Page 75 of Take This Heart
There’s a long pause. “Dinner?” she says slowly.
“With my parents,” I add, the words rushing out. “I want you to meet them. I want them to meet you.”
There’s another pause—longer this time. I can almost hear her processing, chewing on her bottom lip.
“Milo…”
“I know it’s a big ask,” I cut in. “But I’d love to take you to their place.”
“They’re in Lake Minnetonka, aren’t they?”
“Yeah…it’d be more like a weekend trip. Leave Friday after lunch and come back on Saturday.”
“What makes you think we can get along for that long?”
I laugh. “I’m not sure we can, but I’d like to try. I know we’re capable of having great moments together. Unforgettable moments.”
I hear her quick intake of breath and wish I was standing in front of her.
“You’re sure they want to meet me?” she asks softly. “Your mom’s a Granger…Bruce’s sister…”
“Yeah.”
“So she probably doesn’t love my family too much.”
I wince even though she can’t see me. “She thinks the feud is stupid, if that helps. And honestly, she’s more worried about whether you’ll likeher.”
Goldie is silent again, and just when I think she’s about to tell me no, she says, “Okay. I’ll go with you.”
“Good.” I exhale with relief and grin like an idiot. “How about I pick you up at one on Friday?”
“That works,” she says, still cautious.
“Thank you,” I tell her. “I promise we’ll have fun. My parents are warm and welcoming, and we can either stay attheir house or go back to my penthouse. I, uh…there’s a guest suite at both places, so you’ll have plenty of…space.”
I run my hand over my face, silently cursing this awkwardness. It’s foreign to me and I fucking hate it. I prefer control by far, but that went out the window the day Goldie came into my life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
OFF WEEK
GOLDIE
Any chance we could meet at The Loon tonight?
Juju
Ooo, I’m in…as long as it’s on the early side. You know me—I’ll be drowsy by 8:30 due to my middle-of-the-night wake-up time.
Erin
I don’t know how you do it, Juju. And I am so in. I need Tater Tot Hotdish like I need a redhead. And I hope Lorraine still has seven-layer bars by the time we get there. We should probably aim for 5:15 to make sure that happens.
Should I be offended that you care more about hotdish thanseeing me?
Erin
Babes, you, hotdish, and seven-layer bars are my favorite kind of night…besides the one in my dreams with a redhead.
