The Invitation

by Vi Keeland

Remember, if you don’t think positive, positive things won’t happen.

“You’re no fun anymore. Five years ago you would have laughed if someone had crashed a wedding you went to. Now you’re uptight and bitter. Your divorce sucked the sense of humor right out of you!”

“By the way, I heard you loud and clear earlier, so I won’t be asking you out again.” The smile on my face wilted. “Oh…okay.” He winked. “I’ll wait for you to ask me this time. Goodnight, Stella.”

I’m just waiting for that little whisper in your head to get loud enough for you to listen.”

I looked down and my forehead wrinkled. “A banana?” “I stole it from my sister’s kitchen. She didn’t have any oranges. I’m more creative with those.” I was confused until I realized he’d written on it. Your television debut is very appealing. Hudson shrugged. “Get it? A-peel-ing. Go easy on me—I didn’t have very long to come up with something and still follow you out here.”

“Life is messy. You know the only time it’s not? When you’re not living it—when you’re just going through the motions.”

His eyes dropped to my lips. “You know I’m counting all the times you torture me. Eventually I’ll get even.” “And how will you do that?” He leaned in and kissed my cheek, then moved his lips to my ear. “With my mouth.” I blinked a few times, taking in Hudson’s smirk as he walked away. He spoke over his shoulder. “Hold that thought, Stella. Your whisper is getting almost loud enough that I can hear it.”

Fisher: Sweetheart, men are always on the menu. It’s simple. Just tell him you’re in the mood for a cocktail—hold the tail. I shook my head with a smile. Stella: I’ll keep that line in my arsenal. Thanks.

Hudson looked back and forth between my eyes. “You want to know a secret?” I smiled. “Sure.” He leaned close and whispered. “You can do anything.”

I was attracted to your strength. You’re not a woman who needs a man. You’re a woman a man needs. I’m not sure I even recognized the difference years ago. But you make it impossible to forget now.”

“Thank you,” I said. “For what?” “For seeing me the way you do. I know I can be a handful at times.” Hudson looked into my eyes. “You are a handful. But don’t worry.” He winked. “I’ve got two big hands.”

“I think a lot of the reason I’ve struggled to be happy over the last year or two has been that my life turned out a lot different than I’d envisioned it. I needed to let go of what I thought my life was supposed to look like in order to write a new story.”

And to think when I first met this woman, I’d thought she was flaky. A few months later, I’m realizing she’s the one with the firm grip on life, and it’s me who has a lot to learn. Even crazier than that, I’m hoping that when she writes that new story, I get to be part of it.

I don’t think forgiving your parents means you’re excusing their behavior. I think forgiveness is more about not letting it destroy your heart anymore.”

“Nice. I once broke a dentist’s chair when I was sleeping with that orthodontist. But never a bed.” My nose wrinkled. “Thanks for sharing. Now every time I go to the dentist, I’m going to wonder whose naked ass has had sex where I’m sitting.” “You’re welcome.” Fisher winked.

You make me feel better than any amount of chocolate.

“I don’t think any of the things that happened are coincidence. I think life is a series of stepping stones that branch out in all different directions. We have no idea what path we’re supposed to follow, so we tend to walk a straight line and follow the biggest stones, because that’s the easiest thing to do. Coincidences are the smaller stones that lead you on a path that veers off. If you’re brave enough, you follow those stones, and you wind up exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

“None of this is a coincidence, sweetheart. It’s the universe conspiring for us to be together. It has been from the very start—before we even met.”

“Stella Rose Bardot, let me give you your happily ever after. Be my wife, and I promise to try my hardest to make your life better than anything you’ve ever read in a book.”