Page 92 of The Last Thing
I beam up at him. “I suppose it was pretty memorable.”
I slide closer as we watch the ride start up. Sophia waves to us, and we wave back.
“Any chance you’re willing to go on another adventure with me?”
“I think you could persuade me to do anything.”
“Like fly across the country for Kennedy’s wedding next month?”
“Next month? That’s fast, right?”
“Eh. Not really. She and Dev have been in love since they were kids. They were just too stupid to notice.”
“You really want me to come?”
“You and Sophia.”
He glances up at the ride, then turns to me. “Are you sure?”
“Very sure. I want Sophia to meet my parents, and I want you both to meet the rest of the important people in my life. You wouldn’t make your girl go to a wedding all alone, would you?”
His eyes soften, and he cups my cheek. “Does that mean I get to call you my girl at the wedding?”
“Why would you wait until then?” My eyes dance as I watch his expression change—watch the joy fill his face. “I’m not waiting until then to call you my man.”
“Hallie…” His gravelly voice undoes something in me, and it takes everything to keep from jumping into his arms.
“I’m yours and you’re mine.”
He wraps both arms around me and is about to pull me into a kiss when a little girl whizzes by us.
“Harper, wait up. I’m not as young as I used to be.”
Wilson lets me go and spins around, grabbing the little girl by the shoulders as a guy with graying brown hair and tattoos comes to a stop next to us.
“I believe this belongs to you,” Wilson says with a laugh.
“Thank you.” The man scoops the little girl into his arms. “How many times have I told you not to run away from Poppa?” He tickles the girl and she screeches with delight.
“Leo, this is Hallie. Hallie, my boss, Leo Barone.”
Leo sticks out his hand while exchanging a look with Wilson. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too. Your team did an amazing job on my sister’s apartment.”
“Thank you.” He looks at Wilson again.
“Hey, boss. Okay if I stop in on Monday morning? There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“No problem.”
“Poppa… carousel!”
“A grandpa’s work is never done. I’ll see you Monday. And Hallie, it was good to meet you.”
Leo strolls away toward the carousel, and we turn back to the ride, only to find Sophia dashing over to us.
“Can we go on the Ferris wheel now?”
