I’m usually the beet-red one around this woman, but her father has not only her cheeks but her neck bright red.
“Dad!” she complains, but her dad just smiles smugly.
Happiness is basically leaking from his pores, not that I’m surprised. Not only is his wife on his arm, beaming at him, but Holiday Ridge’s Valentine’s Day Celebration is a hit. There are no empty parking spots at any of the businesses, and so many couples are here to celebrate the love they have for each other. There are hearts everywhere, hanging from strings, blowing in the breeze, and making the whole space feel very lovey-dovey.
Which is the point, I guess.
Sadie went all out with lights and huge inflatable teddy bears that are holding big bouquets of flowers. Every kind of vendor imaginable has a booth, selling chocolate-covered strawberries, candies, flowers, jewelry… And there’s even a spot where you can have a picture drawn of you and your valentine. While most of the festival is open to everyone, there is also a section just forsingles to mingle and try to find a valentine. The number of red, white, and pink roses decorating everything around us could have funded the art program, but apparently, that was my job.
“I don’t know who kissed whom, but apparently, he likes kissing our dear Maggie since Dr. Aldridge made sure to buy out her time slot at my kissing booth,” Sadie says as she bites into a candy apple. “I hope you were reimbursed fully.”
I hide my smirk against Maggie’s temple as she speaks. “He was, thank you very much.”
Alex chuckles as Mary Ann beams. “How sweet!”
Alex nods. “Listen, a bit of advice. She gets mad, just kiss her. She’s sad? Kiss her. She’s happy? Kiss her. You get it?”
I feel my face flushing as I nod. I don’t have much experience with parents of the girls I date, but maybe that’s because they weren’t meant to be anything more than memories and learning experiences. Because with each day I spend with Maggie, the more I know she was made just for me.
For me to make happy.
For me to make laugh.
And for me to love wholly and completely.
“I hear you, sir.”
Alex waves me off then squeezes my shoulder. “Call me Alex. All my friends do.”
Mary Ann gives me a sweet smile, one she gives me a lot when I find myself over at the bookshop flirting with her daughter in an attempt to get her to smile at me. Even though she hasn’t slept without me since that first night she stayed over, I still have this need to flirt with her.
To show her how badly I want her with every breath I take.
“I can’t wait to take you to your first hockey game,” Alex muses, and I nod happily.
“It’s going to be awesome.”
“Yes! Then we can read a hockey romance!” Mary Ann says with a little clap of her hands.
Sadie gives me a look. “Well, aren’t you the whole package?”
“He is. Go get your own!” Maggie cuddles into my side, and I gaze down at her lovingly. Her brows pull together, and then she looks up at me, of course catching me staring at her. “Are you happy to see me, or is that a rock in your pocket?”
I bark out a laugh as I shake my head. “All you, pretty girl.”
But that’s a lie. I look out toward the front entrance to Promise Pond, where a line is curving almost around the whole pond. People have been lining up all day, waiting for their chance to purchase a lock and have it engraved with their initials. My stomach flips a bit as I look at all the eager faces, ready to lock in their love and hope the lore of the lock is true.
I swallow past the nerves as my eyes settle on the woman I love.
Her brows draw in a bit. “My parents are right there. Can’t you get it under control?”
I scoff. “Around you? Never.”
She beams at that, and I kiss her nose.
“Listen, D,” Alex says. “I have this weird mole I need you to look at.”
“Jesus Christ. Run, kids,” Mary Ann pleads as she tries to drag her husband away. Maggie snickers as I smile against her temple. “Come On Over, Baby” by Ty Myers blares across the speaker system, and I smile down at her. The song reminds me of all the ways I want Maggie. As mine. I thread my fingers through hers, bringing her knuckles to my lips before I ask, “Will you dance with me?”
