Page 72 of Wildflowers and Wide Receivers

“But when were you going to tell me? If I hadn’t come here, she would still be a secret to me. This person who apparently means so much to you.”

And yes, I do hear myself and the irony, but the difference is Jonah and I haven’t been together that long. They’ve been together for over six months.

“I had actually already planned on telling you. Chrissy—” His tone is all affectionate just saying her name, and I have to cut him off.

“Chrissy?” I look at him like he has two heads. My mother’s name was Valerie, and I’ve never heard another woman’s name cross his lips like this.

He smiles at me. “That’s her name. It’s actually Christine, but she’s gone by Chrissy since she was a girl.”

“Chrissy,” I whisper again, just wanting to pass her name over my lips too.

“Yeah,” he says, quietly too. “She’s very excited to meet you. Nervous, but excited.”

How bizarre that this woman is nervous to meet me. I mean, I guess I would be too in her shoes. After all, she’s heard about me for months, and I’m just now hearing about her. Suddenly, it dawns on me that I’m the Vivi in this situation.

I almost laugh.

I’m happy for him, I am. I’m just shocked. For so long, I’ve worried about him being alone, but it turns out he’s not. I didn’t even know he wanted to date or was looking to date. Not that I necessarily want to think about him dating, that’s kind of gross, but I want him to be happy, and it looks like he is.

“You really like this woman, huh?” I ask, seeing him in a bit of a different light. A light that makes him all glowy and, dare I say, reborn.

“I do. I really hope you like her, too.” He glances at me quickly again and then back to the road. “Because I kind of want to marry her.”

Mic drop.

Chapter 29

Jonah and Sophie

MY DAD JUST TOLD ME HE’S GOING TO GET MARRIED!

Wait, I’m confused. Do we not like the bride-to-be?

We don’t know her! He kept her a secret.

Scandalous.

Ugh . . .

So did you meet her?

Yes.

Do we hate her?

No.

What’s she like?

Perfect. She baked me a chocolate cake and made him laugh. He doesn’t laugh, he chuckles.

Sounds nice.

It was.

Tell me something fun you did today.

Why, miss us?