Page 53 of The Disasters of Dating (Love Connections #6)

POPPY

You have quite the juggling act on your hands today.

Your attention will be divided as things may fly at you from all directions.

But don’t forget yourself in the juggle.

You’ll have a great deal of responsibility, on an important road.

Don’t shy away from a starring role. You have the diplomacy and peaceful nature required to be a successful leader.

Ten Months Later

I’m sitting on the plane as we wait for everyone to file down the aisle, watching out the window as the baggage handlers grab suitcases off the conveyor belt and toss them into the trolley.

One of those suitcases is mine. I’m certain I overpacked.

I mean, who needs a large suitcase for a five-day trip?

I smile. Keaton didn’t even raise an eyebrow when I rolled it out to his car.

I glance over at him. He’s busy typing a text.

I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since I tried to have him arrested in The Wandering Reader.

Who would have thought after that dinner, we’d be in this position?

Who’d have guessed that I’d be coming to New Hampshire for the Fourth of July?

Keaton says you haven’t experienced Independence Day until you’ve celebrated it in the colonies.

I tried to remind him we prefer to be called the United States these days.

This is our last hurrah before I pack up and move into my apartment before I start my MBA at the University of Utah.

I applied to and was accepted to some great schools around the country.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that staying in-state wasn’t just for my mom.

I needed family around, too. But I did decide it was time to move out.

Part of that could be that my mom and Adam are engaged to be married.

They haven’t set an official date, wanting everyone to be ‘good and ready’ before they say their vows.

I tend to think that part of it might also have to do with the fact that they just paid for Sadie’s wedding last month.

Warmth envelopes my hand. “Are you ready?” Keaton asks.

I nod tentatively. I don’t know why I’m nervous about seeing his family. I came to New Hampshire for Thanksgiving last year. And there was Evan and Shay’s wedding. Even so, I don’t see them very much—except for Evan and Shay. We see them all the time. Sometimes more than Keaton would like.

We stand up, and Keaton grabs both our suitcases from the overhead bin. He slings his backpack over one shoulder and wheels them down the aisle. One in front of him and one in back.

“Hey,” I say, shouldering my backpack. “I can take my own bag.”

He throws a smile over his shoulder. “And how would that look? Would Darren Ashcombe look favorably on me making his daughter roll her own suitcase?” He shakes his head. “I don’t think so.”

I grin. “I think he would be fine with it. He wanted his daughters to be independent women, you know.”

“We’ll discuss it once we’re off the plane,” Keaton says.

“Thanks for flying with us. We hope you enjoy your stay in Boston.” A flight attendant smiles at us.

Keaton dips his head at the flight attendant.

“Thanks! You, too,” I say as I stroll past.

I nearly have to jog to keep up with Keaton’s long legs as he strides up the jetway. Finally, when we emerge into the terminal, he slows down. We stop next to a wall to the side of our gate.

“Do you need to use the restroom before we go?” He asks.

I shake my head. But then think better of it. It’s at least a two-hour drive to Manchester. And that’s only if traffic is good. “On second thought, I probably should.”

He nods towards the ladies’ room across the way. “I’ll wait here for you.”

I reach up and kiss him on the cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

He nods, a smile covering his face. I know he’s growing to love Utah. But I also know there’s nothing quite like coming home. Even if we’re staying at his dad’s place .

I hurry in the ladies room. “Do you need me to watch the stuff now?” I ask him.

He shakes his head. “No. Let’s get on the road. If we don’t hurry, we’re going to be stuck in traffic forever.

“So we’re going straight to your dad’s place?”

He shakes his head. “No. With how late our flight came in, we’re going to have to meet them at the fireworks.”

I frown. “But it’s only the 2nd. I thought the fireworks were on the 4 th .”

He grins. “Yeah, some of the small towns do smaller shows in the days leading up to the 4th. Then the big one is in Boston on the Charles River.”

I grab hold of my suitcase handle and slightly wrestle it away from him.

“So we’re going to two different ones?” I ask.

We used to go watch fireworks at Sugarhouse Park.

But several years ago, they quit doing them.

And we kind of quit along with them. Now it’s more about the BBQ’s and family time, so I’m kind of excited to see a real fireworks display.

But two of them? If you’ve seen one, haven’t you seen them all?

“If we’re going to see the display in Boston, do we need to see the smaller one? It feels a little redundant.”

His smile falters for a moment. “You don’t want to go? But my dad and brother are saving us places.”

From the look on his face, I backpedal. “Oh, I mean, I’m fine if we go. I didn’t want you to think we had to go for me.”

We get to the baggage claim and he looks at me. “I mean, I don’t want you to be miserable the whole time.” He swallows hard.

