Page 109 of The Fast Lane
FORTY-SIX
Note to self:
Kissing Walking is a good form of
exercise.
Portland, Oregon
Cal and Melanie’s apartment was located in northwest Portland, a fancy condo in an upscale neighborhood for “young professionals.” We pulled up in front of it and I texted Cal to let him know we’d made it.
We all piled out onto the sidewalk, stretching legs and shaking arms to wake them up from the long drive. Mack clipped Karen to a leash, and she tiptoed in a circle, sniffing everything. Until she got to my feet. She growled, backed up, and barked.
“Shut up, Karen.” I bent over and glared at her. “Why do you hate me?”
Being a dog, she couldn’t answer back. Although she did bare her teeth.
“I am officially a cat person.” I straightened.
Theo smiled. “And I was planning on getting you a dog for your birthday.”
“Please don’t.”
He put his arm around my shoulders and pressed a kiss to my cheek. My eyes darted to Mack who smiled in an “I told you so” sort of way.
“Where are we, Daddy?” Hallie had her doll in a death grip against her chest. Her dark hair was mussed from traveling and she looked more than a little tired.
“We’re here to see your Uncle Cal.”
“I have an uncle?”
“You have two,” his eyes dart to Theo, “no, make that three, uncles.”
“And an aunt. And a grandma and grandpa.” She shook her head like she couldn’t quite believe it. “That’s a lot of birthdays to ’member.”
“Ali,” a voice yelled from halfway down the block. The short, slender frame of my almost sister-in-law came barreling toward me. She didn’t stop until her arms wrapped around me in a breath-stealing hug. “I can’t believe you’re here. Although, I am a little miffed. I lost a hundred bucks to Mae.”
I detangled myself from her arms. “Is everyone in on this thing?”
“I lost two hundred. A fact Mae hasn’t let me forget,” Mack said. “Bit of a bragger, that one.”
“Alright, that’s enough. No more betting on Theo and me.” I held my hand up to stop the chorus of protests. “Nope. No more. And someone owes us a cut of this.”
“Aw, come on,” Cal said, my own flesh-and-blood brother. “I just chose my days for the proposal.”
“What?”
Cal grinned and hugged me. “You know I love you.”
Abe cleared his throat. Hands tucked in his pockets, the vulnerability in his eyes made my heart squeeze.
Cal stepped toward him, inspecting him closely, his smile growing wider. “Brother.”
“Brother.” Abe nodded, his shoulders relaxing in relief.
And then they hugged; I wasn’t the only one crying when they did.
“These are the seating arrangements.” Melanie tapped yet another tab on the tablet resting on her lap, yet another category in her highly treasured digital Wedding Planner. Pages upon pages, crammed with décor ideas, venue choices, menu options, cake topper ideas, and anything else a person could possibly need for a wedding. Just looking at it overwhelmed me.