A Very Merry Mess (Cider Cove Sweet Southern RomComs #3)

Ryanne

RYANNE

“All right.” Tahlia holds up the pink sparkly microphone. “We’re all here now, and some of us don’t have a lot of time.” She looks to me where I’m sitting in a recliner at the end of the couch.

She’s called a big family meeting, which includes all of my roommates, both of my sisters, and my mom. My legs feel numb as I stand up. Tahlia hands me the mic, and I survey the four squares on the big TV screen, where my family members and best friend wait.

Lizzie hurries into the living room with her giant water bottle and says, “Sorry, sorry.”

“Okay,” I say. “I just need a little bit of advice.” I hold up my phone, where I’ve made my notes from the past few days of research.

Ever since Elliott dropped the bombshell about his degenerative vision condition, I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster. But after countless hours of soul-searching, a little crying, and late-night Google sessions, I now need to confirm my feelings.

So I quickly tell them where Elliott is: Paws For a Cause, in Mayflower, Michigan, a small, rural community a couple of hours outside of Detroit.

I tell them about his degenerative eye condition. I tell them that work has been tense, but he’s gone now. I tell them, “And now, I guess I’m not sure what to do.”

“What to do?” Hillary asks. “It’s obvious what you should do.”

“I agree,” Anna says.

Others seated in front of me on the couch nod, but my stomach swoops left and right. “It’s not that obvious.”

“Do you or do you not have the man’s phone number?” Claudia asks.

I tilt my head at her. I’m so not answering that.

“And his mom’s,” Tahlia says, almost under her breath.

“Yeah,” Emma says. “You hacked into his computer and got his mother’s phone number.”

“First,” I say. “I did not hack into his computer.” I duck my head a little and add in a half-whisper, “I know his password.”

“But you have her phone number,” Emma says. “You could do so much with that.”

“Like what?”

My roommates exchange glances with each other, and it’s Cosette who says, “Call or text her and find out how you can surprise Elliott.”

I spin toward the TV. “Surprise Elliott?” I say it like I don’t understand those two words in that order.

“Yeah,” my sister says with a kind smile. “It’s pretty obvious you’re in love with him, and he’s going to need to hear you say it.”

“Among other things,” Lizzie says.

I volley my gaze back and forth, semi-shocked at what I’m hearing. “He’ll be back on Sunday,” I say.

“And you won’t see him until Wednesday,” Claudia says. “That’s a whole week from today.” She shakes her head like she finds that lacking. Severely lacking.

“So…you think I should…what? Go to Michigan?”

“There it is,” Emma says with a grin. “Yes, you call his momma, and you ask her how you can show up at the guide dog facility and surprise your hot boyfriend.”

I reject her idea immediately, but as I look at the others in the room and then face my loved ones on the television, it’s clear they’re all thinking the same thing. “I can’t believe this,” I say. “I’d have to take work off, and Ell’s gone, and who will run the store?”

“We’ll go,” Lizzie says. “You’ll fly out early on Saturday, and we’ll go over and help Mindy with whatever she needs.”

My eyes widen. “You’ll go work at Paper Trail?”

“Why not?” Lizzie asks. “Claude, Tahlia, and I can for sure. Em’s pretty busy on the weekends.”

“I…I…” I sputter.

“You have no other excuses, dear,” Mom says, and I meet her eyes. Everything slows then, and I only feel love and acceptance and kindness from her.

“What questions do you need answered?” Tahlia asks. “To make this easier for you?”

“Well, I—” I cut off as my throat closes on itself.

“Do you love him?” Claudia asks. “I mean, I think that’s the biggest one, and she still hasn’t said it out loud in those exact words.”

The others agree, and I feel like they’ve gotten together without me to team up on me and make sure I do what they want.

“Don’t think so hard,” Hillary says into the quiet living room. “You tend to think too hard, Ry.”

“Do I love him?” As I stand there in the living room, a culmination of all the things I’ve been doing since New Year’s Eve come together into a cohesive whole.

And I come to one undeniable conclusion: I love Elliott, vision problems, love of savory popcorns, the obsession with Mars rovers, and all of it. Absolutely all of it.

Tears prick my eyes, and I nod. “Yeah, I’m in love with him.”

Emma whoops, and Lizzie cheers, and Claudia starts the applause. They all join in, everyone wearing a smile while I quickly sweep the tears away and then survey them all again, the pink mic limp at my side.

