I think after today, he will finally get to find out.
Chapter Thirty-One
The Happily Ever After Mix
It’s amazing how two guys who looked danger in the eye and lived to tell about it only one month ago can be the same guys that are annoying the hell out of us today.
For the past two hours Drew and Colin have been whining about the fact that Liz and I made them turn off the Xbox. They keep begging for “just one more game” of Call of Duty, but we think the fact that they have played it for the last six hours straight is more than enough.
After they were released from the hospital, Liz and I made them come stay with us at our place. We figured it would be easier to help them recover if we had each other. We didn’t even know the half of it.
The good news is that Colin postponed his start date with the DEA to give him a chance to recover. And since I wanted to help him, I decided to take a few weeks off of work too.
I can do that kind of thing now. Ever since the Vapor died, I’ve kind of a become a big deal. I was, after all, the only person to ever interview Vapor when he was alive.
I wish that could have been Ruth’s claim to fame. Luckily, her investigation into gun smuggling in the library basement turned out to be a lot less wrong than I thought. Not only was she completely right, but Colin didn’t even have a clue it was going on. I need to give that girl a lot more credit.
The last few weeks have been perfect. I love having Colin all to myself. We have had so much fun together that I don’t even mind that he and Drew are driving us crazy.
Liz and I have officially decided that they have been milking their recovery long enough. So instead of playing Call of Duty, we are going to make them snuggle with their girlfriends on the couch and watch HGTV with us all day.
We even talk them into playing Clue. This time when I lose, I don’t send anyone to the ER. Colin is proud of my growth.
We also do the unthinkable. We convince the guys to get out of the house and take us to Ruby’s for karaoke. After calling Ruth, Annie and Annie’s new boyfriend to join us, we decide to turn it into an impromptu get together to celebrate that everyone is safe and healthy. Even Rob comes out to sing.
This time is so much better. I sit on Colin’s lap for most the night, only getting up to drag Colin to the stage to sing.
In the midst of Liz and I doing our own amazing rendition of “The Greatest American Hero,” all of our friends, including Colin, join in.
Singing this particular song makes me feel bad for Annie. She still doesn’t know that Colin is Vapor. She mourned along with the rest of the world when they pronounced him dead.
Colin told me that I could tell her the truth, but I’m having a hard time bringing myself to do it. After all this time, I don’t think she’s going to take it well.
The rest of the night we all take turns singing badly and cheering each other on.
Being here, in this moment, makes me happy. I am with my closest friends and the man I love, and we are enjoying life… Something I was afraid we might never be able to do together again.
I know that our struggles are far from over, but for now Colin and I have decided to enjoy what we have and figure the rest out as it comes.
So, yeah. I’m in love with a superhero. And he is as amazing as you would think. Always willing to help at the drop of a hat. Kind to everyone-people and animals alike. Strong, quick and courageous. And if think you might fall in love with a superhero, my suggestion would be to go ahead and take a chance. Because when it all comes down to it, I would do it all over again if it meant being with Colin today.
Chapter Thirty-Two
This Playlist is Dedicated To My Superhero
This is it. This is it. This is it.
I’m freaking out. I know I am. I also know that I need to stop it, but hell if I know how. No matter how much water I drink, my mouth feels like I’ve been eating sand while chewing on a sponge.
The waiter comes and refills my wine glass, and I practically drain it in one swallow. I already feel like the room is way too damn hot, so when the wine starts to take effect, I feel like I am going to melt in my seat.
Liz and Drew are sitting across from us, sipping wine and talking freely… like they don’t have a care in the world. Must be nice.
Liz looks in my direction and eyes me with suspicion. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because your face just turned the color of a tomato, and you look like you want to pass out.”
“That’s just because it’s hot in here. Aren’t you guys hot?”
Everyone shakes their heads no, and Drew grabs the bottle.
“Do we need to cut you off?”
I ignore him and take another bite of my steak. I just need some food in my stomach. I’ll feel better after I eat.
By the end of dinner, my nerves are shot. I’m pretty sure that everyone at the table thinks I’m losing my mind. I’ve been quiet the whole evening, and I’m pretty sure I took care of an entire bottle of wine on my own.
What the hell is wrong with you? Get it together.
It’s just that it’s one of those moments.
You know that moment when something amazing might happen any second now, but really it could go either way? Like, for example, when you are about to ask the woman you love to marry you, but you’re not a hundred percent sure she’s going to say yes?
