“Thanks, but then why didn’t you sleep in, too?” She took the juice and guzzled it. She was thirstier than she realized.
“Because I never do, remember?” Lani plopped down on the other bed. “Doesn’t matter how long I stay up, I’m out of bed at my regular time.” She didn’t sound particularly happy about it.
“It’s because you’re anal. I’d forgotten that now that we don’t live in the same house.” She put down the empty glass. “Are you bummed that they’re selling it?”
“Kind of. I have some savings. I might be able to swing a home loan.”
“You’d buy it?”
“I don’t know. It’s not like I need a three-bedroom house in the suburbs. Anyway, I have time to think about it since it’s not on the market yet.” She took back the glass. “So, how was it? Not that I need to ask. He clearly wore you out.”
“It was perfect, except for one thing.”
“He snores.”
“No. At least I don’t think so. I conked out.” And maybe she wouldn’t tell Lani about the proposal. “It’s a wonder I heard the alarm.”
“I’m glad you did. I heard Rance’s go off at four and almost felt sorry for the guy. But he did it to himself.”
And Lani had conveniently switched topics. “Rance has been awesome. He offered to let me drive over, and Ilovedit. I drove back here this morning, too. I can handle Thunder just fine and I know the way, now. I want to save him those extra trips.”
“Did you tell him that?”
“I said I’d ask you, and he said you’re the boss.”
Her sister’s lips twitched like she was trying not to smile.
“I’m totally safe and I’ll have my phone.”
“Okay. Now that you’re checked out on it, I’m not so worried.”
“I’m telling you, it’s a blast. You sit up so high, like you’re queen of the world and your chariot is at your command, ready to take you wherever you want. Driving Thunder’s a power trip. You should ask him if he’ll let you?—”
“No, thanks.” Lani rolled her eyes. “But I can see why that truck appeals to him.”
Sara opened her mouth to defend Rance’s choice of vehicle but changed her mind. “Yeah, now that I think about it, Thunder’s not your style.”
“Nope, but if you’re happy driving it, that simplifies things.”
“Sure does.”
“What kept last night from being perfect?”
Damn, she’d circled back. Time to minimize the event. “I’m going to blame it on jetlag. And maybe being Irish. They seem to be an emotional bunch. ”
“What did he do?”
“He proposed, but I’m sure?—”
“No!” Lani clapped a hand over her mouth and glanced toward the closed door as if someone might charge through it because of her outburst.
“Probably just a knee-jerk reaction. The first time was incredible for both of us. That’s unusual. He said the words just popped out, and I believe him.”
“But did he take it back?”
“No, he doubled down. Maybe he felt he had to, like once he’d committed, he had to stick to his guns. When I said it wasn’t even a remote possibility and we should just drop the subject, he did.” She was fudging a little. He’d asked whether she’d consider marrying him if all the obstacles were removed. She’d refused to answer him, but the question was still very much on the table.
“Then you think it was a mistake and he didn’t know how to back out of making the offer?”
