“Butler, get on the field,” someone called out.
“I’ve got to go, but I promise everything’s going to work out.”
At home, I rearranged my closet. The sugar coursing through my system made me jittery and I wasn’t sure the last time I blinked.
Renee and Norah showed up while I was in the middle of cleaning out the kitchen cabinets.
“Aunt Kenna.” Norah ran to me and jumped, knowing I’d catch her.
I whirled her around and giggled when we landed on the floor.
“Sugar rush, huh?” Renee asked, kicking my foot lightly.
“What can I say? It makes everything better.”
“How are you holding up?”
I moved with Norah, until we were piled on the couch. Norah got lost in her favorite cooking show and I moved to answer Renee.
“Better than I thought. It was hard not responding to the comments on the Internet, but I figured it wouldn’t help.”
“Those people made me so mad. Brian took my phone away. That’s why I didn’t call you before coming over here.”
“Brian’s a smart man.”
Renee nodded. “Tell me everything.”
After I relayed my day, Renee was pacing the kitchen. Norah kicked us out of the living room when Renee kept making frustrated noises.
“How can you be so nonchalant? You were planning to take over Dr. Bert’s office for as long as I can remember.”
“Because I know I’m good at what I do. I’ll find another opportunity and maybe life isn’t about having plans but seeing how it unfolds.”
“Holy shit, you’re in love with him.” Renee grabbed my face and moved it back and forth as if she was looking for a sign.
“I am,” I admitted, not bothering to hide the truth.
“Damn, woman, when you decide on something you make it happen. I guess Norah might have an Uncle Trip out of this after all.”
My stomach flopped at the thought of marrying Trip. “We just got together. If that happens I’m sure it’s years away.”
Renee smirked and rolled her eyes.
“What?”
“Look how fast Brian and I moved in together. When you know, you know. These Pappies boys don’t seem to like to wait when they find the woman of their dreams.”
I flushed and plopped down on the kitchen chair.
“Stop,” Renee ordered when she saw my face.
“What if this is just a phase? I’m pretty sure I’m the first girl Trip has been friends with. He said it helped him get to know me and fall in love with me before we were together, but what if now that the chase is over he doesn’t want me anymore?”
“Stop. This isn’t McKenna, and you know it. It’s something you feel you should say because you aren’t supposed to accept happiness. Now tell me what you really feel.”
I smiled. Renee was right. And hadn’t I just agreed with myself earlier that I wasn’t going to disrespect Trip like with stupid doubts?
“You’re right. I love him and he loves me. If he asked me to marry him today I would. It shouldn’t be this good this fast, but it is.”
