“I’d give that boy a kidney.”
“He’s lucky to have you. Any chance I can speak to him?”
“If he doesn’t want to marry you, then I’m going to support him.”
“I don’t blame you. Wait. Huh?”
“He’s not giving you a ring, honey.”
“Oh, heisgiving me a ring,honey. My sister’s boyfriend needs it so he can propose before he panics and moves to Germany.”
Gus stroked his mustache. “Well, darlin’, I’d say now you’ve lost me. Just how exactly do you know Nate?”
Good question. Howdidshe know Nate? Felt like so much had happened since she first met him. “He refused to give up the proposal bench, so then we had to pretend to be on a date in order to fool my sister, at which point we might’ve accidentally bumped lips, but thenthe bridge fell apart, and in all the chaos that followed I panicked and forgot that I’d hidden the ring in his pocket, so now I’m here to get it back. That’s the short version, anyway.”
Gus’s brows lifted. “I think I’m going to need you to expand to the full version. What was that about bumping lips?”
“Can you please just help me find Nate?”
Without taking his eyes off her, Gus twisted his head and yelled, “Nate? The wacky Nebraska lady’s here to see you.”
“Nate’s here?” Oh, hallelujah. McKenna could almost bump lips with Gus at hearing that glorious news.
Floorboards creaked and Nate stepped into the room a few seconds later.
McKenna’s breath hitched. “It’s you,” McKenna said on an exhale. “It’s finally you.” Before she could stop herself, she rushed forward, wrapping her arms around him.
“It’syou?” Nate’s voice next to her ear didn’t sound nearly as breathy and relieved. “What are you doing here?”
McKenna dropped her arms and stepped back. He could at least sound alittlehappy to see her again. He was scowling worse than the first time they met.
“Were you expecting a different wacky Nebraska lady?” said Gus.
“Yes, actually. This is Wacky Nebraska Lady Number One. I was expecting Wacky Nebraska Lady Number Two.”
“Did you bump lips with that lady too?” Gus asked.
“I saidaccidentally,” McKenna felt the need to point out. “And I’m not Wacky Nebraska Lady Number One.” She felt the need to point that out as well. Her joy at finding Nate was quickly evaporating.
Especially when he said, “You’re not here to steal more things from me, are you?”
McKenna shook her head at Gus. He wasn’t buying this, was he? She crossed her arms, looking at Nate. “Name one thing I’ve stolen.”
“My bench.”
McKenna turned to face Gus. “It was a public bench, so...”
“Kisses.”
“What?” McKenna said, returning her attention to Nate. “Never.”
“Try thrice.”
“Thrice? Who talks like that? Oh, wait. I remember now. Poet-pondering weirdos. And you callmewacky. Also, for the record, you gave me permission for that last lip bump. Now, can you just give me back my ring?” She held out her palm. Nate stared at it, then met her eyes like she’d just switched languages.
“What ring?”
“The ring!” She pointed to her bare ring finger as if that explained everything.
