A Date for Good Luck

by Dover, L. P.

  “Lassie, you’re killing me.”

  “Hey,” she says, bringing the camera back to her face. “You asked.”

  “I know. I’m a glutton for punishment.”

  “I’ll spank you for being naughty,” she says, giggling.

  “Speaking of. What do you think of me coming out to Phoenix for a few days? I have some vacation time saved up and I know you’re busy, but I figured I could explore during the day, find out why you love the city so much, make you dinner. I just want to be in the same space as you, Hope.”

  I expect her smile to disappear because she is busy, and her workload is heavy. It doesn’t and in my opinion, it gets brighter. “When would you fly out?”

  I shrug making it seem like I haven’t thought about it. “Tomorrow.”

  “Seriously?”

  My head moves up and down in rapid motion. “I don’t want to wait.”

  “What about work?”

  “It all lives on my trusty laptop. I’ll have to adjust my hours slightly, but I’ll be okay. Just think of the morning loving I can give you.”

  “You’re insatiable.”

  “Only when it comes to you. So, what do you think?”

  “I think you should get on the plane. I have Friday off this weekend and can make some modifications to my appointments so we can spend more time together.”

  “You sure?”

  Her lips purse. “Kellan, if you’re not in my apartment tomorrow when I get home from work, naked, with a rose stem in your mouth, I will think you’re not serious about me.”

  Oh, hell no, we can’t have those thoughts running through her pretty little head. “I’ll take the first flight out and be there as fast as American Airlines can get me there.”

  “Perfect. Now, I have to get dressed and go to work. Talk tonight.”

  “Yeah, lassie. I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

  “Me neither. I love you, Kellan.”

  Hearing her say that never gets old. If she only knew how much I really loved her. “I love you too,” I say. She blows me a kiss before disconnecting our call. I remember the day I told her those words for the first time. It was two weeks after the wedding and since I had a free weekend, I flew out to see her. We were sitting out on her apartment balcony, enjoying the cool, breezy night when the words slipped from my mouth. I thought for sure she’d say “thank you” or some shit like that, but instead, she kissed me and said the words back. I knew then and there that it was going to work.

  I sit back and smile until my cheeks fucking hurt. Hell yes, I’m going to see my girl tomorrow. However, in order to make this happen I have a shit ton of work to do. First things first, book my flight. I’ll let the rest fall into place.

  * * *

  When the plane lands in Phoenix, the flight attendant tells everyone to lower their shades and to stay in their seats until it is time to get up because it’s hot outside and they don’t want us overheating. I sort of scoff because I’ve heard this before, and I’m at the front of the plane, I’ll be off as soon as the doors open.

  As soon as I step off the plane and inhale, I take back everything I said and thought in the minutes prior to this point in my life. It’s hotter than a witch’s tit leaning over a cauldron. What the ever-loving fuck is this shit and why didn’t Hope warn me about it?

  By the time I make it out of the airport, I’m sweating. No wonder Hope said I needed to be naked on her couch when she came home from work—she doesn’t want to see what a sweaty mess I am, and frankly neither do I.

  I give the driver Hope’s address and ask him to crank up the air conditioner. He glances over his shoulder at me. “Sir, it’s only eighty.”

  “Bullshit, it has to be a hundred plus out there.” I tug at the collar of my shirt and let my tongue hang out the side of my mouth.

  “Where are you from?”

  “New York City.”

  “And it’s what, like thirty out?” he asks.

  “More like fifty.”

  The driver laughs. “You’re in the desert now, everything will seem hotter. It’ll cool down tonight to about sixty. But if you think it’s hot here now, don’t come back in the summer.”

  “How hot?”

  He shrugs. “Easily over a hundred, every day.”

  This gives me pause. This is where Hope lives. I have to come back if I want to see her, but I’ve never felt like my body was on fire before until now.

