Page 128 of Take This Heart
GOLDIE
We get back to Windy Harbor that night and I feel like I can breathe easier already. It’s been an emotional day, an emotional week. We catch up with Dad and my grandmas, eating Grandma Nancy’s Snickerdoodle bars. Before everyone goes to bed, I give my dad the letters.
“Thanks, buttercup. I’m glad you’re back,” he says. He waves the letters. “I’ll reach out to Ava tomorrow.”
“Okay. I’d like to be there when you see her,” I say.
“All right,” he says, squeezing my shoulder. “Night, Milo.”
“Good night.” Milo smiles at him from across the room.
I kiss Dad’s cheek and he pads down the hall. Kevin looks back at me like he’s torn between my dad and me, but then he follows my dad.
I can’t even be disappointed because they’re so cute together.
My phone buzzes with an incoming FaceTime. I glance at the screen and grin.
“Addy,” I say.
“Ignore me. You should take the call. I’m happy to see you smiling like that,” Milo says. “I can head out.”
“No, stay.” I hold onto his hand. “You haven’t met Addy yet and she wants to meet you.”
“Okay,” he says, smirking.
I swipe to accept.
Addy’s face fills the screen, looking gorgeous, as always. “There you are! I thought I might miss you again.”
Her eyes narrow, and she leans in closer to the camera. “Is that…Milo Lombardi?”
He lifts a hand, offering a polite smile. “Hello.”
“Hello.” She beams. “So…you’re Milo.”
“I am.” He puts his arm around my shoulder. “And you must be the infamous best friend who’s married to my favorite running back.”
“Aw, thanks, man,” Penn says in the background.
Addy grins and turns it so Penn’s in view. “His ears are always fine-tuned to praise.”
We laugh.
Addy turns the phone back to herself. “So…Goldie…remember when you grilled Penn like a CIA operative? It’s time for payback.”
I stiffen and pretend to look at a watch that doesn’t exist on my wrist. “Look at the time, chasing our guests away.”
Addy’s eyes are gleaming with excitement. “Nope, we’re just getting started. Okay, Milo. First question. Have you ever made Goldie cry?”
He blinks and stares at me.
I wince. “Ididgive Penn the third degree when I met him…”
“True story,” Penn yells.
“Uh, I’ve never made her cry on purpose,” Milo says.
She squints. “That’s good…I think. Do you believe in soulmates?”
