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CHAPTER 34
Jimmy
Bella sat beside me in the truck, humming along to Chris Lane’s “Big, Big Plans” as she sipped her red frozen slushy.
On the way to our last activity of the day, we’d stopped at the Git-N-Go Quickie Mart. When we walked in, her face had lit up when she’d seen the ICEE dispenser. Apparently, she’d never been allowed to have them as a child, and as an adult, she’d felt that it would be silly to get one. I could see that she’d been hesitant, so I’d shown her how my brothers and I used to put our mouths below the spout when we were kids and didn’t have money to pay for the drinks.
Mr. Koop, who’d owned and operated the store my entire life, spoke into the mic behind the counter. “I see you, James Comfort. You will be paying for that.”
Bella’s eyes had grown wide and she’d laughed before filling up her very first ICEE. I’d never gotten so much pleasure out of making another person happy in my entire life. Sure, I liked it when people enjoyed their trips out on the boat. But, it didn’t fill me with the sort of pride that watching Bella fill up her ICEE cup did. And if that wasn’t love, I had no clue what was.
Today was supposed to have been about her. But it ended up being one of the best days of my life.
“Oh my gosh! My hair matches my drink!” she exclaimed with a childhood-like wonder.
Yesterday, when I’d read Bella’s list, I’d noticed that number eighty-two was to dye her hair a wild color. So, after the hot air balloon ride and breakfast, we’d stopped at Pretty in Peach, the salon that was run by Mrs. B’s best friend, Miss Shaw.
For a second I’d thought about making her an appointment at The Beauty Mark, which Kendra Montgomery owned, because it had a younger vibe, but then I quickly came to my senses. If I’d done that, it would most definitely have landed me right on the business end of Mrs. B’s rolled-up newspaper.
Bella had decided to go with a bright red color, which somehow made her even sexier. And I sure as hell hadn’t thought that was even possible.
“I can’t believe there’s more,” she commented as she took another slurp.
“You have a long list.” And if it were up to me, I’d spend the rest of my life fulfilling it. I kept that last part to myself.
“And you’re not going to give me even one hint?” She lifted her index finger in the air.
“Nope.” I shook my head.
She smiled before taking another slurp. Then, in an instant, her expression morphed from glee to torture. Her face contorted as she pressed her palm to her forehead. “Ahhh!”
“Press your thumb to the roof of your mouth,” I instructed calmly.
“What?” Her face was still scrunched up.
“Trust me.”
She did as I said and her perfect features relaxed. “Oh my gosh. I don’t know what happened.”
“Brain freeze,” I explained.
“Is that what that was?”
“Yep. I’m sure it wasn’t on your list but—”
Before I could finish my sentence, she’d pulled her paper out of her pocket.
“I’ve always wondered what that felt like,” she said as she scribbled something on the paper.
It was so refreshing, so enchanting, so intoxicating being with Bella. Her love, zest, and enthusiasm for life was contagious. I was beginning to think that even I, who prided himself in living in the moment and enjoying life, was learning something from this breath-of-fresh-air woman. She didn’t take anything for granted. And I realized I had been taking a lot for granted in my life.
But I promised myself, in that moment, that I would never take her for granted. And I sure as hell wouldn’t take one second that we got to spend together for granted.
As we drove along the coastline as the sun was setting, she sighed. “It’s so beautiful here. What was it like growing up seeing this every day?”
“It was good, I guess. I don’t really have much to compare it to.”
She nodded, thoughtfully.
