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MICAH
Laughter mixeswith rock music as Peyton and I sit on a lounger in Jonas and Autumn’s backyard. Our typical Sunday get-together underway.
Gavin and Jonas man the grill; flipping burgers, brats, and mojo-marinated chicken quarters while chatting. Autumn, Cora, and Shelly load one of the banquet tables with buns, side salads, fruit, and condiments. Penny and Rex go back and forth over something frivolous—socks in the living room. Reznor and Tatyana watch their son, Ashton, play with Clementine and Spartan. Iliana, Trevor, and Jillian—Jonas’s younger sister—sit on the lounger across from us and chat about an upcoming baseball game.
Life feels pretty fucking amazing right now.
A year ago, I would not have pictured my life like this. With Peyton at my side, holding my hand and laughing at jokes told by my closest friends. A year ago, I had no smiles to give. Felt empty inside. Did all I could to fill the void. But nothing worked.
Now, I know the reason.
Fate has never been something I put much thought in. Especially when my relationship with Rochelle ended how it did. But now I give fate some credit. Give in to the notion that two people are meant to find each other and live their best life together.
Several years ago, fate brought Peyton and I together. I wasn’t ready, though. She’d had her eye on me back then, but who is to say where our relationship would have gone had we gotten together.
I look toward the grill, watch how Cora latches on to every word Gavin says with hearts in her eyes. Watch how he kisses her forehead, then whispers something in her ear and causes her cheeks to flush.
Could that have been me and Peyton? There is no definite answer. Although Gavin and Cora are madly in love, shit beyond their control tore them apart early on. Fate found a way to bring them back together. If Peyton and I had been different in high school, would we have drifted apart? Or would we still be together? If our lives were different back then, I don’t think we would be who we are now. Nor would we feel the same.
And that is not something I care to dwell on. The what-ifs.
What I do know is that I have never been happier. And I owe it all to the hellcat at my side.
I lean in and press my lips to her temple. “I love you.”
Peyton stops whatever she was saying to Shelly and faces me. “Love you, too.” Then she presses her lips to mine. I break the kiss all too soon, not wanting our friends to give us shit.
Gavin and Jonas announce the meat is off the grill—which is our version of a dinner bell. Everyone evacuates their seats, grabs plates, and piles them high. Minutes later, the only sound outside is the music, occasional crunch of food, and Spartan’s whimper for scraps.
Off to the side, Cora asks Shelly about work and I shift my attention.
“Is the shop staying busy? Whenever I ask Mom, she says yes. But she thinks five customers in one day is busy,” Cora says with a laugh.
Shelly swallows her bite and takes a sip from her beer. “It’s gotten busier in the last few months. Not sure why. We’ve done a little more marketing, but not much. Whatever the reason, the uptick is great.”
“Mom jokingly said maybe she’ll retire sooner.”
Shelly pales, which I find interesting. It is no secret that Shelly will take over the florist shop when Cora’s mom retires. She plans to buy the business over time and make minor changes. But I don’t think the plan was for her to own the shop for three to five more years. As a planner, if something changes the overall picture, Shelly freaks out.
Shelly laughs without humor. “Hope she’s joking. Not quite ready to fill her shoes yet.”
Cora waves her off. “I’m sure she is. Anyway… on to less stressful topics. Have you talked to the hottie painting the shop mural?”
“What hottie?” I ask, shooting daggers at my little sister.
She rolls her eyes, then stabs a chunk of potato salad and stuffs it in her mouth. It’s an obvious attempt to avoid the subject, so I just sit and wait and stare like the annoying older brother I am. Until she caves. And because I know my sister well, she will cave. Soon.
“Argh!” Like clockwork. “He’s just some guy painting a mural on the outside of the shop. No big deal.”
“Cora seems to think it’s big enough a deal to bring him up,” I say.
Shelly narrows her eyes at Cora. “And we will talk about that later.” She shifts her gaze back to me. “Seriously, though. He’s just some artist Elizabeth hired. Nothing else.”
I stare at my sister a moment. Try to read between the lines. Zero in on the fine details she leaves out. But for some reason, she has sealed herself off. Has put on her best poker face and enforced the most neutral body language. That alone tells me there is definitely more to this. Tells me she doesn’t just look at this guy as just some artist Elizabeth hired. She looks at him with newly formed interest.
For now, I won’t push her on it. Won’t make her uncomfortable and embarrass her in front of friends. But I will get more answers. Soon.
“If you say so. Just don’t let Mom find out about said no big deal or you’ll never hear the end of it.”
For a beat, her body sags. The only reason I don’t miss it is because I know my sister. Know that finding the one is a big deal to her. As an avid romance reader, she is big on the fated-lovers concept. Believes everyone will get their happily ever after.
For years, she harped on most of us about destiny and love written in the stars. Now that someone pops up on her radar, she keeps secrets. Doesn’t let anyone pry as she has in the past.
Maybe I need to stop by the floral shop and buy Peyton flowers next week. Find out more about this artist.
The rest of the night flows with great conversation, an intense game of Never Have I Ever and belly-aching laughter. Everyone says their goodbyes and goes separate ways until next week.
After the short ride home, I park in the driveway and we walk hand in hand to the door and inside. The door clicks shut and I wrap Peyton in my arms. Kiss her as if I will never get the chance again.
“What was that for?” she asks when we come up for air.
“For everything.”
“Everything?”
I nod. “For the longest time, life, and the world, was a restless night. Since you, life is colorful. More brilliant.”
“Bright,” she adds.
“Bright,” I repeat, then kiss her. “And I can’t imagine life any better. Or a love any brighter.”
