He leans in and whispers to me, “I just know this guy’s not your type. I may not know much, but I know that. So I believe you when you said it’s not him.”
I turn to Will. “Excuse me. We’re leaving for the burial soon,” I say before walking away.
* * *
We pile into our cars and follow the funeral procession through town from one end to the other until we arrive at the cemetery.
I sing along with everyone else to Come Labor On while Dad and the other pallbearers lower Auntie Sue’s casket into the ground.
Afterward, we drive to Cybil’s house where she has a three-course meal spread out in her dining room. Miraculously, Will has disappeared, but before I know it, Cindy’s next to me asking if I can help her find Jenson a good woman.
Jenson’s across the table with my mother, who’s rambling on to him about Will and what a shame it is that I won’t give him a second chance.
“I think Jenson can work out his own love life,” I say to Cindy, trying to be as polite as I can.
Vivian’s next to me on my other side and she laughs. “God, if only my mother had learned that rule.”
I want to ask Vivian why she’s here, but when I see Ed putting a piece of meat on her plate, the light dawns. Apparently wakes are a good place to meet someone.
“I’m just worried,” Cindy says as Sheldon shakes his head and shoots Jenson a sympathetic look. “He’s already been divorced once. And you too Olivia. I want to see you both settled and happy.”
Not one minute later, my phone buzzes with a text.
You and me. I’m taking you home after. I know you’ve been avoiding me, but don’t even try to argue me.
I look over at Jenson, and his hot green eyes lock onto mine.
I give him a nod, and he walks away from Mom at the same time that I get up from the table and stand by the bay window. Jenson joins me as I stare out at the rain, which provides a welcome relief from Cindy, who’s behind me again and talking in a loud whisper.
“Missy called last night to pay her respects to Auntie Sue,” Cindy says. “I had forgotten about her.”
I raise my eyebrows questioningly at Jenson.
“Missy from my senior prom,” he explains. “She met Auntie Sue one time. Prom night when we took pictures. Missy and I were always just friends.”
“She read about the death in the obituary,” Cindy says. “And she was just so sweet and kind and single…”
Of course Missy’s still single. Why else would she scour the obituaries and find a way to try to worm her way back into the life of some guy she had a crush on in high school?
Meanwhile, Mom is STILL talking about Will, this time to Sheldon, who doesn’t want to hear it.
“Mom, the guy’s a tool,” Sheldon says. “Let’s call a spade a spade here.”
“Sheldon, don’t be rude,” Mom admonishes him. “If not Will, then maybe that sweet boy you mentioned the other day to me, Cindy. What was his name again—Howard?”
“Howard!” Cindy says. “Olivia, I think you’d love him. He’s corporate like you are, and…”
And then it happens. Jenson loses it. But not in a way that would look reasonable and acceptable. No, he loses it in a way only he can.
He bends down to put his plate on the ground.
Then he stands up straight, and out of absolutely nowhere, he puts his hand on the back of my neck, pulls me flush to him, and kisses me.
Right on the mouth.
I hear the loud gasps as I put my arms around his waist and kiss him back.
We don’t kiss for long, just long enough to make our intentions clear.
