Page 116 of The One With the Mountain Man

"Get the fuck in the fucking truck!"

"I am!" But she fell out twice. "Your stupid truck is moving!"

He rubbed his forehead. "It's not moving, Joanne. It's really not." He plucked her off the ground and plunked her in the backseat and slammed the door. "I don't care if she doesn't buckle up. It's like caging a rabid raccoon."

Joanne rolled down the window. "Hi Huk! Are you going to marry Marley? You should. She's so nice and pretty and I like her. Not like you like her, but like I like her."

Travis stared at me. "I'm going to have to use the child locks on the doors and windows."

"Good luck, brother. Maybe put your feud aside for the night."

"I'm not dumb." He saluted me as I rounded the hood of my truck.

Marley was still fast asleep. Karis was awake but quiet. I liked the quiet. No music, just the rumble of the road beneath my tires as I made my way to Karis's street.

There was a house right by the road and then her's and one other at the top of the street. The other house was abandoned and one good storm away from blowing down, but it once was a beautiful property with gardens and vegetable beds. When I first got back to town, I contemplated buying the place and resurrecting the gardens. It would be fun to live next door to Karis and Gus. But the closer I looked at the house the more I realized it was a demo and rebuild, not a rehab, and I just didn't want that in my life.

"Are you?" Karis asked quietly as I trundled down her lane.

"Am I what?"

In the rearview mirror I saw her eyes dart to Marley. "Going to marry her?"

My mouth went a little dry because of course I was going to marry her. One day. When we decided that's what we wanted and had talked it through. I wasn't some prince riding around on a white horse looking to find my bride. "I think I should talk to Marley before I answer that question. She might have some important input on the matter."

Karis rolled her eyes. "Duh. I'm asking if that's where your head is at? Forever?"

I nodded because there was no denying it. A future without Marley was unimaginable.

"So that's what it's like," she sighed for the second time. "You just know because everything is right and the other person is good and cares about you and you like each other."

"That's about the sum of it." I pulled in front of her house. The windows glowed but there were no signs of a screaming child or a babysitter out of her depth. "If you're forcing something, hoping and wishing for acceptance, an answer to your prayers, it's either not the right person or not the right time."

She nodded some more. "Good night, Huk."

"Do you want me to come in?"

"I got this. Daisy has her own car. Thank you, big bro." She gave my shoulder a squeeze.

I waited anyway. Five minutes later Daisy was on the road. I followed her to her street and then turned around once I knew she was safe.

At Golden Hour Marley stirred. "Wait, when did I get in your truck?" She sounded much more sober.

"About thirty minutes ago."

She glanced down at the seatbelt. "Howdid I get in your truck?"

"I carried you." I unbuckled and came around the truck for her. I held out my arms. "Shall I demonstrate?"

She blinked, looking from one hand to the other. "You carried me? Why don't I remember this?"

I took her hand and helped her out. "Because you and Mack were just drunk enough to be on the verge of getting really wild, but you ate pizza and passed out instead." The food must have helped. "By the way, you're best friends with Mack now."

She stopped and groaned, running her hand down her face. "I remember now. We talked about books and coffee and bread types. Was I ridiculous?"

"No, darlin'. You were perfect." I closed the truck door and led her up the steps to the front door.

"You're just saying that because you love me. I'm sure Mack thinks I'm crazy."

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