"Thank you, Vince."
"She's too good for you."
"I know. I want her anyway." If it’s not too late. It can’t be too late because I can’t go back to a life without Lydia in it.
Thirty-Three
RHYS
Red Rock is just outside of Vegas and per the GPS on my car I should be at this campsite Vince is sending me to in just over half an hour. Which means I've got half an hour to sit in my car and think about what an asshole I am. It's ten straight miles down Charleston until the road curves and I start winding my way towards the campground.
It takes another ten minutes and a nearly missed turn to reach my destination and I'm relieved to see two cars parked outside an old cabin that should surely be condemned. I park beside Lydia's car and scan the area, unsure if they're inside or walking the property. There's no door on the cabin, or much of a roof really. I don't see anyone so I head for the door. Or the doorway, as it were.
I hear her voice as soon as I cross the threshold. She's standing with the real-estate agent facing a window in the side of the cabin, the glass long gone. There's a view of Red Rock Canyon in the background but it doesn't hold a candle to a glimpse of Lydia.
"I picked a bad swan," she's telling the woman. "I picked a bad swan and I mated with him and now I'm stuck with him because I'm ninety-three percent in love with him even though he's an idiot." She shakes her head and then stops abruptly, leaning towards the real-estate agent. "Not the pregnant kind of mating, just the fun kind. Can I say that? I was a Trooper for thirteen years, you know. I earned all the health badges so I know how reproductive mating works and I've covered my bases. I'm probably going to earn a 'didn't get knocked up by accident' badge."
"Um…" The agent stalls, tilting her head to the side, clearly not sure how to respond to anything that just came out of Lydia's mouth. Then she spots me and relief covers her face. "Well, look at that. Looks like your swan came for you."
Lydia whirls and her eyes flash in surprise. A look of confusion follows.
"Rhys." She sighs it a little when she says it, and it sounds like a question.
"I'll leave you two." The real-estate agent smiles and with a glance between us turns to leave. Her heels snap across the floor until she reaches the porch, Lydia and I silent until she's gone. Then I close the distance between us, walking slowly towards her while taking in the interior of the cabin.
"Nice place," I say by way of easing in.
"Yeah." She nods. "Yeah, it is. It's got a lot of potential." She lifts her chin a fraction. "With the right vision it could be really special."
"I'm sorry." She blinks rapidly and takes a breath but I continue before she can say anything. "I'm sorry for everything. Except for that first kiss in the bar. That was the best decision I've ever made. I'm sorry for everything that came after."
"You're sorry?" She blinks again "Sorry in a ‘you wish it didn't happen’ kind of way?"
"God, no." I shake my head. "Sorry in an ‘I’m in love with you’ way. In an ‘I’m hoping I haven’t fucked it up too badly’ kind of way. In an ‘I’m hoping you’ll give me another chance’ kind of way.”
"Oh."
"I'm sorry for giving you such mixed signals. I'm sorry for walking out on you at the bar and I'm sorry I put you in a position to resort to such a completely insane plan to get my attention.”
"I'm sorry too. My timing wasn't great. I should have waited until after the grand opening, but I was afraid you'd fall in love with a real hooker instead of me."
"Not possible." I shake my head.
"Sure it is. Anything is possible."
"You're the only woman for me, Lydia. I don't know what I can offer you," I say softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and bringing her hand to my lips. “But I'm in love with you and I want to try."
"What are you doing?" She looks alarmed and takes a step back, her hand dropping from mine. "Are you proposing to me right now?"
"I wasn't, actually. But I can. I'll marry you today if that's what it takes."
"No!"
"Okay, wow. That was a pretty spirited no. So you don't want to marry me?"
"We met less than two months ago, Rhys. I want to be courted. Wooed. Pursued. Solicited in a romantic fashion. At someplace other than Del Taco. No, that's a lie. Del Taco is fine, actually."
"You want to be wooed with value-menu iced coffee?"
"It's really good, Rhys. No matter what you say."
"Fair enough."
“Here's a spoiler, Rhys: I will marry you. Someday. But this"—she gestures between us with her finger—"is not my proposal. You will propose one day, when we are both ready for it, and you will make it good. Do you hear me? Good. The words 'I wasn't, actually, but I can,' will not come out of your mouth at that time. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good." She narrows her eyes at me as if she's not sure if my yes was sincere or not.
"Can I say something?"
"What?" she snaps.
"This bossy girl thing is a real turn-on."
A slow smile spread across her face at that along with the hint of a blush.
"Can I say something else?"
"Okay," she agrees, this time smiling.
“You were right when you said you’ve been doing all the work and I want to fix that. Will you let me? Because I really need to earn that seven percent back.”
“Hmm.” She hums while she thinks. "I do have a few badges left to earn. Perhaps you could help me with them."
"I'd love to.”
Epilogue
RHYS
Several years later….
“Once upon a time a girl walked into a bar and captured my heart, but I was too stupid to see what was happening. Luckily for me she was a very goal-oriented type of girl who decided against all logic that I was goal-worthy. I wasn’t, but that didn’t stop her. Thank God that didn’t stop her.”
“Rhys!” Lydia hisses. “Don’t tell him that! That is not an accurate retelling of the fairytale. Nor an appropriate retelling.”
“Hush. It’s our favorite bedtime story. Also he’s a dog so I don’t think he minds which version I give him.”
We both turn to look at our new dog, Trooper. He thumps his tail against the floor and tilts his head to the side, one eye raised as he attempts to discern if Lydia is about to give him an extra belly rub before bed. He’s some kind of lab mix we obtained through a rescue group, but I don’t think that should be a surprise to anyone. Lydia loves to rescue things. People, old sheets, lost tourists, a pair of swans that needed a sponsorship—honestly I didn’t ask for the details on that last one. Trooper’s an adult dog and badly behaved. Much like I was when Lydia found me. She says he has potential.