She searched the aisles, high and low, picking at this and that.
“What exactly are you looking for?” Oli asked. “There are a bunch of souvenir shops on Main Street. I want to get that cute Belle sweatshirt with the rose on the sleeve. Think I should get something for Jason?”
Zora popped up from behind a jewelry display in the next aisle. “Um, excuse me. Do I detect something brewing between you two?”
“No, you do not. I mean, he’s cute and all…” Oli’s brows were knitted together, but most notably, her eyes were averted.
“Look at me,” Zora said. She had yet to close her mouth. She’d sensed it at Mike’s party at the theater, but the denial was strong. “You know what I think?”
“Please keep it to yourself.” A grin was plastered on Oli’s lying face. “He’s not even my type.”
“Thick, beefy, defensive lineman types. Please. What I think is all this couple stuff is getting to you. You’ve got a thing for Jason. Don’t try to deny it Olivia Harden. You and I know he is a walking six-foot four slice of creamy deliciousness and a walking hard-on, so do spare me the he’s not my type rigmarole.”
Oli folded her arms across her chest and gave her weakest impression of being pissed, but Zora saw right through it. She stared for a few more excruciating seconds just to rub it in before selecting two silver rings mounted with tiny green frogs, and beelining for the register.
“What are you even buying?” Feigned annoyance laced Oli’s tone. She was standing by the door, tapping her foot and glaring.
Zora was about to respond with something X-rated until she noticed a kid standing next to her in the line. “Don’t get all mad at me just because it’s obvious you want Indiana Jones to tie you up with his lasso and take you for a ride on his mine cart.” She didn’t even try to hide her laughter. Although, somewhere into the middle of all that humor, Zora remembered she owed her best friend a little payback for the whole Andre debacle.
As they left the little boutique, Oli shot her a sheepish glance. “So…what do I do?”
“About what?” Zora twisted the top of the small plastic bag and stuffed it in her pocket.
Oli sighed. “I mean, this is new. I’ve never dated a white guy.”
“Why are you looking at me like I would know? Mike has been it for me since forever, but I assume anatomically speaking, it’s the same thing with a higher SPF.” A pair of pursed lips and sagging shoulders confronted her. “Okay…you’re attracted to him, right?”
“Obviously.” Oli rolled her eyes. “From how Mike talks about him, I know he doesn’t have a problem with women, but has he ever dated a black girl? I mean, a brown skin, ‘around the way,’ little bit of hood in her black girl?”
Zora stepped into the line in front of the Tiki Juice Bar and turned to her best friend, scrutinizing her for a moment. She’d never heard Oli worried about any man, black, orange, yellow, wealthy, or famous.
This was serious.
“You really do like him.” There was tenderness in Zora’s voice.
Oli swiped her hair out of her face seemingly unsure, which was an anomaly.
“The way I see it, the only thing that matters is do you think it’s mutual?” Zora asked. Just then, they reached the front of the line. “One Dole Whip, please,” Zora said.
In less than a minute, the order was ready, and they headed back for the statue where Sophia was waiting for them. Oli didn’t backtrack to answer the question. In fact, they didn’t say anything else. Zora followed her slow pace, giving Oli a little more time to be in her head.
“Hey. I thought that was you guys. I’d know that walk anywhere,” Mike said, walking up beside them and grabbing Zora by the waist. He leaned in, peppering kisses on her neck and up to her cheeks.
Warmth cascaded over her, and she melded her body to his. She felt light, airy, and playful as she bumped Oli’s shoulder, pushing her into Jason. That was the thing about love. Being in it felt so good and so right, it was hard not to want the people closest to her to feel the same overwhelming sense of joy.
Zora slipped her hand into her pocket and fingered the small plastic bag. Her nerves were on fire, and the flames were spreading.
“We were just saying how we couldn’t wait for you guys to come back, weren’t we?” She winked at her best friend whose eyes went as wide as the rings nestled between Zora’s fingers.
“Uh, yeah,” Oli muttered.
In her periphery, Zora caught Jason stealing a glance at Oli. The look said everything. Not only was he noticing her, there was something else behind his stony façade. Zora saw past the square jaw, cleft chin, and side-swept blond hair. His face softened, and the hard lines yielded to a mix of appreciation and desire. There was affection gathering in his rain-washed gray eyes as they darted from Oli’s mouth down to her décolletage.
When the wind carried her glossy, black mane, he pulled his gaze from her hair to her face.
That’s when Zora’s stare snagged his attention. A guilty smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he pressed a finger to his lips.
Zora flashed him a smug grin that said, yes, I saw everything, and I may or may not keep your secret.
Immediately, he stumbled back a few steps.
