Page 74 of Take This Heart
“Because I keep messing it up. She’s been hurt before. She doesn’t trust me because I wasn’t honest about being a Granger. And we are like a match being struck around dry hay—if there’s a way to spark, we do. Sometimes it’s a dumpster fire and sometimes it’s…” The vision of her head falling back as she chanted my name last night comes back and I have to sit down and take a deep breath before I continue. “Sometimes it’s like that time we went to Disneyland when I was five and I saw fireworks for the first time. It’s magical and explosive and wonderful.”
“Oh, Milo,” she whispers. “Then you have to win her heart. Feelings like this don’t come around very often. I know you’ve never talked about someone like this. You can’t just ignore these feelings.”
“I don’t want to anymore, but…I’m not sure she’s ready. I don’t know…I just don’t know.”
“What can I do to help, honey?”
“What if…could I bring her over for dinner? Show her that we’re not the villains here. If I can even convince her to talk to me again. She’s kind of…really mad at me right now.”
“Of course! I’d love to meet her. If she’s won my Milo over, she must be so special.”
“She is. She really is.”
“I’m so happy for you.” She’s for sure crying now and I smile despite feeling like a train wreck.
“Well, I haven’t exactly won her over. We can’t make it a solid week without being at each other’s throats.”
Mom laughs. “Acceptance is half the battle. Sounds like you’re just now admitting to yourself how you feel and she’s still fighting it. I bet if she knew how you felt, it’d go a long way in her admitting it too.”
“If she feels the same way. That’s a big if.”
“Oh, stop. You’re Milo Lombardi. You and your father are the best-looking men in the whole wide world. I know—I’ve traveled a lot.”
I laugh. “Yeah, you’re not biased in the slightest.”
“I’m not. All my friends agree with me. Most of them wouldn’t hesitate to go all cougar on you, and their daughters would fight to take their place.”
I shudder. “I didn’t need that mental picture. Esther and Desiree better keep their distance.”
She laughs. “I had to give them a detailed report on your whereabouts just the other day.”
“No,” I groan, laughing.
“It’s true. So, when are we doing this dinner? How about this weekend? Friday night? Weren’t you planning to come into town then anyway?”
“Yeah. I’ll see if I can talk her into it and keep you posted.”
“I’m so excited.” She sounds giddy. “But…do you think she’ll like us? Me, specifically?”
I stand up and start pacing again. “I think she won’t be able to help but like you.”
“I hope so.”
“Love you, Mom. Tell Dad I love him too.”
“Okay. He loves you too. He’s right here and saying it.”
I laugh. “See you both soon.”
When we hang up, my fingers hesitate, but then I don’t overthink it…I call Goldie.
She answers on the fourth ring, her voice guarded. “Hello?”
I swallow, shifting on my feet. “Hey. I don’t like the way we left things earlier.”
She exhales. “I don’t either.”
“Would you have dinner with me on Friday night?”