  The drive takes longer than I anticipated. I didn’t expect there to be so much traffic. I suppose Phoenix is like any other big city, especially one that is growing. When the cab driver pulls into Hope’s apartment complex, I’m relieved. I pay, grab my suitcase, and head up toward her place. I wasn’t keen on the idea of her leaving her house key under the doormat, but she promised me everything was safe.

  With the key in my hand, I slide it into the lock and let myself in. It’s painted in muted purples, greens and grays with pops of color everywhere. It’s clean, smells like her and the most comfortable feeling place I’ve ever been.

  How is this possible?

  Because you’re already in love, idiot.

  After I reacquaint myself, get something to drink and send Hope a text with me lying on her bed, I open my laptop and do some work. I have a timer set for when she’s supposed to be home because I want to give her my undivided attention.

  Before I know it, the alarm dings. I close my laptop and go into the living room and strip. I do exactly as she says. Thankfully, she has a bouquet of roses on the end table for me to use and after I pick the thorns off, I position myself on her sofa and fix my cock, who is waking up with anticipation of what he’s about to do, cross my feet at my ankles and hold the rose in my hands. I just bring myself to put it in my mouth.

  I hear her key slide into to the door.

  I smile.

  She steps in and looks at me with the biggest smile ever.

  “Welcome home, lassie.”

  9

  Hope

  Having Kellan in Arizona with me has been a dream come true. We’ve been doing the long-distance thing for eight weeks now. He visited me two weeks after the wedding, and then I made a quick two-day trip to New York three weeks ago. I would’ve loved to have spent it with just him, but our mothers weren’t having any of it. My parents had invited Kellan’s family over, and we spent the day eating and having a good time. Of course, my mother had to sneak in a few comments about marriage while everyone was there, and Kellan’s mother happily joined in. Kellan and I smiled through it all, but it made me wonder what he really thought. We haven’t talked about marriage yet. We’ve only been together for two months, but in my heart, I know he’s the one. Have I told Kellan that? Definitely not, but I don’t want to bring it up first.

  Grabbing our bowls of salad, I carry them outside to the balcony where Kellan waits with our plates of grilled chicken and roasted potatoes. When he visited me weeks ago, he couldn’t believe I didn’t have a grill, so he went out and bought me a small one. I’m not complaining in the least. If he wants to cook dinner while he’s here, then he’s more than welcome. I’m tempted to buy a bunch of meat so he can grill it for me before he leaves.

  Kellan stares at me curiously when I set his salad bowl in front of him. “Why are you smiling like that?”

  Grinning wider, I sit down across from him. “Oh, just thinking.”

  He takes a bite of his salad. “About what?”

  Shrugging, I look out at the mountains in the distance. It’s a view I never had in New York, and I love it. My attention turns back to Kellan, who waits for me to respond. I nod down at the grilled chicken and smile. “I was thinking about buying a bunch of meat so you can cook it for me before you leave. I love it.”

  Kellan bursts out laughing. “So, you love my cooking, eh?”

  The chicken practically melts in my mouth. “You have no idea. Been craving meat for some reason.” And watermelon too, which makes no sense because I never liked it.

  Kellan re
aches over and grabs my hand. “I’ll be happy to, lassie. Anything to take care of you.”

  Just hearing that makes me want to cry. My eyes burn, and I can feel the tears building. Kellan chuckles and cups my cheek. “What’s wrong, baby? Did I make you sad?”

  I shake my head. “Not at all. Just a little emotional, I guess. All we have are two days left before you leave.”

  Sighing, Kellan sits back in his chair. “I know. Time moves way too fast when we’re together, but when we’re apart, it drags on.”

  Taking a deep breath, I control the urge to cry. “Tell me about it,” I say, laughing it off. I go through moments where I just want to cry. I’ve never been like that before. Then again, I’ve never been in love with someone the way I am with him. Having to say goodbye all the time gets harder and harder.

  Once we’re done eating and we clean up our plates, we go back out to the balcony and move the table out of the way so we can sit beside each other. The night is cool, and the wind gently blows around us. What I love most is the stars in the sky. There are so many, and it looks as if they’re close enough to touch.

