I found Mari waiting for me at my car, leaning against it with a huge smile on her face.
“I just realized,” she said as I stepped closer, “you stole my move.”
I reached for her hands and laced our fingers. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“Using the marching band to make a point.”
“It’s a good move,” I said.
“They’re going to demand money.”
“Maybe they’ll unionize, and Pin Dick will really have an issue.”
“I really hate that man,” she grumbled.
“Who doesn’t? Are you worried about him?” I wondered if she would want to get revenge, maybe TP his house or something much worse.
“I’m not happy, but I don’t care about him. I’m more focused on us.” She nuzzled herself closer to me. “If nothing else, he’ll be in the dunk tank at the Spring Carnival, and I’ve been working on my aim.”
“There she is,” I said. She laughed. “Us,” I repeated her word. “I like the sound of that.”
It was dark now. Everybody had gone home except Mari and me standing in the light of a street lamp in the parking lot. I kissed her again. I didn’t think I’d stop touching her. I probably never would.
“I got this for you. It’s nothing compared to a rock show, but I’m serious about us.” She handed me a wrapped package from her bag. Inside was a snow globe with a picture of us that I took at Christmas.
“I want to start a new life with you,” she said. “I want to make new memories, good and bad and everything in between.” She swallowed with difficulty, and I felt my heart beating through my whole body. “I want a life with you. I choose you as you’ve chosen me time and time again. I’m sorry it took me so long to see it. You are my family.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t feel worthy enough to hear it to begin with,” I said.
I held the snow globe tight between us.
“Want to get out of here?” I asked. “I don’t want you to go back to your place. I want you to come live with me. I know it’s fast and maybe weird because of Janice —”
“Okay. I want that too. And maybe it’s weird for other people, but not for us. I never feel as at home as I do at your house. I love being there. I love you wherever you are. I don’t care about having my apartment. It was never my home.”
We kissed again.
“Thank you for choosing me,” she said. “Thank you for reminding me that some people stay.”
“From the moment you blew into my life, I’ve not stopped thinking about you. And that’s not anything you have to fight for. I’ll be here when you’re too tired to fight. I’ll be here when you want to break shit. I’ll be here when you want to cry and laugh. You are so many things, but you will never be forgettable, and I will never leave you. I don’t know where I’m going next or what I’m meant to do, but I’m more than okay figuring it out right here with you.”
She nodded with tears in her eyes. “I’d like that.”
“Not once have you ever been forgettable. You’ve given me something to feel excited about. A future to look forward to. You make me laugh in new and surprising ways all the time. I’m obsessed with your body and mind. I’m a modern man.”
“Good album name.” She sniffled. “You are the most wonderful man I’ve ever met, Leo. I like your dad jokes. I like your cooking and your music. I like all parts of you, not just that you can play the drums pretty well.” I raised an eyebrow. “Really well. But those are all just little parts. I love all of you.”
“I thought I was a failure. I thought getting kicked out of the band was theworst thing that could’ve happened to me. But none of it can be a regret when it led me to this time and place with you.”
She smiled a watery smile. “Let’s go home.”
CHAPTER 37
MARI
Leo was bent plucking a weed as I made my way out to the porch. He stood and looked around our garden with pride. It had grown even bigger and better this summer. I’d helped him propagate flowers from Clara’s yard, and together, we spent many long spring days making the garden into a masterpiece. When I saidwe, I really meant I would sit on the porch and watch him work. Still, we made a good team.
I stubbed my toe on the corner as I made my way to him and swore some unladylike things.
