Page 193 of You've Got Hate Mail
I don’t answer.
We just stare at each other, me panting, her with her eyes going rounder and rounder and her lips parting more with each second.
“Oh my stars,” she whispers.
I pause.
Then wince.
“It’s a terrible idea, isn’t it?”
“No. Cricket, it’s fucking brilliant.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck the trolls!” Lav cries from the doorway into the kitchen.
Caro chokes on the white wine she’s sipping.
“What’s the rule?” Ginny says to Lav.
“We only experiment with our words at home, not at school or camp,” Lav recites with an eye roll. “I know, Ginny.”
“Can she be my flower girl?” Caro asks Ginny.
“She can be your flower dragon slayer,” Ginny replies. “If it’s okay with her daddy.”
They all look at me, like I’m the one who’s supposed to convince him.
As if Lav won’t sayDaddy, can I be a flower dragon slayer?and Heath won’t say yes.
“Have you met the man?” I say.
“Seriously, have you met the man?” Lav parrots.
Caro claps a hand over her mouth like that’ll be enough to hide how amused she is.
Ginny smiles at Lav. “I suppose I have,” she says. “But we still have to ask.”
He’ll say yes.
It’s what he does whenever he can.
For all of us.
34
WINETANIC
Cricket
Pip and Ten miss dinner,which is in the dining room tonight instead of the eat-in kitchen, in honor of our guest.
Lav’s so wound up that Heath takes her back to their place for dinner.
I wish I could join them, but I’m needed for wedding plans and putting our best foot forward for Caro.
