Page 84 of Sunny Goes Cold Turkey
I kick my feet back onto his desk. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
“In body only.”
That’s… true. I can’t blame him for calling me out on it.
My mom saves me with a stern look to my brother. “Joe and I can pick up your slack just like you picked up his slack when he got engaged and started building his house. That’s what family does. We love you, kid. You’ve handled the changes of the last few months like a professional.” She grins. “For the most part. Now you can let us take over for a few.”
“Mom’s right,” Joe says with a put-upon sigh. “If you want to run off into the sunset with Mr. Blinding Veneers, you have my blessing.”
I can’t help but hug my brother, as annoying as he is. “I don’t think they’re veneers.”
“There’s no way those teeth are original.” He cuffs my shoulder. “But go get him, Sis.”
“You’re wearing a hole in the floor, dude,” Mercer says from her usual spot in the armchair. She looks like she’s ready for a night in—her antique Juicy sweats are on and she’s up to her elbow in a pint of ice cream. It’s a relief that things are back to normal with us. We talked it out last night, and it helps that she schemed with Anders to arrange this movie night. In all of her contrition over the fire she’s also started cleaning up after herself. My best friend is still a mess, but she’s the best kind of mess.
I need a distraction. “So are you going to keep carrying on with Oliver, or what?” I bite my lip trying not to listen for an approaching car.
“Carrying on? Okay, Grandma.” Mercer rolls her eyes. “Yeah,no. I think that was a one-and-done for me.”
“Really?” She doesn’t seem at all bothered by ending her fiery fling.
She nods. “He’s too robotic. And I’m gonna focus on getting my act together.”
“If you say so.” I fall onto the couch, determined not to stare out the window looking for a pink Jeep. I’m wearing Anders’ favorite jeans, a flowing white blouse, and my comfy sandals. Nice, but not over-the-top, I think. “Is my hair too much? I curled it. Is it obvious that I’m trying to look nice?”
“Yeah,” she says around a mouthful of rocky road.
“Gee, thanks, Merce.” I swipe open my phone to find that two minutes have passed. It’s 7:03. I bounce my knee a dozen times.
“You gotta calm down.” She puts her ice cream on the coffee table. “Take a deep breath in through your nose and count to four. Hold it and count to seven, then let it out through your mouth and count to eight. Like this.”
She demonstrates the calming breathing technique and I try it, even though I want to throw a pillow at her face. I breathe in.One…two…three…four…I hold my breath.One…two…three…
BANG BANG BANG! Someone pounds on the door.
I startle, then jump up, grab my purse, and swing open the door before I remember to release the breath I’m holding.
“Hi!” I say on a heavy exhale.
Oh, Anders. Am I a little woozy, or is he wearing a tuxedo? I was not mentally prepared for this man in a tuxedo with that tan, scruffy jawline. It takes me way too long to notice he’s carrying a dress bag. Immy is beside him in a cupcake-like tulle dress and glittery goldballet flats. She’s carrying a shoe box. I am slightly underdressed for movie night. They hand me the bag and the box as I let them into my condo.
“Change into those. We’ll wait.” Anders says with a smirk.
Immy plops on the couch next to Mercer with a dramatic poof. “But just so you know, you should go fast because we have—”
“A surprise.” He gives his daughter a look. “Remember, it’s a surprise,” he emphasizes.
Ten minutes later I’ve changed into the sapphire blue sequined gown and strappy heels they provided. I’ve never dressed like this in my life. Anders guides me into the passenger seat of his black SUV and we’re driving toward nowhere with Immy chattering in the back seat. It’s desert on all sides of the road and I’m dying of curiosity.
“You changed your mind about movie night?”
He squeezes my hand over the console. “No. You’ll see. No more questions.”
“Are we going to be around a lot of people?” We’re dressed for an event, and my stomach is in knots at the idea of facing a crowd unprepared. Anders and I haven’t even talked about what we are. I need to do Mercer’s breathing thing again.
“Absolutely not. I know you better than that.” He kisses the inside of my palm and all is right with my world.
We’re on a two lane road, deep in a sandstone canyon when Anders finally parks. The sun is just starting to drop behind the cliffs, covering everything with golden light and making the scene in front of me look like a dream. I’m not sure my eyes are working right. Out here in the middle of nowhere, among the cliffs and sagebrush, is a long red carpet. I try to see where it leads, but the path is obscured by the landscape.
