We’ll do it.
“I wasn’t looking for this,” I whisper.
He envelops me in the warmest, safest, most perfect hug ever. “That’s always when the best things come.”
The best things.
We’rebest things.
Light truly does come from darkness.
And right now—right now, I know everything will be okay.
We’ll save our home.
We’ll keep falling more and more in love.
And life will never be hard again.
Fine, fine, it probably will.
But this?
This is perfection.
37
IT’S A CHAOTIC BUT WONDERFUL LIFE
Heath
Lav takesthe news that Cricket and I are officially dating well.
As well as she can, anyway.
“Will you still slay dragons with me, or are you just going to make moon eyes at my dad all the time?” she asks Cricket over dinner, which we’re eating together at the high counter in the kitchen. Grilled cheese, at Lav’s request, with a side of applesauce and ice cream sandwiches for dessert.
She could’ve asked for an early birthday cake every night from now until her party in eight days, and I would’ve given it to her.
Anything to make this easier.
“Who told you about moon eyes?” Cricket asks her instead of answering the question.
“Aunt Pip. She said Dori makes moon eyes at the mailman.”
“He’s a lot cuter than your dad,” Cricket replies. “I think we’re safe.”
Lav nods once. “That’s a really good point. I’m glad being in love won’t turn you stupid.”
“Same. I’ve been there before. Not doing it again.”
“Are you going to stay in my dad’s bedroom and make funny dog noises?”
I choke on my grilled cheese.
“Unlikely,” Cricket says. “That would keep all of us from sleeping, and sleep’s important.”
“But you could stay in my dad’s room andnotmake funny dog noises?”