I know that she loves me, and I think she wants to marry me, but I’ve put her through a lot. Honestly, I’m kinda surprised she’s stayed with me as long as she has.
Whether or not I’m sure she’ll say yes, I have to ask her tonight. I’ve been holding on to this ring since the first time I tried to ask her.
That’s right. I’m the kind of dumbass who has to attempt to ask a girl to marry me three times before I actually follow through.
The first time I had a whole evening planned. I was going to take her to all the places that meant something to us in college then ask her at the end of the night. We only got as far as Insomnia when I couldn’t take the stress anymore. I almost blurted it out right then and there, but the phone rang and… well, like I said- I’m surprised she’s still with me.
The second time, I took her to my uncle’s cabin. I had extra letters that I was going to use while we were playing Scrabble that spelled out “Will you marry me?” Those plans kinda fell apart when she decided to dump me instead. See? Dumbass.
This time, I’m not letting anything stop me. Today is the day. No extra frills. I’m just going to ask her. I don’t want to give myself any extra time to screw it up. I haven’t even told Liz or Drew.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Lucy reaches over and grabs my hand. “You’re making me nervous.”
“No.”
“No? What do you mean? What’s wrong?” Lucy looks really worried. I’m already screwing this up and I haven’t even started.
“I mean, yes. I’m fine.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
The bill comes, and I pay it right away. I need to get into the fresh air before I get sick.
“Are you ready to go?” I ask Lucy. She’s right in the middle of taking a bite of cheesecake, so I’m gonna guess that, no, she’s probably not. I need to stop losing my shit and get myself together.
“Uh, sure.” She takes a couple more bites of cheesecake, then gets up, while Liz and Drew follow. Once we are outside, I suggest a walk. We head in the direction of a fountain near the restaurant.
Lucy seems upset. I think my weird mood is affecting her. I decide that I better ask her now before I accidentally make her break me up with me again.
Liz and Drew sit down on one of the benches that surround the fountain. I grab my phone and start the song ‘Pull Me Down.’ I planned ahead and made sure our song was ready to play.
As soon as Lucy hears the music, she turns her head toward the sound. “Is that coming from you?” Her brow furrows, and it reminds me how adorable she
is.
I don’t respond to her question. I just pull the ring box from my pocket, and blurt it out. “Lucy, will you marry me?”
I hear Liz gasp behind me, followed by her whispering, “Did you know about this?” to Drew.
Lucy, on the other hand, just stares at me.
I hold up the box and open it, hoping that might give her an incentive to say something.
As soon as she sees the ring she gasps, then starts crying.
I’m a guy, so I don’t know what this means. I look back at Liz and Drew for support. Liz is crying as much as Lucy is, while Drew looks as confused as I do.
I turn back to Lucy, who surprises me by throwing her arms around me and kissing me. Her kiss is filled with all the passion and love that I have for her. But I’m still not sure if it’s a yes kind of kiss or a no kind of kiss.
When she pulls away, her makeup is smeared, and her eyes are red. “I love you, Colin.”
“I love you too, Luce. But I’m uh, still not sure where we stand on the whole marrying thing. Was that a yes, or…”
Her face flashes with the realization that she hasn’t answered me yet. “I can’t believe it. I forgot to answer. Yes! Of course I’ll marry you.”
Relief washes over me. I pull her into a hug and kiss her again. “She said yes!”. My excitement makes her laugh. Drew and Liz start clapping and cheering too.
I put the ring on her finger, and kiss her hand.
Drew hugs me, and tells me congratulations. He seems genuinely happy for me.
Liz and Lucy immediately start making wedding plans.
Afterwards, Lucy and I go back to my place, so that we can have some alone time.
That night, Lucy falls asleep in my arms right away, but I can’t seem to unwind. I run my fingers through her hair and look at the ring on her finger.
I can’t stop thinking about how lucky I am to have her, and how much she has changed my life- how she has saved my life.
Lucy’s right. No matter how many people you save, no matter what you do to make a difference, at the end of the day you have to take care of the people who love you.
Take her for example. No matter what I did to inadvertently push her away, she was still there for me every time I needed her.
What she doesn’t tell people, and I like to keep to myself is that she is a superhero.
Just when you think that all hope is lost, she sweeps in and brings you soup. Or drags you away from a drug kingpin/ biological manipulator… even when you’re kicking and screaming. She tracks down information so that she can find you when an evil doctor kidnaps you, hell bent on finding out the secret to your power. And she patiently helps you become the superhero you are today.
