Page 122 of Falling for You

Aspen groans. “So… we’re trapping them.”

I bounce up from my chair more excited now, already imagining my plan unfolding. Just when I think I was getting into a dry spell of good ideas I pull this amazing one out of my sleeve.

“They’re perfect for each other! I seriously cannot believe we haven’t thought of this sooner. Remember two years ago when we were at the spa and I was swiping through Tinder looking for you, and Lana said—and I quote—‘All I want is a hot Italian man who will make me weak in the knees?”

He squints. “Vaguely.”

I point at him, triumphant. “And Gio? He’s Italian, he’s hot, he would make her weak in the knees!”

Aspen sighs the dramatic sigh of a man who knows he’s about to be dragged into one of his wife’s ridiculous schemes. “Oh God, not another one of your crazy ideas. Lana’s gonna hate it, you know she will.”

I grin wider. “You call them crazy until they work, trust me, Lana doesn’t know what she wants until it’s standing right in front of her, shirtless, with a charming accent and a bottle of red wine.”

He laughs, shaking his head. “I’m guessing I don’t even have a choice in this. Do I at least get a kiss for this?”

“Just so we’re clear, no, you don’t have a choice. But yes, I will kiss you now.’

I grab his face and plant a huge kiss on his cheek. He groans again, but I can tell he’s secretly into it.

He lives for my chaos.

I pause for one second before heading out. “I say this with love: if you ever wear those dirty new balances again, I will personally burn them, you’re not forty. We can find you a neutral that doesn’t scream “dad who gave up.”

He gives me a look.

“Don’t look at me like that unless you’re ready to back it up with actions. And by actions, I mean pinning me to that wall,” I tell him.

He rolls his eyes at me and I turn back to what I was doing.

I grab my phone and start scrolling for Lana’s number as I skip down the hallway, practically giddy.

This girl has no idea what’s coming… but something tells me she’s going to love it.

I mean, how can she not? All she’s ever wanted is a hot Italian man and I found her one! Plus, she hasn’t been in a relationship since Evan and since he cheated on her, that gave her major trust issues. The girl hasn’t been in a relationship since and as much as I try to understand her love of solitude and independence, I don’t.

It’s time for her to have a man that treats her like a princess.

The plan is forming faster than I can process it, but it feels so right.

I rub my little tummy and scroll through my contacts list until Lana’s name pops up, the little picture of us at the cabin as her contact photo. Her sticking her tongue out, me mid-laugh. We’ve been through so much together.

And now?

Now she’s about to step into something neither of us could’ve predicted.

Aspen watches me from the kitchen, arms crossed and that half-smirk on his face like he knows I’m about to wreak absolute havoc, in the best way.

My finger hovers over the call button.

This is it, I don’t even hesitate.

I press it.

The phone rings once... then twice…

And just like that, Lana has no idea her life is about to change. God she’s lucky to have me.

Lana answers on the third ring, “Heyyy!” She says, “Shouldn’t you be in Costa Rica?”

The End