Page 129 of Statler

Statler wasn’t one to toot his own horn, ever, so she’d gladly do it for him.

“You are,” she affirmed seriously. “You’ve certainly bowled me over.”

His lips quirked up, and his brows drew together. “I know we said we wouldn’t talk about us until⁠—”

Eliza placed two fingers on his mouth to stop him.

“And we won’t. Not until you’re out from under all the meetings and paperwork that I know go hand-in-hand with completing this job.”

She withdrew her hand, went up on tiptoes, and kissed the underside of his chin. “I’ll be around when you’re finished.”

“You better be,” he growled, then reaching out and looping his arms around her, he hugged her tightly.

She returned the embrace wholeheartedly, and as she did, Eliza could feel the tension slowly leaving Statler’s body.

He gave one last shudder.

“This could have turned out so differently,” he murmured into her hair.

“But it didn’t,” she reminded him softly. “The bad guys lose, the good guys win, and if you play your cards right, the hero might just earn the heart of the small-town girl, and end up with a happily ever after.”

Statler put a finger to her cheek and stroked it gently before he pulled back to stare earnestly into her eyes. “He hopes he already has.”

He lowered his head and their lips met for the briefest of moments—almost like a promise—before he drew himself away and took her hand. They walked silently and companionably back to where the vehicles were parked.

“Well, crap,” Eliza huffed, breaking the magically romantic spell. “We both have our vehicles, and I’m definitely not willing to come back here to get mine later. I guess I’ll meet you at Granny’s.”

Statler didn’t look happy about that. “I can send one of the team to get your car for you tomorrow morning.”

Eliza shook her head. “No need. It’s only an eight-minute trip back to town. Don’t miss me too much,” she added impishly.

“Impossible,” Statler decried, and with another quick kiss, they went to their respective rides, started them up, and slowly descended the hill.

If Statler stuck any closer to her car, their bumpers would have been the ones kissing.

* * *

Granny was waiting for them.

The minute they pulled into her driveway, she opened the door and hurried down the walkway.

Throwing herself at Eliza when she stepped from her car, Granny hung on for dear life.

“Oh, sweetie. Never do that to me again,” she chastised. “You took years off my life, with me wondering if you were okay. And I don’t have that many years left.”

Eliza kissed the older woman’s cheek. “Of course you do. You’ll live to be one-hundred and ten. Mark my words and see if you don’t,” Eliza challenged, then turned and grinned at Statler, who had just hopped down from his truck.

“Thanks to Statler, everything is good,” she praised, then looked down at Granny who hadn’t let go.

“Remember how you’re always telling me I can’t do everything alone?” Eliza asked her friend.

Granny scoffed and finally took a step back. “Certainly. How could I forget?”

Eliza snickered.

“Well, I think I finally learned that lesson; to share my burdens.”

Did she have actual stars in her eyes, or did it just feel that way?