Page 69 of Mr. Green

I want the outside of me to match how good I feel again. I want toshowI’m back to myself. Let’s be honest, another big part of me wants to look sexy for Grant for once, instead of sloppy. I look through the options Paige shows me and approve a yellow maxi dress, an army green A-line dress, some cute tops that aren’t black, and a sexy little thing for bedroom activities.

All the clothes will be here tomorrow. I can return them if I need to, but Paige picked some cute options, so I think I’ll be solid.

“Thanks, Paige!”

“Of course!”

We finish watching the movie and then she’s off. I go to lay down with thankful thoughts running through my head. Queenie cuddles next to me and the only thing that would make this night better is if Grant were here.

Chapter 44

Grant

Work has dragged this week. I usually love being the first one in the office and the last to leave, but all I can think about is being with Lana again. It feels like months, but it’s only been days since I’ve seen her. That’s not even true, since I see her on a video call each night.

She seems different. She hasn’t cried or brought up anything sad this week. She’s been laughing a lot, making me a lucky guy. I love to see her cute dimple. I stroke my beard, smiling to myself, thinking of her. I must look like a fool. Whatever, I’m happy to be pussy-whipped and I can’t wait to see her tonight.

I’m supposed to go over to her place and then drive down to the wedding location tomorrow, but I’m surprising her instead. I have a romantic night planned by the beach. I know she likes the water.

My plane just landed and I brought a carry on so I don’t need to go to baggage claim. The way the airport is laid out, I need to walk that way anyway. I’m so focused I almost don’t pay attention to the woman waving her arms around like a crazy person at...me.

Then it clicks. I seeher,standing there waiting for me in a flowy, yellow dress hitting at her ankle. Her hair is down in long waves. She’s wearing a little bit of makeup and she’s wearing the necklace I got her. She looks like a dream come true. My Sunshine. She’s back.

“Hi! I’m glad I caught you,” she tells me as she charges over. “I knew you’d have to come this way so I waited as close to the gate as I could.”

I’m stunned. I just keep staring in awe. There’s a woman this beautiful who is here forme.The same beautiful person is doing something nice forme.

“Oh, gosh. Maybe I shouldn’t have surprised you.” Lana’s fidgeting with her hair and dress. “Geeze. I wanted to pick you up so I could see you quicker. This was too much, you’re right. We aren’t even in a relationship and I just showed up here...” She trails off as she shifts her weight from foot to foot.

Finally, my brain pulls it together. “No, it wasn’t too much! I just wasn’t expecting you to be here.” I put my hand behind my neck. “You look gorgeous! I’ve never had a girl pick me up at the airport. I have Andrew. I didn’t know you were coming. Ilovethat you are here!” I pull her into my grasp and hold her head, leaning her back in place so I can kiss her.

Minutes fly by, maybe hours. I’m so lost in her, in this moment. I hold her face in my hands as I pull away. “Thank you. I’m so glad to see you! This is the best surprise I could’ve asked for.”

She blushes and gives me a small giggle. “That’s good. You had me worried for a minute.”

No one has ever picked me up at the airport before, not even my parents. The gesture is the sincerest thing anyone has ever done for me. The girls I’ve dated always liked being the one picked up. They liked when I would come to them or my driver would take them somewhere. They liked the status, not me. Lana isn’t like any of them. She’s as committed as I am and she’s showing it right now.

“Come on, I have another surprise for you at my place,” Lana says as she pulls me towards the exit.

I immediately take out my phone and text Andrew to head over to Lana’s and wait for us there. I can still pull my surprise off. This was not part of my plan, but I can make it work. I was supposed to be the one who is romantic and surprising her. She’s on the same page as I am, apparently.

She leads us to her car. If I don’t have a driver, I prefer to be the one driving. Since it’s her car, I reluctantly get in the passenger seat. She has a simple, economic, white car. It’s clean inside and smells like lavender. It’s the scent she always picks. I love the fresh and delicate smell on her.

I don’t want to stop holding her hand, but she uses two hands to drive. I was thinking it was the right decision to let her drive her own car, but I fully regret that now. Lana is swerving between cars, honking her horn accidently as she turns to look over her shoulder at her blind spot. She doesn’t brake smoothly at all. I have to brace myself on the dashboard to not fly through the windshield. I might need to hire Andrew full time in Washington for her.

She observes my face halfway home. “I don’t drive a lot. It’s not my favorite thing.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” I mumble.

She starts laughing hysterically as I brace my arms and legs on the edges of the car. I’m hoping we make it to her place alive. When there’s a place to pull over, I tell her, “Can you park over there? It’s coming up.”

I can’t take this anymore. The woman’s driving is a liability. She pulls over after cutting someone off.

“Get out. I’ll take it from here,” I say as I open my door and stalk towards hers.

“Thank you!” she says, relief pouring from her words.

Once we’re both settled in our proper seats for the rest of the drive, she speaks up. “I guess I won’t be surprising you like that again.”