Mike shot him a meaningful glance before whispering something about redeeming a favor.
Jason sidled up safely at Everett’s side. They could both trust that her brother wasn’t focused on anything other than his gorgeous fiancée and the teensy bundle in her belly. Zora looked at Everett, who was mumbling something to himself and taking deep breaths.
“Ev, what’s up?”
He flipped his wrist to check his watch just as they reached Sophia. “Before I forget—” he jammed his hands into his pants pockets and pulled out a bunch of earpods. He began passing them out to the five of them, then placed a set into his own ears. “Put these on,” he instructed.
There were a few extra sets.
“Seriously, Ev, what’s going on?” Zora asked. “What are these for, and who are the extra pairs for?”
He blew out a breath and flitted a glance at his watch a second time. “I don’t have time to explain. It’s eight twenty-four. They’re already setting up for the nighttime spectacular. We need to hurry if we’re going to make it before it starts.”
Zora was now completely confused, but she went along with it, helping Sophia to her feet and following on his heels. Everett was just as much a Disney freak as she was. Maybe he just wanted to get in a few more rides while everyone else was occupied with the show.
They crossed over the main road and down the small green path next to the castle toward Snow White’s wishing well. In the day, the place was a shady spot in the center of the park where it was usually quiet and empty. Now though, the grotto glowed in neon shades of iridescent blues, pinks, and purples. Above the statues of Snow White and her dwarfs, string lights lit up the trees like tiny fairies and glittering pixie dust. It was mesmerizing.
Zora beamed when she turned to Mike. “Do you have any coins? I want to make a wish.”
Mike dug around in his pocket but came up empty. “Sorry, babe.”
“Does anyone have a penn—” Zora was just about to go person to person asking, but then a crackling noise sounded in her ear before a voice she didn’t recognize called them all to attention.
“Can everyone hear me okay?”
Zora jolted around and a man was standing with them. He must’ve seen the questions in her eyes because he gave a small wave and began to explain.
“Some of you don’t know me yet, but I’m Will, Kendra’s cousin.”
And why are you here?
She felt the crease between her brows deepen as she looked around to see if anyone else was as confused as she was. She noticed Everett tense as he intertwined his fingers with Sophia’s. Mike stood directly behind Zora, letting his chin rest on her head, apparently also unfazed by the guy’s appearance. Oli and Jason were the only ones who were with her outside of the lo
op.
What was going on?
She lifted her chin and pushed her shoulders back to hear this guy out.
Will’s phone glowed to life and he stared at the screen as he spoke. “Can you all hear me? This is sort of like a microphone check.” He let out a short bark of laughter, but Zora was still not seeing the humor yet.
As each person nodded, she felt compelled to ask the questions no one else seemed to think were necessary. “Yes, we can all hear you in these things, but what exactly are we doing and what are you here for?”
He shot Everett a surprised glance, but her brother only shrugged.
Zora was just about to go off on him when spotlights began sweeping across the sky. Lasers shot from Sleeping Beauty Castle as fake snow fell to the rhythm of a musical beat. “It’s a Good Time,” hummed through the air along with fireworks and a laser slideshow on the buildings.
“It’s time,” Everett said. He turned to face Sophia as her family walked up behind her. Her mom and aunt with their boyfriends, and Julie and Nico. Then Kendra joined them.
Zora stifled a gasp as Will began reading from his phone.
“We’re gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of John Everett Monroe and Sophia Elizabeth Kent in marriage…”
Zora’s mouth flew open and she could barely breathe. She was so happy. Excitement raced through her. She pressed her hand to her heart and leaned against Mike’s chest. It all made sense. The couples’ trip. The guys going off to ride on their own. The earpods. The Mix Magic Show. And now this random guy joining them. It was all planned and prepared. Will was an officiant there to marry Everett and Sophia.
A sneak wedding.
Tears swam in Zora’s eyes as she watched them speedily exchange vows and rings. She felt so fortunate to be a part of such an incredible day.
“You may now kiss the bride,” Will said.
Everett wasted no time covering Sophia’s lips with his. It seemed heartfelt and gentle but filled with so much promise.
Cries of congratulations filled their ears as the sky continued to light up, and Zora went in for hugs, careful not to squeeze the baby. It was giant reunion of the best kind.
Sophia’s eyes sparkled as she turned to all of the people she loved. “I had no idea.”
“Me neither, but I’m so happy for you guys!” Zora cried. “I love you so much.”
In that moment, as she hugged her new sister and watched Mike embrace her brother, it was Everett’s words that played in her head.
If you want to be with Mike, then go be with him.
