Page 94 of Tangled with the Tight End

“In a good way, right?”

“The best way.”

The next morning, I buckle Geese Witherspoon into the passenger seat and drive to Declan’s. I let myself in the front door, carrying Geese in one arm and a bag in the other.

I stop just shy of the family room.

But Declan surprises me, propelling on his crutches and coming up behind me.

I startle, losing my grip on Geese, juggling her, dropping the bag and flapping at her with my hands.

I catch her just before she hits the marble floor and shatters to her death.

“Oh my gosh!” I shout. “You scared the dickens out of me, Declan. And you nearly killed your surprise.”

“That’s my surprise?” He tips his chin toward Geese.

“Yes. Declan, meet Geese Witherspoon.” I look at Geese and wiggle her just a little. “Geese, meet Declan.”

He chuckles.

“Is there something more to the surprise?” he asks.

“Geese likes reading. As a matter of fact, last night she went to Geese’s book club.”

His smile is practically debilitating after thirty-six hours of not seeing him.

“You like reading,” he says as a point of fact more than a question.

“Geese and I have that in common,” I say.

Declan’s still smiling. And that’s all I wanted.

I walk toward the family room, talking to Declan as he follows behind me on his crutches.

“I don’t travel much,” I say. “I’ve never been anywhere outside Tennessee and North Carolina except for one trip I took with my book club friends to California. But, in books, I’ve been everywhere. I’ve been hundreds of people too. I get to live through the characters.”

“Huh,” Declan says.

He’s staring at Geese as I set her on the coffee table and pivot toward him.

“So, I’ll be bringing Geese to book club. But we only meet every few weeks or so. Otherwise, she’ll be at home on your porch.”

He nods. “I … um. Thanks.”

“Well, she won’t be naked, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Naked?”

“She has clothes. I just hadn’t dressed her yet.”

“Clothes?”

“Yes. Like this.” I pull a ballerina outfit out of the bag. “For when she’s feeling festive. Or this.” I pull out a raincoat and hat. “For bad weather.”

“She has clothes?”

“Of course. You don’t think I’d put a buck-naked goose on your porch, do you?”