“No.”
“Why did you let me believe you were sleeping with Parker?”
Libby looked embarrassed. “I didn’t want you to think I was pining away over you.”
Tony looked pained. “I am an ass.”
“Is that a question?” Libby started to smile.
“Nope. It is plain old fact. I’m in love with you. I have been since—wel it’s been awhile. And I am hoping to god that you love me too.”
Libby’s jaw dropped open. And then she smiled, crawled into his lap, and kissed him.
“Oh no. you aren’t getting off that easy.” Tony grinned her favorite only-for-Libby-grin. “I want to hear you say it.”
“Of course I love you Tony. I’m Nona.”
“Nona? Care to explain?”
“Maybe later.” Libby took another kiss. “Where did you go then?”
“Oh. I brought breakfast.” Tony mumbled absently as he shifted her more fuly into his lap.
“Food? I’m starving!” She crawled out of his lap towards the forgotten bags by the door.
“Thrown over for cold pancakes!” Tony gripped his heart as though he’d been wounded. This was his Libby. And she was—realy his.
Al the food was reheated, and Libby got her promised take out breakfast—at 2:00 in the afternoon. “I think we should get married.” Tony announced mildly from his side of the table.
Libby spit out her pancakes. “Married?”
“Yeah—we suck at dating.” Tony’s smile broadened across his face. “We can move you in here today. And I know you weren’t sure about staying in Lindstown, but I can write from anywhere. There’s a paper in Talahassee that was pretty interested in me before, if you want to go back to Florida. Or if you stil want to try New York that’s cool.”
“When did you talk to a paper in Talahassee?” Oops. Busted. “Before you went to Rome. I missed you Lib. I didn’t want us to be apart anymore. I stil don’t want us to be apart. What do you say? Marry me? I promise to buy you any sofa you like.” Libby just stared at him. Maybe he had miscalculated.
She spoke “How long?”
“Until we can get married?” Tony hurried over to her side of the table.
“No. How long have you been in love with me?
You said it was awhile.”
“Oh. Umm it’s kind of embarrassing. You were stil pretty young.”
Libby tossed him an exasperated look. “I’l tel you, if you tel me.” Tony nodded. “Okay, don’t laugh. But it was the day we met. You stole our popcorn and made fun of the little mermaid.”
“That describes most Friday nights of our childhood Lib.” Tony’s tone was light. “It was the summer we played Monopoly. You were wearing those tiny blue pajamas, remember? I had to sit in that awful desk chair just to keep from pinning you to the bed—which I probably could have been arrested for since you were only 16.”
“You were only 19! Is age always going to be an issue with you?”
“I guess that depends on if you are going to marry me.”
Libby took another bite of her pancakes. “I love it here. I want to stay, and I think my mom can handle the competition. We cater to different crowds realy. We can pick out the couch later if you want.”
“Libby!”
Tony
shouted
“communication
remember? Wil you marry me?”
“Isn’t that what I just said?”
“The words Lib. I want to hear the words.” Libby grinned “Yes, Tony. I wil marry you.” Tony swept her up out of her chair and headed for the stairs. “We can pick out the couch later.” He said as they crossed into their bedroom.