I ignore the dramatic eye roll, even though it’s cute as hell.
“Okay, then. Favorite genre?”
“I like romance, fantasy, thrillers, mysteries... Depends on the story.”
“Huh. Me too.”
“Even romance?” She sounds highly dubious.
“Would you like me to discuss details?”
A sweet blush rises over her cheeks. “No.”
I chuckle at her quick reply. I like that blush and want to see more of it. “You sure? Because a man can learn a lot from—”
“La, la, laaa.” She puts her hands over her ears. “Not listening.”
With an exaggerated sigh, I move my seat back to get in line with hers. “Okay, okay. On to the big question. Anime?”
“Of course.”
“Dub or no dub?”
“No dub. Dubs are awful.”
“Agreed.”
She wings a brow. “I’d have thought you’d like the dub since you hate reading.”
I shrug. “My loathing of the dubbed voices overrides having to read the subtitles.”
“You are both cultured and reasonable.”
Laughing, we take it from there, talking about everything and nothing until the captain comes on the speakers to announce landing preparations. Pen, who has become totally relaxed, smiles over at me. It’s like sunlight at the end of a long tunnel.
“You never said what you wanted to ask me.”
“Oh, that.” I buckle my seat belt. “I wanted to know if you’d marry me.”
Seven
Pen
Idon’t remember landing. I’m not even sure how I got from the plane to baggage claim. My brain is stuck on pause. A screeching freaking halt. Because, what the fuck? How dare he? We were getting along so great. I had been feeling good—like I was floating, basking in the sunlight of his regard. August was funny, engaging—the guy I’d seen glimpses of my whole life but never really met. And suddenly there he was, just as I’d dreamed he’d be.
And then this. This fucking joke. Marry him?Har.Just hardy-har-har. So funny, August. Really.
“You’re fuming.” He sounds concerned. Worried. He should be. I have drawing pens in my bag and I’m not afraid to stick them in painful places.
“I’m not.” I don’t know how I manage to get the words out so calmly. But I’m proud of my aplomb.
“You so are. You sound like a constipated robot.”
Well, then.
“And you sound like a . . . a . . . big penis spew!”
A woman walking past does a double take.
