Page 66 of The Mr. Right Checklist

Chapter Nineteen

FLETCH

Molly and I weave around people sitting on blankets and in chairs near the gazebo at the park, where a band is playing country music. The temperature has dropped since this afternoon, and a damp, earthy scent thickens the air. Children are running around playing, teenagers are gathered in secret-sharing pods, couples are dancing and chatting, and I’m scanning the grounds for Destiny. Molly pulls me toward the right, and I spot Destiny sitting with Marshall, her megawatt smile lighting up the night. There’s a big wicker picnic basket beside her, and she’s leaning back on her palms, wearing a bright yellow long-sleeve shirt and shorts. Her hair spills over her shoulders, and her legs are crossed at the ankles, giving me a view of her purple-and-yellow checkered socks and the dirty sneakers that I’ve learned are her favorites. She looks so relaxed with Marshall, my gut churns.

We make a beeline for them, and Marshall’s laughter hits my ears like a bomb. They look up just as Molly traipses over the blanket and practically leaps into Destiny’s lap.

“Molly!” Destiny loves her up.

Marshall flashes a shit-eating grin as he pushes to his feet. “Destiny, this has been a blast. Thanks for letting me crash your evening, but I’ve got to take off.”

“You can crash my evening anytime.” She pops to her feet and hugs him. “I hope we see each other again soon.”

Marshall looks at me over her shoulder as he says, “I’m sure we will.”

I grip Molly’s leash tighter. He gives Molly a pet and walks over to me. “How’s it going, Fletch?”

“A’right. Looks like you’re having a good night.”

He claps a hand on my shoulder and leans in close, speaking low. “Glad you came to your senses.”

As he walks away, Destiny throws her arms around me. “I’m so glad you’re here!”

I’m intensely aware of how good and right she feels in my arms, but I’m even more aware of how wrong it felt trying to stay away from her. “Me too.”

“I would’ve invited you to join me, but I thought you were working on your lesson plans.”

“I was, but Molly got restless, so we came out for a walk.” I hate the bitter taste of that little white lie, but I know where we stand. “Then she saw her favorite person, and here we are.” I look down at Molly. “Right, girl?”

Molly pushes her snout into Destiny’s hand.

“Aw. Did you miss me, Mol?” She ruffles Molly’s fur. “Can you stay for a while, or do you have to get back?”

“I got enough done. We can stick around.”

“Yay. We have to celebrate.” She takes my hand and pulls me down to the blanket with her. Molly inserts herself between us. “Arjun texted a little while ago. He approved the budget, which means we have a proposal date! A week from Saturday, Paris is coming to Sunnyvale!”

“That’s fantastic.” I pull her into a kiss, and it’s the most natural thing I’ve done all night.

“I’m so glad you convinced me to use spreadsheets to keep track of everything, because it’s all in order. No hunting through my notebooks. Now it’s just a matter of firming up dates, placing orders, and putting my personal touch on all of it. Fletch, Get the Yes is going to get the yes!”

“I’m so damn proud of you. You’ve worked your ass off for this. We definitely need to celebrate.”

She beams. “Thank you.”

“Did you tell your folks yet?”

She shakes her head. “Marshall was here.”

The caveman in me beats his chest knowing she trusts me more than Marshall.

“Well, don’t keep them waiting.” I look up at the clouds. “Listen up, Amors. Your girl’s got big news.”

“I love how you get me.” She tilts her face up to the sky, taking a deep breath. “Mama, Daddy, that client I told you about just gave me the go-ahead to create what I hope is the perfect proposal. I’m as excited as I was when I learned to twirl a baton and as nervous as I was the second it flew from my fingers right before it crashed Mama’s lamp to the floor and shattered it to smithereens. Say a prayer for me. I love you.”

I picture her as an adorable little sprite with wild blond hair, trying her damnedest to learn to twirl a baton. It kills me that the people who raised her to be the free-spirited whirlwind that she is aren’t here to celebrate with her. “You’re going to do great.”

“I hope so. I want this so much, and now that I’m setting up meetings with other clients, it would be awful if Arjun’s proposal went badly.”