Page 124 of Soup Sandwich
“Dramatic, much?”
“Whatever. I haven’t decided if I’m going to stay because he hasn’t asked me to stay or given me any indication that it’s even on his mind. I mean, I realize we’re new at this and it’s only been a few months of us actually being together, but the dude is a planner to the max.”
“Maybe he just assumes you’re staying.” Her eyebrows bounce suggestively. “Or maybe he’s going to propose to you for real.”
“Ha. You’re very funny.”
“Why is that funny? Is it because you’d say no if I asked?”
My eyes snap to the size of dinner plates. Stella has the biggest shit-eating grin on her face, and right now, I want to kill my best friend.
“You’d never get away with it,” Stella says. “You’d be the worst at trying to cover up a murder.”
Ugh. Again, I’m speaking inner thoughts out loud. “The jury would acquit me. I can’t believe you just did that to me.” I reach out and smack her arm.
She shrugs unrepentantly, and I slowly roll over to face Callan, who is sitting on the chair directly behind me wearing swim trunks and a playful grin that’s making his dimples pop. His wet hair is brushed back from his face, and he looks so hot and yummy right now.
I narrow my eyes. “How long were you listening?”
“Long enough. You never answered my question.”
I blink about ninety thousand times. “What question?”
“If you’d say no if I asked.”
I nearly fall off my chair as I attempt to sit up. I glance around us only to realize it’s oddly quiet in here. The pool is empty, and at the far end of the room, I catch Amelia ushering the last Fritz grandchild into the room where the food is all set up, but before she closes the door behind her, she throws me a wink. A wink!
Stella walks past us, waving at me over her shoulder. “Traitor!” I yell after her and then turn back to Callan. “What are you doing? What is this?”
Something flickers in his eyes. “That’s actually my question for you. What is this, Layla?”
“What do you mean?” I toss back at him.
“Is this something you want?” He takes my hand in his, playing with my fingers. Staring at me. Looking like he’s about to decimate my planet. “Do you think you want to stay with us? Move in permanently?”
I lick my lips, my tongue ring swirling along my bottom lip.
“Do you, Layla?” he presses when I don’t immediately answer. “What do you say? Can you imagine yourself in a whole new world with us?”
“What?” I bark out as a laugh.
“No!” Katy cries, coming out of nowhere as if she were hiding this whole time. She smacks her forehead like she can’t believe he just said that. “That’s the wrong movie!”
“Crap,” he mutters. “What was I supposed to say?” he asks her, his face scrunching up as if he’s trying to remember his line and can’t. Despite the nervous butterflies crashing into each other in my stomach, I can’t help but smile at how adorable they are together.
Exasperated, she does a starfish in the air as she jumps, flickers of water from her bathing suit and hair goes flying every which way. “’Part of your world’, Uncle Cal! The song is ‘Part of Your World’ fromThe Little Mermaid!”
“Darn it,” he mutters, shaking his head in dismay before turning back to me. “I was supposed to ask you to be part of our world, not join a whole new world. Crap.” He scrubs his face. “I’m doing this all wrong.”
I’m smiling like I’ve never smiled before. Could he be any cuter or more perfect of a guy?
“You two planned this?” I wave my finger back and forth between them, and then Katy drops down in the seat next to him. “You’re asking me to move in with you like this? Here?” Of all freaking places, which means everyone is in on this. I mean, obviously, Stella was and clearly Amelia is no fool, but—
Suddenly, the overhead lights cut out, only to be replaced by strings of glowing fairy lights overhead, sparkling in pink, purple, and green. Music comes on too that I immediately recognize as “Part of Your World” fromThe Little Mermaid.
My head flies around, taking it all in, only to snap back to the man before me.
And now I see it all. The multicolored lights. The music. The guy suddenly dropping to his knees before me. Taking my hands. Staring up at me with eyes that pierce my soul.