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“Be wild. Because life is lived in the moments you don’t see coming. Not in the comfort of predictability, but in the thrill of the unknown.”
He spoke of adventure like it was nirvana. My nirvana was security. And security was not found in risk, but in consistency.
“I’m just saying. Maybe she’s looking for stability. Everybody knows you’re about as stable as uranium.” “And you’re running your mouth like you want a foot in Uranus.”
There was comfort in being underestimated. We were constantly set to impress everyone.
Tess was a chest of doubloons, waiting for an eternity under a waterfall, just waiting for someone to find her. To open her up and admire her riches. And I was the greedy pirate she’d accused me of being. I’d found her, and as far as I was concerned, that made her mine.
“To all that’s old and new,” I said, smiling down at my mother. “May we be immortalized by the deeds we do and the love we give.”
I wanted to build things for her and watch her face light up. I wanted to surprise her, wanted to give her the unexpected. I wanted to discover her, and I wanted to live in every little joy that discovery would bring. But I wanted more than just that. I wanted to be the man she didn’t believe me to be.
“You and Lucas are a good team, Tess. You ground him, and I think he loosens you up a little.”
“Why am I scared?” “I don’t know. Because if you don’t think I’m serious about you, you haven’t been paying attention.”
“I’m not asking you to promise anything. I don’t want anything to change. All I know is when I walk through that door, it’s your face I look for. Every night when we say goodbye, I don’t want to go. And I don’t know what that means besides this: I don’t want to be your fling, Tess.”
“Say it again,” she said softly. With a smile, I looked deeper into her eyes. “I don’t want to be your fling. I want to be your everything.”
“What are you gonna do with me now?” “Oh, I have an idea or two,” I said, bringing my lips to hers to steal a kiss and seal a promise. I was about to boyfriend the fuck out of Tess Monroe.
It’s organized chaos. Kinda like you.”
“Next time. This time is mine. I’ve got something to prove, Tess, and I’m not stopping until I prove it.”
“Tess, if taking out a billboard wasn’t outrageous and inappropriate, I’d fucking do it. This has never been temporary for me.”
Her face softened. “I thought all you wanted was temporary.” “And I thought you weren’t interested in temporary. I walked into it with the intent to date the hell out of you, Tess Monroe.”
“I don’t want somebody like me. I want somebody like you.”
“I trust you, Luke. And I want what Dad wants. Don’t worry … I’ll be fine.” “You always are. But you don’t have to be. You know that, right?”
“That’s because your father knows something very important,” Mom stated matter-of-factly, pausing for dramatic effect. “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”
“It’s easier to see, the older you get, the more seasons you endure. Everything is temporary, no matter how we try to fight it. But when we embrace the change, lean into it, the easier it is to endure. And the more fun it can be.”
“Let me give you a little fatherly advice. Have faith. In yourself and your ability to adapt, to shift if something comes your way. In Luke, to be honest and to care for your heart. Has he ever given you a reason for anything less?”
Don’t sacrifice your future just because you’re afraid. Sacrifice your fear for hope.”
