Page 40 of My Puckin' Luck
Whatever we do, as long as he comes back to me every time, doesn’t abandon me altogether, wouldn’t it be enough to know that he returns to me? Chooses to be with me?
Saint and I could be good together, and worth fighting for, like Nana says. Even if there are bumps in the road along the way.
“Thank you, Nana. You’ve given me a lot to think about. I hope I didn’t ruin the night by unleashing the status of my love life on you.” I squeeze her arm and pick up my flute to finish the drink.
“Not at all. I enjoy being useful. Of course, this conversation would have been better over a plate of double dark chocolate brownies dusted with powdered sugar and green sprinkles that I have waiting for us at home after the movie.”
“With chocolate milk?” I ask, my mouth watering.
“We’ll stop on the way to pick some up.” She winks and pats my arm. “Now, shall we go find our seats? I’ve been so excited about this movie. I cannot wait to watch it.”
Happier for now, I manage a weak smile, and we walk arm-in-arm, toward the theater entrance, until we pass the counter of merchandise the studio sells. I’d already grabbed myself a t-shirt and commemorative mug when the order form circulated around the office. But something catches my eye, an item that wouldn’t have meant much to me before…but now?
“Hold up, Nana.” I stop at the counter where attendants are waiting on patrons. When it’s my turn, I ask and point at the display, “Can I have the green rabbit’s foot, please?”
It’s perfect. And hopefully, Saint will let me have the chance to give it to him later.
When we enter the dim-lit theater, an usher takes Nana’s arm and escorts her down to the front row on the end. She preens as the handsome man smiles and chats with her along the way.Hernight is made.
I smile for her and follow right behind, although I’m not relishing the idea of the third seat being empty, knowing that I could have hugged Saint on the roof and encouraged him to be here with us.
This is supposed to be my triumph to be here. I’ll take the win and enjoy it, but a part of me is aching. Had I handled everything better, he’d be by my side tonight.
With the rabbit’s foot in my hand, I spend the entire movie rubbing it for luck that we’ll somehow find our way forward together.
19
TWICE THE LUCK
ANASTASIA
After the movie,and a round of applause, people stop by our seats and congratulate me, from fellow writers to the co-stars. Of course, when I introduce each to Nana, they smother her with adoration. I’ve never seen her smile wider, and how pretty she looks tonight in her green floral dress and shiny green beads around her neck. We had gone shopping together for our gowns a few months back and had both decided to wear green for luck.
The same cute usher who initially sat us happens by at the right moment as the theater is emptying. I reach out to stop him. “Excuse me. Will you take photos of me and my friend to commemorate this moment?”
“Sure thing,” he smiles.
We pose side-by-side together in front of the stage. I mentally add buying matching frames to my to do list so that she and I can both have a copy of this photo to display in our homes to commemorate this night. I’ll add it to my framed photos of me and all my friends at home.
Home… I almost forgot I don’t have one. Mine is still in the middle of construction. And I’ve been playing “home” with Saint. Now what? Or should we take some time to be apart andmake sure we have something worth fighting for? I suppose that all depends on how the next conversation with him goes.
“Smile, ladies. Beautiful,” the usher says.
For Nana’s sake, I release my worries for now and smile widely, as best I can, squeezing her into my side. After he snaps a few, my attention is taken by someone ambling down the aisle toward us. It looks like—Saint? I blink twice to make sure the dimly lit theater isn’t playing tricks on me.
“Why, look who it is? Go to him, dear. A devilishly handsome man like that with eyes raking over you like he owns you is definitely worth fighting for,” Nana encourages and gives me a little shove in the right direction, like she’d been doing all night with her kind words of compassion.
While I hesitate, she hooks her hand into the young man’s arm and walks off to the side with him. “Now. Tell me, young man, what is your relationship status?” Nana is in good hands with the strapping guy.
I turn to Saint with all the emotions I’ve held back becoming too much and I sputter, tears brimming in my eyes and my throat threatening to close.
He stops about ten feet from me, looking so perfect in his tuxedo, except for the worry lines and circles under his eyes.
“Hi, angel. I hope I can still call you that even though I fucked up. Badly.” His voice cracks. “I’d grovel on my knees across hot coals to make it up to you. Please, forgive me. If you’ll give me another chance, I swear I’ll fight for you every second of the day to make sure we survive together. Because I can’t lose you.You’remy everything, my here and now?—”
I sprint up the aisle as fast as these heels and this tight dress will allow me. His grin grows as I approach, his arms readying.
“You better catch me,” I warn.
