CHAPTER EIGHTEEN SAWYER
C HAPTER E IGHTEEN
SAWYER
Kordell lets out a roar of a laugh while flashing his phone to Izaak. They both watch what’s on their screen, and right at the same time, they laugh again.
“Oh, that is priceless,” Izaak says. “What I would have given to be there in person while you flipped your ex-girlfriend off at her wedding.”
“Not my proudest moment,” I say, pushing some beans around on my plate.
Izaak and Kordell made quite the barbeque feast, full of corn on the cob, baked beans, watermelon slices, and a fresh strawberry, arugula, and feta salad, as well as pulled-chicken sandwiches with multiple sauce choices.
I’ve devoured far too much, and yet I can’t stop picking at my plate.
“It should be,” Kordell says.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from meeting Fallon’s dads, but I definitely didn’t expect them to welcome me into their family with open arms—not because they aren’t nice people, but because I wasn’t sure how close they were with Peter.
I was apprehensive of meeting them under the label of Fallon’s, uh.
.. “love interest,” but I’m not sure why I was worried at all.
They’re great. They remind me of the parents from Meet the Fockers .
Open and welcoming, slightly dirty minded, but a really good time.
“Yes, I’d put that little episode on your résumé,” Izaak says. “That, or turn it into a movie.”
“Great opening to a movie,” Kordell says.
“I can see it now.” He sweeps his hand across the sky.
“Catchy rom-com song that makes your toe tap, aerial shots of Los Angeles, slowly sweeping into a quiet white chapel, where the camera pans down from the steeple, through the doors, and into the wedding ceremony, where the disgruntled groomsman is standing.”
“A voice-over commences,” Izaak adds. “The groomsman tells the audience about his sour luck, turning the bride and groom instantly into the villains, so when the bride walks down the aisle, even though she looks angelic, the audience knows there’s a demon beneath the white.”
“Precisely,” Kordell says, jumping in now.
“And when the time is right, the disgruntled groomsman shows off his middle fingers with a bow, the audience gasps, and he takes off running down the aisle. And, like Cinderella herself, leaves behind one powder-blue shoe as evidence. Cue the Chicks’ ‘Ready to Run’—”
“No, no, no.” Izaak holds his hand up. “We can’t copy Runaway Bride . We need to have a song with the same impact, but won’t make viewers think we’re unoriginal.”
“True,” Kordell says, tapping his finger to his chin. “Aha, I got it.” He lifts his finger to the sky. “‘Make Way’ by Aloe Blacc.”
“What’s that song?” Fallon asks as she leans in, looking adorably invested in her dads’ narrative.
Kordell picks up his phone from the table and taps away on it.
Smiling, he sets his phone down as a voice starts the song by saying “Legendary” and then breaks out into a bass beat, followed by clapping that hits with the drums. The song is fast paced, gives the vibe of fleeing from the scene, and also speaks of moving forward.
I can see it, everything they’ve described. I can see it all.
“This song is absolutely perfect,” Izaak says.
“And while this is playing, you pan out to a montage of him driving away, the peeved bride and groom throwing their arms up in disgust. Credits roll, he blasts this song in the car and drives up to the mountains, more aerial shots, this time of his car weaving up the winding roads, the song slows down as he hits the bar, tie undone, top few buttons of his shirt unbuttoned, looking like he just got out of a bar fight... and that’s when he runs into the small-town girl. ”
“Yes.” Kordell pumps his fist in the air. “And from there, he navigates through the pits of his life while the small-town girl helps him see his worth. Then they fall in love, of course. Zany characters, two dads, a small town full of life and local color. Smells like a box office hit.”
“And at the end, when they finally get together and kiss, the cameras do that classy spin-around-the-couple thing,” Izaak adds, “while playing ‘Love on Top’ by Tim Halperin.” He grabs Kordell’s phone, does some typing, and then plays the song.
It’s slow at first, a cover of the original “Love on Top,” and then, the song picks up. ..
“This right here,” Izaak says, “when it really gets going, when the realization happens, this is when they confess their love and that they can’t live without each other. This is where they kiss.”
“Camera spins,” Kordell says.
“And then we wipe away tears because we’re so thrilled the couple has finally gotten together. And while credits roll, we’re delighted with little updates about their lives.”
“Like an epilogue,” Kordell clarifies. “Like how they do that in Maid in Manhattan .”