“So…”

“The real question,” Anna says in her dry, bossy way. “Is why you’re still talking to us and not booking airplane tickets to Michigan right now.”

My heart races as I pull up to the Paws For a Cause facility, the gravel crunching under my rental car’s tires. I really feel moments away from passing out, but I take a big breath as I put the car in park. “He’s here, and you’re ready.”

The quaint barn-style building looms before me, its large, colorful sign a beacon of hope. Ell said he felt like this when he pulled up, and though I’ve only spoken to him a couple of times while he’s been here, that’s the underlying message to everything he’s said.

Hope.

I glance at my phone, rereading the last text from Elliott’s mom. He’ll be working with Luna until four tonight, and then they’re coming back to the hotel.

Apparently, Elliott has had Luna with him twenty-four-seven since his arrival three days ago. He’s sent me a couple of pictures, but I know it’s not nearly the volume I’d get if we were truly together—and I need him to know that’s what I want.

Can’t wait to meet you , I send to his momma. Her support has been invaluable in orchestrating this surprise. Without her, I wouldn’t have known Elliott’s exact schedule or managed to book a seat on their return flight tomorrow.

As I step out of the car, my mind flashes back to the frantic planning of the past few days. The hushed conversations with my roommates, the hurried packing, the last-minute flight booking, the “emergency” I came up with to get work off on a Saturday. It’s all led to this moment.

“All right, Ry,” I coach myself. “Time to go in.” I turn off the car and get out, square my shoulders, and head for the entrance. My hand trembles slightly as I reach for the door handle. “This is going to work.”

I step inside, ready to fight for the future I want—a future with Elliott. I remind myself that he told me he loved me four times, and if there’s anything I know about Elliott, it’s that he doesn’t say anything he doesn’t mean.

I’m immediately enveloped by the warm atmosphere and the faint smell of dog treats. My eyes dart around, taking in the professional yet welcoming décor with enormous words on every sign. I’ve entered a sort of waiting room, with a few chairs, a couple of couches, and a long counter with computer stations at even intervals.

A woman at the nearest computer looks up as I approach, a friendly smile on her face. “Hi there,” she says. “Welcome to Paws For a Cause. How can I help you?”

I ball my fingers into a fist, steeling my nerves. “I’m looking for Elliott Huston. I was told he’s here training with his new guide dog, Luna.”

Her eyebrows raise slightly as her dark eyes search mine. “Yes, Elliott and Luna. They’re in one of our training rooms right now. Are you family?”

I hesitate for a split second before gazing back at her with full confidence. “I’m his girlfriend.” It feels right to say it, even if Elliott and I are in a weird limbo right now, and I’ve been praying for the past nine days that this conversation will end with us kissing and vowing to face forever together.

So maybe I’m still living in a slight fantasy-land. I can’t help it if I’m a romantic.

The receptionist nods, her smile widening. “It’s so great to meet you. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to see you. Let me just get someone to escort you in.”

As she picks up the phone, a mix of anticipation and nervousness courses through me. My hands wind around each other, and I have to force them back to my sides as the woman looks at me. “Calvin’s on his way out.” She smiles and looks back over to her computer.

“Thanks,” I say, and I don’t know which way to watch for this Calvin. Thankfully, a man comes down the hall only a few moments later, wearing a bright blue polo with a dark gray silhouette of a guide dog on the front of it. “Hey,” he says, and he smiles and shakes my hand. “You’re here for Elliott?”

I nod and swallow my nerves for the hundredth time that day.

“This way,” Calvin says, and he starts back down the hall.

I follow him quickly. “He doesn’t know I’m coming,” I say. “It’s a surprise.”

Calvin smiles over to me. “A surprise, huh?”

“Would it possible for me to get a few minutes with him?” I don’t have to say alone for Calvin to hear it.

“Sure,” he says. “He can introduce you to Luna, and you guys can talk.” He stops outside a door with a window about two-thirds of the way up. “He’s in there, and I’ll just let you go in.”

“Thanks.” As Calvin turns and walks back to the lobby area, I peer through the window. Sure enough, there’s Elliott, and he’s got a pretty blond dog sitting in front of him. He lifts his hand with his fingers in the shape of an L, and Luna doesn’t move a muscle. He seems to like this, and he grins at his dog and gives her a scrub along her ears.

