Series: Kristen Proby Crossover Collection
Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 69686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“Smart,” Fallon says. “I wonder if Max and Willa had a fun honeymoon?”
“They toured their way through Europe,” I reply with a nod. “I’m sure they had a fantastic time. I didn’t know he was home. I’ll call him later.”
“Willa’s a sweetheart,” Fallon says. “She’s been in my yoga class for at least a year now.”
“She’s the best,” I agree. “I thought Max was an idiot for letting her go when they were in high school.”
“What happened there?”
“They dated in school. Max was a year ahead of her and went away to college, but he broke it off before he left. I guess Willa didn’t want to go away for school. His best friend back then was Cary Monroe, who was the same age as Max, but he stayed here rather than going off to college. He and Willa ended up together.
“But not long after they married, when Willa was a few weeks from having Alex, Cary died in a skiing accident. Max was with him at the time.”
“Oh, that’s horrible,” Fallon says softly.
“It was a rough time,” I agree. “I was away at college, but I came home for the funeral. I felt bad for all of them.”
“But they ended up together anyway.”
“Yeah, almost a decade later, they found their way back. Max should have made his move years ago, but I suppose he was afraid. I pushed him into asking her out.”
“How?” She takes a bite of her beans, watching me avidly. God, I love talking with her.
“I threatened to ask her out myself,” I say with a smile. “He didn’t like that.”
“I’m sure he didn’t,” she replies. “Good thinking.”
“It would have happened eventually. I’m happy for them. It’ll be good to see him.”
“I remember after their first date, Willa came into yoga and told us all about it. I could see it on her face then, she was completely in love with him.”
“Do the women talk about their love lives often in class?”
She laughs and shakes her head. “We’re mostly quiet, but she was excited that day, and Jenna wanted to talk about it. If I remember right, Lo and Jillian were there, too, and a few others. You all know each other, so they wanted the scoop.”
“You always talk about the people you know as if they’re separate from you,” I reply thoughtfully. “‘You all know each other.’ You live here too, Fal. You know them.”
“I guess I hadn’t thought of it like that.” She wipes her mouth clean and throws her napkin on her plate. “I’m done. I can’t shove another bite into my belly.”
“You ate it all.”
“I guess I was hungry.”
I grin. “Good, huh?”
“So good,” she agrees. “Where to now?”
“How about a late outside movie at Cunningham Park?”
“I’ve never done that either,” she says, clapping her hands in excitement. “Did you bring a blanket to lie on and everything?”
“I’m no amateur,” I reply as I hand the waitress my card. “Of course, I did.”
* * * *
“How long have they done this?” Fallon asks after we spread the quilt on the grass and I sit down. She lays her head in my lap, and I brush her dark hair off her cheek, enjoying her.
“I’m not sure,” I reply honestly. “For quite a long time now. I don’t usually come, but I thought it would be something fun to do with you.”
She smiles and presses a kiss to my bare leg, just below the hem of my cargo shorts.
“It’s definitely fun,” she says. “What are we seeing?”
“An action movie. Last summer’s Marvel blockbuster.”
“Nice,” she says, sitting up in excitement. “Anything with Chris Evans is a winner.”
“Chris Evans?” I cock a brow and reach into my backpack for a bag of popcorn that I popped and brought along. “That’s my competition?”
“There’s no competition,” she says, reaching in for a kernel. “He would win.”
I pull the popcorn away, making her laugh. “I don’t share my treats with women who insult me.”
“Come on, don’t be a sore loser,” she says and brushes her fingers through my hair. “I mean, the odds of me actually meeting Chris Evans are slim, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” I inform her, but share the popcorn. The sun has set, but it’s not completely dark yet. The park usually shows a family-friendly movie early, and most of the couples who brought their kids have packed up and gone home, leaving mostly adults in the park.
Fallon cuddles up to my side and lays her head on my arm, too short to reach my shoulder.
I lift my arm and wrap it around her shoulders, inviting her to scoot closer. She happily obliges me, and we spend a good portion of the movie snuggled up together until she gets tired and lies down once again with her head in my lap.