“You’ll be the most beautiful bride ever.”
We talk wedding dresses the rest of the way to the restaurant.She wants to look elegant, but not too elegant.Flawless, but not like she’s trying too hard.Modern, but classic.
Whatever she chooses will be perfect.Noel would happily marry her if she wore a paper bag.I don’t tell her that, though.She’s dreamed of a wedding day for so long, and I want her to squeeze every ounce of joy she can out of it.
When we reach a nice sushi restaurant, she pulls up at the front door.
“Have fun.”She’s giddy as she says it.
“What?Why aren’t you parking?”
“Oh, I’m not going.”
I give her a look.“So you want me to eat sushi in leather pants alone?”
“Of course not.Magnus is waiting for you.”
I just stare at her for a second.“Magnus?”
She nods and does the clapping thing again.“He asked me to get you here and arrange for childcare.It’s me, by the way.Well, Noel, too.We’ll both be there, but I’ll feed Dong.And you know I know where the can opener is.So go have fun.”
“Wait.So the boys are with Noel now?”
“Yeah, they’re getting burgers.Then we’ll hang out at home and have fun, but not too much fun so they’re too wound up to sleep; we’ll make sure they brush and floss every tooth, and we’ll send them to bed on time because it’s a school night.Nothing to worry about.And in the morning, I’ll take them to school.”
“No.What?Magnus set up an all-night thing?”
“He asked to have dinner with you.But this is me telling you to stop being a martyr and go get you some.Jesus.Let the village have an at bat.”
I close my eyes, everything adding up now.The thong.The bra.
“But I’m ...unkempt down there.And I think there might be actual rust in my birth canal.”
She snort-laughs.“He’s European; they prefer an untamed bush.”
“Do they?Every single one?”
“Quit stalling.Get the fuck out of my car.There’s a reservation under his name.Don’t you fucking dare walk into the house in two hours.”
My heart races over knowing Magnus is inside.I unbuckle my seat belt.
“You should have told me.I could have acted surprised.”
“Enjoy those Swedish meatballs, babe.”
She blows me a kiss as I get out of the car.I barely get the door closed before she speeds away.
Leaving me to go inside.Where Magnus is.Alone.
I square my shoulders and walk inside.
He stands up when he sees the hostess leading me to his table.I’ve never felt butterflies like this.
Magnus looks nervous.He’s not sweeping his gaze up and down my body; his eyes haven’t left mine since he saw me.
He’s wearing khaki pants, a light-blue dress shirt unbuttoned at the top, and a dark-brown jacket that’s similar to a suit jacket but not as dressy.I could melt over how handsome he is.
When I reach the table, we just smile at each other like a couple of fools for a few seconds, but I’ve never been happier to look like a fool.
