Page 22 of Almost Not Quite Engaged

She shrugs confused. It’s a terrible idea but my life has been ruled by terrible ideas. I add, “You’ve got nothing to lose and I have everything to lose.”

“Name one thing.” Her hands clamped on her hips and she’s leaning into my space.

“My show, seeing the world, autonomy, my home and financial security in a way.”

“Dignity, ego, and your hair,” she counters.

“What is that?”

“Three things I think would be worse for you than losing those.” I laugh again. This fucking woman is funny.

‘Pretty sure I could say the same of you.”

“I have no dignity, I ate mulch for breakfast.”

I put my hands on her shoulders and square her body to mine. Her eyes soften. “I never thought I’d say this sentence. But Kat Taylor, you’re the only one who can help me.”

Something moves across her face. She covers it immediately. “I’m liking this. Is there more? Like how pretty I am, brilliant, clever or how desperately you need me?”

“You’ll hear all of that. I’m leaving right after I change.” I nod at the car. “Come to Hawaii with me.”

She stares at me. “What? It’s not a local Mormon wedding?”

“Hawaii. All expenses paid, five-star, come with me.”

“I don’t even have clean underwear. I brought dish towels.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I brought my laundry for them to do.”

“You brought dish towels to a wellness retreat?”

“And my bath mat. And sheets.”

“You can charge clothes to the room when we get there.”

“Like a Colin in Vegas thing? I’m not wearing ball hugging shorts.” I laugh again. She looks at the car then back to me. “Tell me it’s a nice hotel.”

“Fairmont.”

“I need a haircut.”

“Fine.”

“And a real massage.”

“All of it. Just come.”

“Why do you need me? This is very suspect.” She narrows her eyes at me.

“If I tell you, you won’t go.”

“Try me.”

The desert light is doing it again and making everything in my view look glowy and beautiful.

“Give me three reasons you think you shouldn’t go, and I’ll give you three reasons why it has to be you.”