Chemistry Countdown (Part 10 of 10)
"Why don't you go over there and knock on the door?" asked Robert. He placed a baby bottle on the counter and grabbed another soiled one to clean. "I could drive you if you're nervous. Lindsay is...
Mary opened the sliding glass door and walked inside after her mother. She saw Melany staring at them and motioned her over.
“What were you two talking about?” asked Melany. “You were out there for twenty minutes. Aren’t you cold?”
Mary looked down at her arms.
“Jacket? Anyway, we were just talking about fairytales.”
“Fairytales?”
“And school.”
“And school? Guess I made the right choice to stay inside.”
Mary laughed.
“We were also talking about how you were right.”
“I was? I mean. Of course I was. Right about what?”
“About asking Justin out. I don’t know what will happen in the new year, but I have to try.”
“That’s the spirit. What are you going to say to him?”
“I have no idea.”
“Why don’t you go over there and knock on the door?” asked Robert. He placed a baby bottle on the counter and grabbed another soiled one to clean. “I could drive you if you’re nervous. Lindsay is going to be out with the baby for at least two more hours.”
Justin sat at the kitchen table, picking at a bowl of cereal.
“I appreciate the offer,” replied Justin. “But…”
“But? But what?”
“What if it doesn’t go the way we think?”
Robert held a baby bottle out in front of him.
“See this?” asked Robert.
Justin nodded.
“If I don’t clean this, my kid could get sick. This I know. It’s simple. Your situation, on the other hand, doesn’t end with spittle on your sleeve at two in the morning. Wait, I’ve lost track of what I’m trying to say. It doesn’t matter. You’re uncertain of the outcome, which means there’s a chance it goes your way. Sure, there’s also a chance it doesn’t.”
“But the spittle isn’t guaranteed?”
“Something like that. The point is, you’re going to ask her. Now get out there.”
“The woman at the laundry mat doesn’t know where he lives,” said Melissa. “He showed up last week to fix one of her dryers, though. In case ours is on the fritz.”
“Our dryer is fine,” replied their mother. “The coffeehouse doesn’t know for sure, but they said Peak Place is the street name. Apparently, he showed up last month to fix their locks and someone dropped off some coffee after their shift.”
“The pizza joint down the road just gave me the house number,” said Melany. “92.”
“Then we have it,” said Mary. “92 Peak Place.”
Justin put on his boots and waved goodbye to his friend.
When he started his truck, a love song came on the radio.
“That’s a good sign,” he said.
Mary pulled her jacket over her shoulders. Melany adjusted the collar of her shirt.
“Do you have another shirt?” asked Melany.
“Why?” asked Mary.
“This one has seen better days.”
“If you’re trying to make me even more nervous, then it’s working.”
“Nevermind the shirt. The shirt looks great. You’ve got this.”
Mary hugged her sister and then headed out the door.
“Justin?”
She stood on the porch as Justin walked toward her. His truck still idling in the driveway.
“I couldn’t wait until next year,” he said. “I had to see you.”
Mary laughed.
“I couldn’t either. I was on my way to your house.”
“You were?”
She nodded.
“Mary, will you…”
“Justin, will you…”
“You go first,” he replied.
“Will you bring in the new year with me?”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” he replied.
Thank you for reading Chemistry Countdown. It looks like Mary and Justin will be sharing a countdown kiss at midnight!
Know any romance fans? Send them this email so they can enjoy the story, too.
Looking for more? I have a serial available on Kindle Vella, along with two romance novels. Get “The Centennial Courtship” for FREE today on Kindle to celebrate “One Town Over” reaching 5,000 likes!
In the mood for a completed 10-Part Series? Take a look at The Tree We Used To Climb, also on Kindle Vella. Remember, the first 3 episodes are FREE.
Looking for short stories? I have 3 collections of romance genre stories on Kindle Vella. First 3 episodes (stories) of each are FREE!