Page 23 of Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming
PATRICK
P atrick takes a seat and waits for Courtney to join him.
He watches Aimee discuss the impetuous inspiration for The Prince’s Journey .
“I suffered a heartbreaking blow from a man I dearly loved. We were forced apart due to a difference in our social class. I wanted him to fight for me, but he couldn’t. So, I wrote a story where he could.”
“What happened to the guy?” someone yells out.
“He and I found our way back to each other.”
The crowd murmurs with excitement.
“Does this mean?—?”
“Hold on, hold on. Please, let’s make our way to the mics and ask our questions. It’s time for the Q&A.”
Courtney sits down next to him with more swag and merch than she had before. It’s a good thing he saved her an end seat, or else she would have a hard time passing people with all of her stuff.
“I’m going to have to mail home so much stuff, Daddy.”
“I can see that, pumpkin.” Patrick smiles.
He loves spoiling Courtney, but he does make sure she knows to be respectful.
When she was six, she had a full-on spoiled brat phase that he had to nip in the bud.
She saw her mother acting so entitled and began to imitate her behaviors.
Patrick stopped buying her whatever she wanted, and she learned to appreciate what she already had.
Now, when he buys her stuff, she knows to show appreciation.
“Thank you again for bringing me,” she says.
Patrick puts his arm around her and kisses her temple. “Anytime, baby girl.”
“Daddy?”
“Yep.”
“I overheard your talk with Mr. Trammell.”
“You did? How much did you hear?”
“A lot.”
“How did I not see you?”
“The restrooms are by the vending machines. I saw and heard you, but you two couldn’t see me.”
“Oh, okay. Well, sweetheart?—”
“It’s okay, Daddy. You don’t have to explain. It’s kind of like how mom kept wanting you to be with her, but Mr. Trammell and Aimee were an actual couple—so it’s a little different.”
Patrick smiles at his daughter’s assessment.
He never believed in lying to Courtney. She once asked him if he and her mom were ever in love.
Patrick answered her honestly and said no.
This pissed Sheila off. She claims it was because she thought it would confuse Courtney, but all she did was say “okay,” and then asked for a cookie.
Since then, he’s always sanitized the truth, but he’s never hidden it from her.
“Exactly. This doesn’t make you like his books less, does it?”
“No, if anything, I like them even more. Something about seeing him do something so silly for a woman made him seem … I don’t know. Human.”
“Yeah, our humanity is never more present than when we do something embarrassing.”
“By the way, you should propose to Aimee now.”
“What? No, I wanted to ask over a romantic dinner on the last night here. I figured you could hang out with Bridget and her kids. I already asked her.”
“No, Dad. Do it now! It’ll be so cute.”
“And it will be a nice addition for your show.”
“That, too.”
Patrick laughs. “I’m not prepared, sweetheart.”
“Don’t worry, I got you.”
Courtney gets up and heads to the nearest microphone. Patrick follows her.
“Pumpkin, this is not necessary.”
“Daddy, hush. I know what I’m doing.” Courtney grins.
She gets to the microphone and smiles. “Hi, Aimee.”
“Hi, Courtney!”
“Everyone, this is my dad, Patrick. Daddy, say hi to the people.”
Patrick gives a toothless, shy grin and waves.
“My dad is the guy Aimee was talking about. He’s the inspiration for the prince in her books.”
People murmur loudly, saying things like, “Oh my god!”
A guy behind them speaks up. “Man, that’s amazing. Can I take a picture with you?”
Courtney covers the microphone with her hand, “one second, my father has something to ask Aimee.”
“Oh my god! Is he going to propose?” the guy yells loud as hell.
Patrick and Courtney look at each other. She smiles sheepishly and hunches her shoulders.
Patrick takes the ring box out of his pocket. By now, people are photographing him and cheering. He gets down on one knee, and before he can say anything, Aimee is rushing toward him and knocks him down, kissing him all over his face. Everyone claps and cheers louder.
Patrick winces. “Ow, my back.”
“I’m sorry, Patrick.”
“It’s okay, baby.” He groans.
Aimee lays on top of Patrick and kisses him on the lips. She gets up and helps him onto his feet. They’re both standing in front of the mic.
Courtney is standing nearby, beaming.
“I love you, Patrick.”
“I love you, too, Aimee.”
“Are you really about to propose?”
“I was going to do it later tonight.”
The crowd jeers, saying things like, “No, Patrick. Do it now!”
“I guess I have to give the people what they want.”
Patrick gets down on one knee. “Aimee Turner, I have loved you since I was eight, and I’ve never stopped. Please say that you’ll be mine forever.”
“Yes, pattycake.”
He gets up, and they kiss.
The crowd goes wild.
Three weeks later, the happy couple celebrate their engagement with friends.
The viral moment of Patrick’s proposal made Aimee’s book sales skyrocket.
She was invited to one event after another.
After booking meetings and appearing on podcasts, she and Patrick were finally able to pencil in an engagement party thrown by Ranson and Lyric.
Ranson is having the get-together catered, with a bartender serving themed cocktails featuring samples of his brother’s rum. The menu is Italian, Aimee’s favorite. They’re having spinach and artichoke flatbread, antipasto bites, arancini and caprese salad.
“Oh, Bridget, I forgot to tell you Courtney no longer has a crush on LJ.” Aimee giggles.
“Good! She’s not allowed to like boys yet,” Patrick laments.
“Be prepared, poppa, cause it’s happening,” Aimee teases. “Besides, when she kept staring at him during the San Fran Rom Fan Con farewell party, it was pretty obvious she has boys on the brain.”
Patrick lets out an aggrieved sigh.
“What made her change her mind about him?” Bridget munches on some flatbread.
“When he patted her on the head and called her ‘kiddo,’” Aimee answers.
“If that’s the case, we’re going to have to be super vigilant with our new niece. I remember being that age and having a penchant for older men,” Lyric says.
“Ugh, Lyric please.” Patrick pouts.
“Yeah, keep off my boy. Our little Courtney bean is growing up too fast as it is.” Ranson pats him on the shoulder. “Anyway, you ladies and your love lives are more interesting. Ukweli is now two for four. Which one of you ladies do you think is next?”
Suchi sips her cocktail and looks at Bridget, who looks back. Both ladies shrug.