Casey's Home (25 page)

“Maybe we should get married.”

Well, at least this wasn’t as obtuse as:
“I’ve got the house; you’ve got the furniture.”

It will take another five minutes to
completely close the roof. I am only peripherally aware of its movement, as
Ben’s hopeful and nervous face holds my attention. Nothing like a marriage
proposal to focus a girl, especially one that I suspect was unexpected, even to
the proposer.

Around us, people laugh despite the loss.

“Maybe we should,” I answer and he leans
down to kiss me again, lavishly. I am picturing what it would be like to wake
next to him each morning, to fall asleep with him beside me each night. I can
think of worse bookends to my day, worse ways to keep track of the passing days
of my life. I am picturing my entertainment center cradling that nice TV.

Ben unlocks my door at last and I slide
in, feeling like my knees are about to give way. When he settles beside me, we
stare at each other for a moment as if confirming that it was, in fact, us out
there.

“This is crazy,” he whispers, and he means
it in the best way, like planning a sudden two week vacation, or buying a
beautiful new pair of shoes.

“Completely,” I agree, aware that I’m
grinning like a fool.

His hand shakes as he reaches for the gear
stick, so I slip mine over it, helping to steady him as he shifts.