Employing every ounce of bravery I have, I reach for the doorknob and twist it. The door opens, and I walk right in, and then there are no more barriers between me and Elliott. He looks up and sees me, the moment of recognition obvious on his face. “Ry.”

He jumps to his feet and rushes toward me like he’ll grab me and hold me right against his heart. In the end, he comes to a stop like the thin carpet at his feet has turned to ice and forced him to cease forward movement.

His eyes are wide with disbelief, and his chest heaves slightly. “What—? What are you doing here?”

I indicate the dog who’s moved to his side. “I wanted to meet Luna,” I say, but that’s not the real reason I left Paper Trail and flew to Mayflower, Michigan in the middle of the winter. I reach my hand out toward the dog, but Luna just sits there.

I raise my eyes back to his. “I wanted to meet your momma.”

Elliott presses his teeth together, his jaw jutting out.

“And I wanted to tell you…I couldn’t wait until you got home to tell you—and I certainly couldn’t put any of this in a text, so I had to come.”

“Who’s at the store?”

“Mindy’s handling it. We’re closed tomorrow, so I only had to take today off.” I take a step toward him, wanting my skin against his as I confess. “We’re not in the car, so I guess we’ll have to extend our confessionals to guide dog training rooms.”

He relaxes a little bit, but he still harbors a hint of wariness in his expression.

I throw my arms up and let them clap back to my sides. “I’m in love with you.”

His mouth opens, but he doesn’t say anything.

“Yeah, that’s it,” I say. “I’m in love with you, and I don’t care if you go blind tomorrow. I’m a good driver, and we work at the same place, so the commute will be easy. I’ve already started sketching out a plan for laying out your breakfast items before bed, so you can get up and make your own coffee and put together your toast and jam before you come into the store.”

I take a breath, so much more to say. “And I’ll make our lunches the night before and take them into work, so yours will be there waiting for you already. And did you know there’s software out there that will read everything to you? From your phone or computer, so you can have your emails read to you, and you can dictate the answers, and it’ll just type it up for you.”

“.”

“And I always want to hold your hand, so when we have to go grocery shopping or up to see my parents, no one will even know you can’t see. You’ll just be holding my hand, and I’ll get you where you need to go.” Tears fill my eyes, but I make no move to wipe them away. I want him to see them, want him to know everything I say is real and true and genuine.

He smiles slightly. “Ry.”

“I’ll hold up all the bowls during the popcorn creation and name them off. You can smell them and decide what you want to make. I’m sure you’ll still win.”

“What about the de-skunkifying?”

“Well, first, we’ll be relying on the forest fairies to help keep them away from you. But if that doesn’t work, I guess I’d go with vinegar, dish soap, and baking soda.” I grin at him. “And dragon scales.”

He grins fully back at me finally. “Or peppermint.”

My mouth wobbles along with the rest of me. “I love you. I can’t imagine walking away because of this one little thing.”

I expect him to argue that it’s not “one little thing,” but I’ve got a comeback for that too.

Instead, he says, “I love you too,” and he closes the distance between us and takes me into his arms. Sinking into his embrace is one of my favorite things in the world, as is the scent of his cologne, which is a little Luna-y right now, and breathing in with him is absolutely life-changing.

“Have you thought?—?”

“It’s been nine days,” I whisper-hiss at him. “I’ve thought about every single thing in the world. And no matter what, it always comes back to this one thing.” I pull away enough to still stand in his arms and see his face. “I love you, and love is a powerful thing that makes a person stronger than they know they can be.”

“Every day without you feels like a year in the dark.” He closes his eyes and leans his forehead against mine, and everything with him feels so easy, so good, so deep. “But with you, my heart finds its dawn. It’s not just that I love you—it’s that loving you has transformed my world into something beautiful and extraordinary, and it doesn’t matter if I can see it or not. I can feel it .”

I weep quietly as he touches that glorious mouth to a soft place just below my ear. I only startle away when something cold and wet touches my elbow. “Oh.” I pull back and look down at Luna. She’s touched her nose to my arm, and I can’t help grinning at her through my sniffles.

“She’s okay,” Elliott tells Luna. He grins at me and wipes my tears. “I know you want to meet her, but do you think I can kiss you first?”

“You better,” I whisper, and he matches his mouth to mine in the sweetest kiss of my life, only accelerating it after pouring everything he feels into his lips against mine.

I pull away and take a big breath. “We can get married fast, right?”

“Tomorrow, if you want,” he murmurs before he kisses me again.