Zora closed her eyes and blew out a breath. Now or never. Fishing the small bag from her pocket, she released Sophia, and counted backwards from ten to calm the butterflies rolling in her stomach. She was staring at Mike, waiting for him to turn around and trying not to have a nervous breakdown.
She cleared her throat and stilled herself as each pair of eyes centered on her. Between her fingers, she rubbed the two rings together.
“Mike—”
“Wait,” he said, scraping his hands through his hair before dropping them and shaking them out. “Zo…”
As he lowered himself to one knee, recognition dawned on Zora’s face.
His mouth twitched and a disarmingly hot smile danced on his lips.
“Are you literally trying to out-gesture my big gesture again?” Zora asked, but she couldn’t bite back the grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Mike pulled his bottom lip between his teeth and flashed those glittering green eyes at her. “You’re just so impatient. I don’t know how I’m ever going to be enough for you, but I’m hoping you’ll make me the happiest man alive and marry me.
Zora stuck out her tongue and brightened at their playfulness. “I mean, do you even have rings? I have rings. I actually put a lot of thought into this. They’re not from Tiffany’s.” She held up the two rings with the small green frogs on them. “I think they’re—”
“Perfect,” Mike said, getting to his feet because obviously they were not the traditional type of couple. He pulled her in tight against him and stared into her teary eyes. “I love you so much. Now will you please marry me and stop embarrassing me?”
“Under one condition.”
“Oh.” Mike deflated and let his arms hang by his sides. “I’m dying to hear this one all-important contingency. Please, don’t hold back on account of my bruised ego and shattered heart.”
His eyes crinkled at the edges.
Mike electrified her. Her breath and her pulse quickened. Longing whispered through her throbbing body as they slid the rings on each other’s fingers.
“Well actually, it’s a few conditions.”
“I’d expect nothing less from you.”
Zora inhaled and listed her conditions. “I’ll marry you, Mr. Kennedy, if we get to live in your house and the dream kitchen is mine. Oh, and, no more lies. Only truth from here on out.”
“Deal.”
The End
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Mixed Emotions
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Acknowledgments
Here we are! Thank you for choosing my book and loving it (hopefully, since you’ve read all the way to the acknowledgements).
This book was so fun to write. I’m so fortunate to be able to venture down the path of writing, thanks to my favorite book boyfriend and husband, Daniel Heintzelman, who has allowed me to leap because he’s my net, supporting me. And also, for understanding when I’m up to the tiny hours of the morning while the house is a mess.
On with the shout-outs!
Thank you to my critique group and writing family, my Thursday Night Therves. Margo Hendricks, Kristina Mull, Dionne Marshall, Diane Clough, and Beth Spaur, you are my fellow introverts and unleashed wild side. I know if you guys love it, I’m doing something right. Thanks for your invaluable, crazy, fun, and hashtaggable critique sessions.
To my editors, Danielle and Danylle of The Author’s Assistant, I’m indebted to your polishing skills. You make my work shine. Thank you for your clear eyes and encouraging feedback.
A huge thank you to my Facebook group, the Miamors, my ARC team, and my newsletter subscribers. You are awesome. I love and appreciate your answers to my random questions and honest feedback you give. To librarians, bloggers, bookstagrammers, and reviewers, my sincerest thanks. You are the unspoken heroes who spread the word like wildfire about stories, which feed the mind and nourish the soul.
To my future agent, you, my vision board, and the universe know exactly who you are. I can’t wait for you to read my books and know immediately you want to represent my fun, pulse-racing, contemporary romance experiences.
Big hugs and smoochie kisses to my family and friends. You are the petals on my flowering tree and the frame holding up my house. You understand and support me even though I’m always with my nose stuck in a book or with my fingers glued to a keyboard spinning tales.
Mommy and Daddy, I love that I’m equally both parts of your (semi-) social butterfly (okay, sometimes, anti-) and bookworm because you’ve given me a hungry mind and wings to soar.
My sister, Melissa DeGrazia, we’re basically the same person in two bodies fighting with our reflections, but who better to have in my corner to support and uplift me? Thank you. Cheers to leaping in faith!
Finally, to my two daughters and my nieces and nephews, I hope my daring pursuit of greatness is inspiration and wind beneath your wings.
<
br /> About the Author
Mia Heintzelman is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is a Chicago native who always has a book in her purse, loves to pair sweet and spicy tea with fluffy socks, and can’t go wrong with polka dots and pearls. When she isn’t busy writing modern, funny, pulse-racing contemporary romance experiences, she is likely reading a book or watching movies with her husband and two children.
You can find her online at MiaHeintzelman.com or at @MiaHeintzelman on Twitter or @MiaHeintzelmanAuthor on Instagram.
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