  Kellan grabs my hand and brings it to his lips. “It’s been a good week, Hope.”

  Looking over at him, I can’t contain my smile. “Yes, it has. Although, you’ve yet to surprise me with another homecoming like the time when I came home, and you greeted me with the rose, lying naked on my bed.”

  We both laugh, and he squeezes my hand. “Hey, you tell me what you want, and I’ll oblige. I never want to disappoint you.”

  “You could never disappoint me, Kellan.”

  His eyes grow serious. “I don’t ever want to.” He peers down into the courtyard that’s in the middle of my apartment complex. It’s like a small park with walkways that go in and around the trees that are lit with sparkling lights, which reminds me of Christmas. And in the middle of the courtyard is a huge water fountain that is said to give people good luck if they drop a penny in. I can see part of it from my balcony, and no one is down there. Kellan nods toward it. “Want to take a walk?” he asks.

  It’s the perfect night for it. “Sure.”

  He stands and pulls me up with him. Hand in hand, we walk out of my apartment and down to the courtyard. Usually, there are people out walking their dogs, but we’re all alone, which is nice.

  “This is the longest time you’ve ever spent in Phoenix,” I say.

  Kellan snorts. “Yep. Thought the heat would kill me when I first got here.”

  “And now?” I ask.

  He winks down at me. “It’s not so bad anymore. Guess it takes a couple of days to get used to it.”

  “It does. It took me a while too, but now I love it here.”

  Taking a deep breath, he glances around the courtyard. “I’m starting to like it too. I actually enjoyed touring the city while you worked. I hiked Camelback Mountain and walked some trails in South Mountain Park. You don’t get to do that kind of stuff in New York City.”

  I shake my head. “Nope. What I hate is that you did that stuff without me. I love Camelback Mountain. It’s one of my favorite hikes.”

  “Well, then maybe we can get up early and do it tomorrow morning?”

  Squeezing his hand, I slide in closer to him. “Sounds perfect.”

  We get to the fountain, and all the coins in the water shimmer in the fountain lights. There’s even a plaque by it that says if you close your eyes and throw a penny in the water, you’ll have good luck. I wonder if it worked for those who threw in the nickels, dimes, and quarters. There were a ton of those intermingled with the pennies.

  Letting my hand go, Kellan reaches into his pocket and pulls out two pennies. “Want to give it a try?” He hands me one and walks toward the fountain.

  “You have to close your eyes,” I remind him.

  I step up beside him, and he chuckles. “Got it.”

  Closing my eyes, I hold the penny tightly in my grasp. What do I want to wish for? There are so many things jumbling through my mind, but then it hits me. Kellan tosses his penny in because I hear the thwonk as it hits the water.

  All I want is to be happy with Kellan by my side. That’s it. Taking the penny, I kiss it gently and toss it in the air. The second I hear it hit the water, I open my eyes. Kellan stares at me with that devilish grin of his I love so much.

  “What’d you wish for?” he asks.

  I smack his arm. “I can’t tell you, or it won’t come true.”

  His eyes grow serious. “Want to know what I wished for?” Before I can say for him not to tell me, he places a finger over my lips. “We need to talk.” Taking my hand, he leads me over to the fountain and nods for me to sit. I sit down, and he does the same beside me.

  “Everything okay?” I question.

  He lifts a hand to my cheek. “I’m in love with you, Hope. I love you so much.”

  I place my hand over his. “I love you, Kellan.” His hand slides down my face. His thumb brushes over my lower up before he leans in and kisses me deeply. When he pulls away, my finger brush through his beard, which he’s kept trimmed for me. “What’s on your mind?”

  Releasing a heavy sigh, he glances all around us and then settles on me. “This. You and me. I can’t stand the thought of leaving you on Sunday. We haven’t talked about our future much, and trust me, I’ve wanted to plenty of times. And right now, I feel like I’m ready.”

  Heart racing, all I can do is stare at him. “Tell me,” I whisper. I’ve wanted to bring up our future so many times I lost count.

