekend?Lying Larry and His Trusty Sidekicks?”

“I was not a sidekick this time,” Benedict says, raising his hand. “Just for the record.”

“If you financed it, you’re still guilty by association,” I say.

He nods. “Fair.”

I turn to face Mom. “Wereyoua sidekick? In on all the scheming?”

She presses her lips together, her expression telling me she was absolutely involved, but there are tears brimming in her eyes and a wobbly smile on her face, so I can’t actually be annoyed. With her or any of them.

“We just love you guys,” she says softly. “For the first time, you were living in the same place, and you were both single, and we just thought we’d nudge you along a little bit.”

“For the record,” Grandpa Ned says, “a fumigation tent is more than a little nudge.”

“Are you telling us the truth?” Mom asks. “You two really are together?”

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