*
"Wow. Look at 'em."
Marshal's hand tightened on mine. I smiled and slightly shook my head. We watched Sally and Zell's progression into the birthday party. It was quite a spectacle. Zell didn't have a chance to speak because of Sally's obvious excitement, and it looked as if she spoke in run on sentences with barely a pause between subjects. Zell didn't mind her excitement; in fact, he seemed to feed off of it.
"I never thought Dincht would fall head-over-heels in love, but--Damn. The boy is completely gone." Marshal glanced at me. "You've got the present, right?"
I nodded slightly.
"You sure you want to do this?"
I nodded again. "Yes."
"Okay then." He gave my hand another squeeze and then pushed forward through the crowd, guiding me along behind him. "Hey, Meg!"
Sally looked up, narrowing her eyes as she tried to find Marshal through the sea of faces. Then she squealed his name and looked over at Zell with an excited exclamation of "Marshal's here!"
I smirked.
Zell laughed. "Of course he's here. He's the guy who helped me set all this craziness up!"
"Really?" Sally asked, wide-eyed. She turned and stepped forward to give Marshal a hug once he had finally emerged from the crowd. "Marshal. Thanks so much!"
He pushed back. "Hey now. I'm here with Ahndra, so don't get any ideas."
My smirk twitched as Marshal's hand tightened on mine, his thumb caressing my skin.
Sally giggled and then looked over at me, wide-eyed yet again. "Oh my gosh."
I flushed, especially when Marshal mumbled "Damn straight," under his breath.
Sally stepped over and hugged me. My eyes widened and I released Marshal's hand in surprise, my hands moving to hover a few inches from Sally's back.
"Oh my gosh Ahndra you look gorgeous And I love the way the dress brings out your eyes" and "It's so pretty and soft" and "Wow you look really pretty Marshal's really lucky to be here with you Don't you think so, Zell?"
Marshal and Zell howled with laughter.
Sally pulled back and blinked at them. "What?" she asked innocently.
I had been that innocent once. Naive. Shy, but not really. "Regal." She faced me and smiled. Yes. I had been Sally Regal once, and that was why I had to do what I planned to do. "Calm down," I told her.
Sally giggled and lowered her hands from my arms. "Sorry. I've never had a birthday party before and I'm just really glad everyone could come and it's so pretty--"
"Regal."
Sally halted mid-sentence and flushed. Then she lifted her shoulders with a whispered "Sorry."
One side of my lips twitched, and then I handed forward a small box wrapped with pink paper. Sally took it, eyes wide as she stared down at it. "Happy Birthday," I said.
Zell stepped close and put his arm around Sally's waist. "Sweet," he exclaimed. "They got you a present. Way to go, Dawg." Zell kissed Sally's hair. "Open it up."
Shaky fingers unwrapped the pink paper and then lifted the lid--Sally gasped and very gently lifted the china angel from the box. The china angel my mom had bought me for a childhood birthday I no longer remembered. The china angel my father had broken. I knew it would be safer in Sally's care than mine, remembered for the beauty instead of the crack.
Sally looked up, tears streaming down her face. "Oh my gosh. It's so pretty!" She stepped forward and gave me another hug. This time I lightly rested my hands on her back. "Thank you thank you," she whispered in a choked voice.
Zell gently stroked Sally's back as he whispered "That rocks, guys. Thanks."
*
I took in and released a deep breath of the ocean air as I continued to rest my arms against the railing on the back deck of the hotel. Marshal stood beside me, close enough to keep me warm just by standing there. He took my hand in his and gave it a squeeze. I lowered my gaze to his hand holding mine and then softly smiled over at him.
"That was a great thing you did, Ahndra. And you know what? I think you've made a friend for life."
I looked out to the reflection of the moon on the water and released another breath. "Maybe."
Marshal kissed the top of my head, and his hand released mine to embrace my shoulders and caress my upper arm. I closed my eyes at the sudden body‑shiver and then the continued tingle. I straightened and turned, stepping within his arms to rest my cheek against his chest as my arms wrapped around him.
He placed another kiss on my head. "I've missed you, Ahndra Kelley."
I sighed and tried to pull myself closer, remembering the hands held and the shy kiss and the giggles shared. I liked that boy, and I liked this man. "I've missed you, too, Marshal Beita."
The End
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Other Bookworms & Booya Saga Books:
Bookworms and . . . Booya!--book 1 of the series
The Reluctant Knight--the story of Seifer and Janine’s unique relationship
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About the Author | Nona Mae King
Writing has been my passion since I was a child when I began creating skits and songs. My life would be empty without this call. There would be no purpose. No ending to guide my daily struggle. No story toward which to strive. Each day something beckons, and that--I know--is the waiting tale. One last happy ending.
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