Page 25 of Teach Me to Laugh

“Again, that’s not what Raina says.”

My eyes snapped to his. “What does Raina tell you, exactly?”

“She says she thinks Mar’s falling for you.” His eyes never left mine. He didn’t grin and his eyes weren’t laughing. He was trying to see through my mask. But I wasn’t trying to hide anything from him.

“She’s hard to get to know.”

“That’s a given.”

“Man, I didn’t expect to feel this way for her.” I couldn’t believe I was talking about this. “I didn’t expect to be so affected by her unhappiness.”

“I don’t think she’s unhappy.”

“The girl doesn’t smile.”

“Yeah, I know. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t happy.”

I cocked my head. “What does it mean?”

“Could mean she’s afraid to show the world she’s happy. Could be that every time she’s shown the world she’s happy, her happiness gets taken away. Could be she feels she’s safer hiding it.”

The thought killed me. I hated the idea that the sweet woman with all her crazy kitten sass had been hurt so many times, she’d given up on showing her happy. I hated thinking that maybe I’d never get to see the evidence of the happiness I hoped to give her.

I’d tried to be funny. I’d tried to push her every button, make her wild, and make her crazy. Nothing worked. It’d been months and I hadn’t seen her smile, not even a slight quirk to her lips.

“Maybe.”

“I bought a ring.” Kaiden said, changing the topic to one I didn’t expect. But as soon as he said the words, I felt my mood shift. Instantly, I was ecstatic for my friend.

My happiness, unlike the woman I was falling for, showed itself on my face. My happiness wasn’t a secret or a burden.

My happiness was free.

“When?”

“Last weekend.”

“Kaiden,” I gave him a heavy pat on the shoulder. “Congratulations.”

“I’m going to ask her this Christmas.”

“Wow,” I nodded. “That’s just over a month away. Think you can hold onto the ring that long without giving it away?”

He laughed, “I got no choice. I have a plan and I’m sticking to it. But I need your help.”

“Let’s hear it.” I said eagerly. “Anything.”

“I want to plan a ski trip.”

“A ski trip?”

“Yeah, with everyone. She’d want Mar and Maddy there, and you know I want you there too. I already talked to her parents and mine. They’re in but they never plan trips out this way for Christmas so I don’t want them planning anything. Raina can get suspicious. It’s gotta be her idea.”

I chuckled, “I think we can manage this. We’ll plant the idea on Saturday.”

“You’ll plant the idea. I don’t want her to get any ideas about me pressing for anything.”

“All right,” I agreed. “I’ll plant the idea.”

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