Apparently, these are very special fireworks… I nearly kick myself. Geez, Pops. These are probably a family tradition that they did when his mom was alive. Why did I have to make such a big deal about it?

“It sounds like a lot of fun. And we don’t have to worry about getting a crappy spot because your dad and Lowell are already there. It should be fun!” I smile extra big to show him that I’m on board. We’re great communicators, except when we’re not.

He leaves me standing there with our stuff while he jogs over to the carousel and grabs my checked suitcase. “Okay, let’s grab the rental car and be on our way.”

I nod. “Are we going all the way to Manchester? Or one of the smaller towns?”

“It’s not all the way to Manchester.” He says as he looks for a rental car and then drags my suitcase toward a blue crossover SUV. He stows all of our luggage and then opens my door for me.

Once he’s behind the wheel, he takes in a deep breath.

I reach over and touch his arm. He flinches. “Hey, relax,” I say. He’s been on edge all day. I’m not sure if it’s coming home or if it’s something else.

We’ve been driving for about an hour when he pulls off the interstate. “Do you need gas?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “No. We’re going to watch the fireworks from the top of one of my dad’s office buildings.”

I smile. “Ooh. That sounds fun.” I look around. “Where are we?”

“Lawrence, Massachusetts,” Keaton parks the car in the parking garage. He comes around and opens my door, taking my hand in his. “Okay, you ready for this? It’s a smaller display than what we’ll see in Boston, but they usually have a lot more fun with them.”

I look at him from the corner of my eye. “How do you have ‘fun’ with fireworks?”

“They aren’t all your normal colorful bursts.” He looks straight ahead. “Sometimes they use pictures.”

I raise my brows. “Cool. I’m excited to see it.”

We take the elevator up to the roof and Shay, Evan, Keaton’s dad, Lowell, and Alix and her family are all here. I hadn’t realized this was a whole family thing. Inflatable chairs and big bean bags—likely for Alix’s kids—are scattered about the rooftop.

As we approach, everyone smiles and shouts out a greeting. Lowell points to the pizza boxes and baskets of garlic bread. There is also a cooler with individual salads and sodas.

“Hey, Lowell,” I say. “How’s law school?”

“Great,” he rolls his eyes. “Except for this really annoying girl.”

I raise a brow. “Do I sense a story there?”

“Maybe later,” Keaton says as he guides me over to where his dad sits.

“Hey, Poppy,” Keaton’s dad smiles warmly at me, and I wonder why I was so nervous.

“Hey, Merrick,” I sit down on an inflatable chair as Keaton sets a plate down on my lap. “Here, I got you some pizza.”

I smile up at him. “Thanks.”

“The fireworks should start any time.” Keaton still seems tense. Which I don’t quite understand. I mean, we made it before they started. Why has he not chilled yet?

Almost as if they heard Keaton, the first boom sounds and a firework spirals into the sky and bursts. It’s a typical golden starburst one. Several more of a similar nature go off.

Then there’s another boom, but this time it’s a picture—of a diamond ring.

That firework is followed closely by a red flower.

A poppy, if I’m not mistaken. I look over to where Keaton’s standing, but he isn’t there.

I turn forward and see him kneeling in front of me with an open ring box.

“Poppy Alice Ashcombe, will you marry me?”

I’m aware of the silence and all the eyes glued to us. It takes me a second to process everything. Keaton arranged for fireworks to propose to me? Oh, my heck! That’s crazy.

“Ugh, Sprite, I don’t mean to rush you, but my knee is starting to cramp.” Keaton looks at me and I can see the vulnerability in his eyes.

“Oh, my gosh. Yes. Of course I’ll marry you!”

His family erupts in cheers as more fireworks explode in the sky above us. He slides the ring onto my finger, a lovely square-cut diamond with amethyst stones on either side. I’ve never seen a more perfect ring. “Oh, Keaton. It’s beautiful.”

He smiles at me and pulls me to him, kissing me on the lips. A voice clears behind him, and Alix is standing there with her arms crossed. “Move aside, little brother. We want to see the rock.”

Shay and Alix ooh and aah over my ring. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dazzled by it myself.

“Okay, ladies. I’m taking fiancée prerogative and watching the rest of the fireworks with Poppy.” He shoos Alix’s kids out of one of the giant bean bags. Settling in, he pulls me down next to him.

I snuggle into his side. “How did you arrange for the fireworks?”

He grins. “My best friend from high school owns the firework company. I used up the entire favor bank.”

I laugh. “Man, I hope I am worth it.”

He nuzzles into my neck. “Oh, Poppy. You are worth so much more than a favor bank. And I look forward to proving it to you for the rest of our lives.”