Patti shook her head. “Well, I’m pissed. Ofall the people in this town to hook up with and he picksyour mother?”
I wanted to slug Patti in the face eventhough I was thinking the exact same thing about her dad. “Watchit.”
“Don’t act like you weren’t thinking thesame,” she said, and then looked at Payton. “Anyway, I didn’t cometo this stupid fort looking for him, I came here looking foryou.”
“Oh, really?” I asked. This ought to begood.
“Yeah. I’m tired of all of the dirty looksand I’m tired of feeling guilty. I’m sorry, okay?”
I couldn’t have been more shocked if Itried. “What?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t want to be mad anymore,and I certainly don’t want this hanging over our heads.”
“I guess I’m confused. Why?”
Patti’s ears reddened.
“What’s going on?”
Payton looked up in exasperation. “You’llnever believe who Patti has a crush on.”
I looked at Patti, and then toward thehouse. “Please tell me you don’t like one of my brothers.”
Patti made a face and then shook her head.“Hell no. I’m kind of nuts over Mitch.”
I started laughing at the moment, andrealized that nothing else could have possibly ruined Payton andI’s relationship. All the worries that I’d had, had finally left.Patti didn’t love him, and he obviously didn’t love her, and he wascoming with me. We were finally going to be together like it wasmeant to be.
I nodded. “I’m happy for you, Patti.”
Payton looked relieved that I wasn’t mad athim. Patti smiled. “Thanks. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll besisters?”
***
Payton
Two nights after Patti’s visit and Kerifinding out the whole bombshell about her mom and Patti’s dad, wewere finally able to finish the last part of the fort. I stopped atthe store on the way home from work, and picked up some steaks togrill and begged Mitch to hook us up with a bottle of celebratorywine.
When we both finished with what we had todo, and the steaks were cooking on Keri’s mom’s grill, we sat atthe picnic table on the back deck of Keri’s house and waited forthe food to finish cooking. Tonight was the night.
The fort was finally done.
Keri looked pretty in a cute floral sundresswith her hair hanging down over her shoulders. Her skin wassun-kissed, and she wore those cute Chuck Taylors that she’d alwaysworn when we were in high school. I was still wearing my dresspants from work, but went home and changed into a more casual shirtand put on some cologne.
“You look nice,” Keri said, grinning at me.“And you smell good, too.” She leaned in and kissed my neck. Iclosed my eyes and then I turned my head so my mouth could meet upwith hers.
Kissing Keri was better than anything thatI’d ever experienced.
“You look beautiful tonight,” I said, andthen touched the side of her head and then moved down to her cheek.“You’re always so damn beautiful.”
Keri smiled and we both just sat there,staring at each other.
My heart started thudding hard, and I knewthat I couldn’t wait any longer. I stood up, and took her hand inmine. I looked past the picnic table where we were sitting and sawKeri’s mom watching us with a smile on her face. I nodded towardthe grill, and she knew what I was asking her to do.
“Where are we going?” Keri asked,confused.
“To the fort for a second.”
“But the food,” Keri said, and then lookedback at the grill.
“Your mom’s going to take care of it forus.”
She scrunched her nose, and looked at meoddly. “What’s going on?”
“Just come with me. I want to show yousomething.”
We walked over to the steps and I wentfirst, taking her hand in mine and leading her up until we wereboth inside. It was finished, and it looked just like the oldplace, and nothing like it all the same. It felt different—moreadult.
“We’re done,” I said, and looked at Keri.She looked confused for a moment, and then smiled at the placearound her.
“Yeah, and it looks great.”
I nodded. “I don’t want to wait any longerwithout knowing.”
“What are you talking about?” Keri asked,and then she gasped as I got down on one knee.
She put her free hand up to her mouth.
“I’ve known you my entire life, Keri Anne,and I know that there’s no one in this world that I’d rather spendthe rest of my days with. I don’t want to go to Ohio withoutknowing where we stand. I know what I want. I want you, and nothingelse in this world matters.
“This past year was a nightmare, but it’staught me a few things. You’ve taught me how to laugh, how to love,how to miss you, how to hate you, how to hate everything, but mostof all, you taught me that it’s okay to make a mistake. You’vetaught me that it’s okay to cry, that it’s okay to want somethingmore than anything. Keri, I want you all the time.”
Keri laughed softly just then, and shesniffled. “I want you all the time, too.”
I grinned. “Please, say yes.”
Keri’s lip trembled, and she nodded. Ipulled out a small black box with a diamond solitaire ring inside.Keri’s eyes widened when she saw it.
“Oh, Payton.”
“You have to say it.”
“Yes. Infinity and to the moon, yes.”
“Can I get up now?” I asked, and Kerilaughed. I placed the diamond on her finger and then she shook herhead.
“Not if I have anything to do about it.”
Chapter Eleven
*Ohio State…*
Keri
I walked down thehallway in our small apartment building, and watched as the sun’srays swept through the window and shined off my engagement ring. Ismiled, and thought about our last night in the tree fort backhome. I thought about making love to Payton, and to finallytrusting in someone and something with all my heart.
I felt as if my heart would burst from beingso happy.
“What are you smiling for?” Alexis asked asshe caught up with me.
I held up my hand and then looked back ather. She held up hers, too.
“We’re a pair, aren’t we?” I asked.
Alexis nodded. “Yeah. Are you happy?”
“Undeniably so,” I admitted.
“Good, because I have a feeling that thissemester is going to be