And the most important one of all, she agrees to stay with you for the rest of your life even though she could do so much better.
So now I know something most people never get to know… that being with the greatest person in the world for the rest of your life is so much better than being invisible.
Top Ten Reasons To Fall in Love With a Superhero
1. Kissing him makes you melt.
2. He makes you laugh everyday.
3. He makes you feel safe, just by being in his arms.
4. He plays your favorite games, even though you are a sore loser.
5. He uses his superpower to feed you chocolate and strawberries in the park.
6. He knows where all the good places to get coffee are.
7. He knows where all the good places to touch you are.
8. He makes playlists with you that remind you of all your favorite times together.
9. He buys you a whole new box of root beer float popsicles after he eats one of yours.
10. He promises you that he will do all of those things for the rest of your life.
Acknowledgements
First and Foremost, I would like to thank one of my closest friends and editor, Janie Hall. You have been with me from the start of this book, and you helped me every step of the way. Editing was just a small part of the ways that you helped me.- and you stuck by me through late nights, my stubbornness and about twenty different revisions. Everyone should have at least one friend like Janie. If you don’t, go get yourself one. I highly recommend it.
I would also like to thank Attila Nagy for being another one of my closest friends and for helping me whenever I was stuck. You are also an excellent voice of reason during disputes about wording. Everyone should also have a friend like Attila- and if you do, you should play guess a person with him. It’s a lot of fun.
Thank-you also to Kate Mollohan who has infinite knowledge in several subjects, including editing. I never realized how much your multiple degrees would actually help me. And I appreciate you spending three and a half hours drinking coffee with me and talking about my book. (On a side note, I would also like to thank Harvest Moon for letting us stay for three and a half hours while drinking coffee.)
For my college roommates Holly and Lynn, thanks for making my college experience so much fun. It’s easy to write about awesome friends when you have direct experience. And Holly and I are sorry for all the trouble we caused, Lynn.
To my friends who encouraged me while I wrote my book, Robin Burris, Karen Kill and Tiffany Sunderland. You guys made me feel like I could do it.
Thanks to my mom and dad. You guys made me who I am today. I owe a lot to you. And thanks to Carol Wilcox and Greg Morgan for being part of our family.
For Gayle Degennaro, Marc Maddox and Kerri Rodenbaugh, you are the best sibs a person could ask for. Thanks for always being there. I couldn’t imagine my life without you.
And thank you to the rest of my family. You guys are all awesome, and I am happy to have you in my life.
And most importantly, thank you to my husband Kevin. You changed my life when I met you., and I feel blessed to be married to you. I promised him that I would give him ownership of two percent of the book, for all the times I forgot a word, and he knew which one I was trying to think of. And to my kids- Sophie, Abbie and Jack. You are the reason I wrote this book. You are amazing kids, and I want you to know that hard work is always worth it. You are going to do great things in life. Now that my book is done, you might even get a chance to use the computer again soon!
I wish I could thank everyone I know, because you have all helped me in some way. If I had more room I would. Maybe next book!
Table of Contents
The Far, Far Away Mix
Music That Sweeps Me off My Feet
You know…The Usual Mix
The “I Totally Planned This Party” Mix
What Awesome Feels Like
. The We’ll Always Have Tacos Mix
. The Don’t Mess With Bad Ass Chicks Mix
Music For Saving Old Ladies Everywhere
. My Moving On Mix From the Eighties
Good Music, Stupid Boys
The Holy $#!% Batman Mix
. It’s in the Stars Mix
“You’ve Got Me? Who’s Got You?” –The Lois Lane Mix
Music For the Games We Play
The “Make it Special” Mix
The Things We Don’t Say Mix
. Songs For the Promises We Can’t Keep
Songs For Stake Outs
Songs That Say Goodbye
. The Invincible Mix
The One Hundred Dollar Mix
. Annie’s Rebound Mix
Liz’s Songs That Say Sorry-For Bad Setups With Hot Guys
Songs That Make You Feel Better
. Hope For the Hopeless Mix
The Fear Itself Mix
Songs That Would Make Chuck Norris Proud
My “You Wouldn’t Like Me When I’m Angry” Mix
We’re Here to Save the Day Mix
Songs For Superheroes Who Save Superheroes
. The Happily Ever After Mix
This Playlist is Dedicated to my Superhero
Top Ten Reasons to Fall in Love With a Superhero
Acknowledgeme
nts
Being Invisible Page 21