Page 129 of One Small Spark
I lean down to touch my nose to hers. “I want everything, Krause.”
I’m not sure just what she’s willing to reveal in this crowded space, surrounded by family, friends, and acquaintances who will surely gossip about us the moment our backs are turned. But she stretches up to meet me, throwing her arms around my shoulders in an enthusiastic kiss.
When we part, she shrieks. My heart pounds pretty hard, too. Ada and Isabel are standing so close to us, they might as well have their arms around us. No surprise, both are grinning like their bingo numbers just came up.
“We’re just so delighted you two made it to the gala,” Ada says.
“So happy to see youbothhere.” Isabel smiles up at us so hard, it’s a little uncomfortable. Like a clown making direct eye contact in a crowd.
“And looking so happy together, I might add.”
“Very happy.”
Smughas never been more perfectly personified than in these two wonderful, meddling women.
“We owe it all to you,” Wren says with only a hint of sarcasm.
Ada and Isabel nod at each other, accepting full responsibility for our relationship.
“I knew you just needed a little push,” Isabel tells me.
“The tiniest shove in the right direction,” Ada adds.
Wren nods along. “The ittiest, bittiest nudge to kiss each other’s faces off.”
I pull her closer. “I never needed extra encouragement about that.”
Ada giggles. “Maybe we should leave you two alone, hmm?”
It’s not as alone as I’d like to be, surrounded by about three hundred other people.
Isabel looks past us into the crowd. “I wonder who else here needs a little push?”
Ada taps her fingers together like an evil mastermind. “Let’s find out. Have a good night, you two.”
They shimmy off through dancing couples, no doubt searching for their next potential match.
“Who do you suppose is next?” I ask.
“That’s their problem.” Wren slides her hands up my shoulders, gazing at me as if nobody else exists. “The only romance I’m interested in right now is ours.”
EPILOGUE
WREN
This might bethe most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen.
Griffin’s eyes are full of tears as Hope walks down the makeshift aisle in her parents’ back yard. He’s watching her like she hung the sun, moon, and stars, and a few comets for good measure. Have some dignity, man.
Next to me, Lila’s a step away from blubbering.
I get it. Hope looks like an artistic angel, wearing a sleeveless gown with a puffy tulle skirt adorned with brightly colored fabric flowers stitched along the hem. It’s freezing out, so she paired the dress with a thin wool boatneck sweater that looks more stylish than I’ve ever tried to be.
Also, she’s probably the happiest she’s ever been. As she slowly glides closer to us holding her dad’s arm, I can see the tear tracks on her cheeks. She’s grinning so hard, her face is going to ache tomorrow. Seems over the top to me. It’s just the day marking her special love with Griffin.
With a tiny circle of her closest friends and family watching.
And she chose me to stand beside her sister to witness their vows.