Izaak grips Kordell’s hand and does the sign of the cross while looking up to the sky.
“J-Lo in her prime. Bless us all, we’d be so lucky to have a brief glimpse of an epilogue like that.
” When Izaak gathers himself, they both turn toward me.
“It could be called Runaway Groomsman .” Izaak grins.
“The title sells itself. What do you think?”
I scratch the side of my face, a bit stunned. “Well... can I hire you two? Because that was... that was incredible.”
Kordell laughs, reaches over the table, and bops me in the nose. “Turn lemons into lemonade, baby.” He presses his hand to his stomach and lets out a deep breath. “Now, I need to start cleaning up.” He stands, snapping into host mode. “Izaak, start collecting plates.”
“Yes, honey,” Izaak answers with an eye roll and then maneuvers away from the picnic table and to the other tables, where he collects plates, piling them on his lap.
“I should get back to work too,” I say to Fallon. “I have two more light fixtures to install in that last cabin.”
“Why don’t we help my dads and call it a night?” she asks. “The guys have already retired to the bar and set up their sleeping bags in the cabins. Tank has taken Sully back to his place. We should get some rest if we’re going to tackle the rest tomorrow.”
“Sure,” I say. “If you don’t mind that I finish tomorrow.”
She sighs. “Sawyer, you’ve done so much already—please just take a second to breathe.”
“Okay.” I give her a smile and feel myself relaxing, grateful I can just enjoy the rest of the evening at her side.
We spent the next half hour cleaning the picnic tables.
For the most part, the guys piled their empty plates together, but the corn on the cob made it tough for balancing.
Fallon and I worked on the trash while Izaak and Kordell gathered any leftovers.
Once the tables were cleaned, Fallon and I walked her dads to their cabin.
They gave her hugs and kisses and she thanked them for coming up to visit before they turned toward me.
Kordell brought me into a large hug and quietly thanked me for the cabin, for making Izaak feel comfortable.
And then Izaak shook my hand with teary eyes before rolling up the ramp and inside.
The entire time, I felt Fallon’s adoring eyes on me.
After that, Fallon and I walked to the residence in silence.
We both went our separate ways to take showers, and when I finished cleaning up, I decided to take a chance to see what she was doing and walked out into the main living space, where I found her curled on the couch, a cup of tea in hand, her wet hair braided into two braids, and dressed in a pair of black cotton shorts and a matching black shirt.
I’ve seen her dressed down more than dressed up, and I can honestly say, I prefer her like this. Makeup-free, cozy, and content.
“Care for some company?” I ask.
She finishes taking a sip from her mug. “I hoped you’d join me.”
“Did you now?” I ask with a raise of my brow. I take a seat on the couch next to her, and because I need to be closer to her, I pull her legs over mine and drape them over my lap. “What are you drinking?”
“Peppermint tea. Grandma Joan used to drink it before bed every night; picked up the habit from her.” She offers me her cup. “Want to try it?”
“I would say yes, but I know I won’t like it, and I don’t want to insult your grandma like that, so I’m going to pass.”
She chuckles. “Very honest answer.” She takes another sip. “I hope my dads didn’t freak you out with their whole movie-idea thing. They were just playing around. They wanted me to check with you, make sure you weren’t mad.”
“Mad?” I ask while I gently move my hand up and down her shin. “Are you kidding me? That was without a doubt one of the greatest pitches I’ve ever seen. I only wish I’d come up with it. Your dads very well might have a future in film.”
“No way, they’re just avid romantic comedy fans. They wouldn’t know the first thing when it comes to writing a script. They did text me, though, and asked if I thought you were going to use the idea, because they would love to watch it.”
“I don’t know.” I look her in the eyes. “Do you think the small-town girl and the disgruntled groomsman end up together?”
She smirks over the rim of her mug. “I think the chances are good.”
I know humor is laced through our banter, but the meaning behind her answer doesn’t escape me.
She’s giving me a second chance, the chance that I’ve been wishing for.
And I’m going to take it. There is no way in hell I’m going to let this girl slip through my grasp again. I made that mistake once. Not again.
“If that’s the case, can I ask you something?”
She tilts her head in question. “Sure.”
“Monday, do you think I can take you out on a date?” I draw a small circle on her shin with my index finger.
“A date?” she asks, her lips tilting up. “Like, I dress up and you dress up and we go and enjoy an activity or meal together?”
“Yes, that would be the definition of a date.” I chuckle.