I start to tell her, but then change my mind. I love that glitter in her eyes right now, when he knows that it's something, but she doesn't know what. Anticipation.
“You know what, why don’t we just let it be a surprise?”
Emmet raises his eyebrows at at me. “Okay, but, do I get to know what's happening? I'm sort of integral to the process, you know.”
I just shrug. “You will know when the time is right, brother. You'll know everything you need to know.”
They look at each other, mimicking each other's surprised, amazed expressions. “I guess we'll just have to wait and see!”
“Trust me, you are going to love it,” I assure them, sinking my teeth into a spicy, sweet mussel. “Only the best for you guys.”
Chapter 38
Emmet
Perez Hilton arrives in a limousine that swoops toward the curb at the underground dock. He emerges from the door, adjusting his sunglasses and looking around suspiciously as though he expects to be overtaken by a group of screaming fans.
But there aren't any.
While he readjusts his expectations to our relative privacy, I stride forward, holding out my hand in greeting.
He purses his lips thoughtfully and slides his hand against mine. “Mr. Riordan,” he smiles. “At long last.”
“Thank you so much for coming. It's great for you to make the time.”
I lead him down the short flight of concrete stairs to the floating dock on the river. Our other boat is here, not the sailboat but a thirty foot cruise liner that we sometimes use for dinner parties.
“Well isn't this nice!” he sighs, pulling himself up the railing and onto the boat. “You sure do know how to put on a show! Wait, is the river… pink?"
I smile and nod, walking up behind him with my arms crossed. There's a little bit of a breeze coming off the lake and I hope that Bella is wearing something warm enough. The days are starting to get cooler and the temperatures could drop suddenly, especially on the water.
“Yes, well, if they can dye the river green for St. Patrick's Day, the could certainly die the river my girlfriend’s favorite color for this, right?”
“Your girlfriend!” Perez repeats, his cheeks dimpling deeply. I'm not sure if I like this guy or not. I’m pretty sure he said some fairly crappy things about me, but then again that's his job. Still, he has enough reach that this fairytale should get a lot of good exposure.
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“She is definitely a lucky girl.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I see I got a text from Dillon.
“They are pulling up now,” I mutter, rushing back off the boat and up the dock stairs. I'm excited to see her, my heart racing like a little boy. This really is pretty cool. I can't wait to see her face.
Dillon holds the door open for, taking her hand and helping her from the car. When she sees me, her eyes quickly look over my shoulder and scan the river, widening dramatically. Her lips form of perfect O of surprise.
Then she glances back at Dillon, winking at him and rolling her eyes as if to say, oh you shouldn't have.
She's wearing a blue dress that ties at the waist and has a waterfall of flowy fabric that swirls around her ankles. A shawl is knotted casually over her shoulders, and her hair is tucked into a secure style. She thought of everything from the temperature to the wind.
That's my girl.
“Your chariot awaits,” I smile, cursing myself for saying something so absolutely stupid right off the bat. I offer her my elbow and she takes it graciously, squeezing my bicep.
“I almost can't believe we’re doing this!” she whispers as I guide her down the stairs.
Me neither.
She shakes Perez’s hand and we get underway, gliding along the pink toned river, waving periodically to the throngs of onlookers who hang over the railings and wave and hoot at us. Dillon was right, this is a significant thing. There have to be three or four thousand people gathered on the bridge, like we are in a parade. But we are the only boat on the river, so this must be all for us.