“Meg,” I said, wanting to take her in my arms but wondering if she wasn’t going to like that. Not to mention, the townspeople in line were obviously gawking, phones ready.
“You want to go somewhere more private?” I asked her.
“Sure. There’s a small park next block over.”
We walked in silence. The sun was high overhead, and the air smelled like flowers. I tried to plan out what I was going to say.
“Meg.” I turned to her when we were alone.
“Hunter,” she said at the same time.
“Look,” I told her. “I overreacted.”
“No you didn’t. I told you…”
“I don’t want to lose you,” I said. “I don’t have a big, grand gesture planned. I don’t have flowers or a car or a new house. I just want you back in whatever way you’ll have me.”
Meg stepped up and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me down for a kiss. “You know I can’t quit you, Hunter,” she said, smiling up at me. “You were always there for me. Maybe it wasn’t exactly above board, but to be fair, you were there.”
“My family’s a wreck,” I reminded her. “I’m a wreck.”
She snorted. “My life is a disaster. I have a whole ecosystem growing in my car, and I’m planning on sleeping in my office tonight.”
“I’ll drop out of the election if that’s what you want,” I offered.
“What? Absolutely not!” she exclaimed. “I’m going to beat you fair and square.”
I looked down at her. “Are you sure you want me back? You could have—”
“Who?” Meg said, raising an eyebrow. “Walter? Who was out there committing fraud with Karen of all people?”
“I don’t know. There are nicer guys out there.”
“The feral bunny guy? The fish guy? The practical joker with the lasagna?”
“The who?”
“Never mind. Honestly, Hunter…” She held a hand to my forehead. “I’m a little concerned at this sudden onset humbleness from you. Did you catch something from the alligator?”
“I’m just tired,” I admitted. “Enola made us scour the house all night.”
Meg let out a peal of laughter. “That was nice of Greg to take them in.”
“He doesn’t know yet. It’s going to be a surprise,” I said grimly. “I expect to hear all about it.”
Meg, still laughing, laced her fingers with mine.
“Are you seriously forgiving me, just like that?” I asked her.
“Are you seriously forgivingmejust like that?” she replied, smiling up at me.
“I feel like it should be a little harder,” I said. “I’ve literally been waiting for this day for years.”
“I’m still going to have to be taking care of my sisters, and you’re going to be taking care of your brothers, so it’s not like it’s going to get easier, but it is nice to have someone to commiserate with,” she said, pressing her face to my chest.
“Isaac thinks he’s marrying Minnie at age eighteen,” I said.
“Over my dead body,” Meg said, glaring up at me.