  Kellan’s eyes search mine. “I know we’ve only been together two months, but I know for a fact I’ll never love anyone as much as I love you.” Tears spring to my eyes, and he smiles. “I want to marry you, Hope. I don’t care if it’s next month or ten years from now. All I know is that I want to take our relationship to the next step. Living thousands of miles away isn’t going to cut it anymore.”

  Words can’t describe how happy he’s just made me. “What do you suggest?” I ask, smiling so wide my cheeks hurt.

  Kellan places his lips against mine. “I want us to move in together. If you say yes, I’ll pack my shit up on Sunday when I get back to New York and be back here with you by Monday.”

  It all sounds too good to be true. “What about your job? Your family? Your …”

  He cuts off my words with another kiss. “All that matters is us, lassie. I’d move across the world if you wanted me to. Just say, yes. It’s all I need to hear.”

  “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  His eyes bore into mine. “Yes.” My skin tingles as he cups my cheeks. “What’s your answer?”

  Tears stream down my cheeks. “Yes. A part of me feels selfish for saying it, but yes. I don’t want to be without you anymore.”

  Resting his forehead to mine, he smiles. “There’s nothing selfish about wanting to be with the one you love. Does your yes also imply that you’ll marry me one day?”

  Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull him in tight. “You’re stuck with me, Kellan. Hope you’re ready for that.”

  He chuckles. “I’m more than ready.”

  * * *

  I’m never going to get tired of waking up in Kellan’s arms. I love the feel of him beside me and feeling his warmth. And to think I’m going to have that for the rest of my life.

  Kellan kisses my shoulder. “Still want to go hiking today?”

  Nodding, I stretch out my arms and sit up, only for a massive wave of nausea to punch me right in the gut. “Oh, no.” I jump out of bed and rush straight to the bathroom. All the water I drank in the middle of the night came up with a vengeance.

  Kellan kneels beside me and places a hand to the back of my neck and moves it to my forehead. “You don’t feel feverish. I wonder if it’s what we ate last night.”

  Closing my eyes, I shake my head and lean against the tub. “You would be sick too if it was.” I take in a few deep breaths, but the nausea is still there.

  When I open my eyes,
Kellan is on his knees in front of me, studying me curiously. “Tell me if you think I’m talking out of my ass, but I’ve noticed a couple of things since I’ve been here. First, you get up to pee every single night. You put peanut butter on your pickles, and you ate a whole watermelon in two days. You hate watermelon. Is there a chance you could be. . .”

  And that’s when it hit me. “Oh, my dear, ever-loving God.” The thought excites me, and it catches me off guard. Having a baby is the last thing I would’ve expected right now. The thing is, I would be so happy if I were.

  “Hope.” Kellan turns me around. “Could you be pregnant?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. I’ve been on the shot for years. I don’t have a monthly like normal people.”

  A part of me feels as if I’m in shock. Kellan bounces on his feet as if it’s Christmas morning. “Do you want me to go get a test?”

  The second I nod, he’s dressed and out the door. There’s a drug store just two blocks away, and it’s only a matter of minutes before he busts through the door. He hands me the pregnancy test box, and I rush back to the bathroom. I do what I’m supposed to do and set the test by the sink without looking at it.

  Kellan is pacing in front of the door when I open it. His eyes widen with excitement. “Are you?”

  “I don’t know,” I say, laughing. “I’m starting to get the impression that you want me to be.”

  Kellan pulls me into his arms. “I already told you last night how I feel. I want you to be my wife. You being pregnant isn’t going to change that. It’s only going to make things that more amazing.”

  Tears fill my eyes. “Guess we should check the test. I won’t look at it until I bring it out.”

  I walk into the bathroom, and it takes all my willpower not to look at the results. Once I’m back in front of Kellan, I open my hand, and we both look down. There are two dark pink lines.

  “I’m pregnant,” I whisper. There’s a baby growing inside me. Kellan’s and my baby.