Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 139147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
I took this time to hop in the shower too, and being the multi-tasking wunderkind I was, while in the shower, I carefully crafted the perfect reply text to my dad. One that would be both welcoming at the same time establish boundaries.
Therefore, when I got out of the shower, I texted him I was excited for his visit, asked him to email me the particulars, then shared I hadn’t had enough warning to get time off from work, but we’d meet up for dinner.
I then shot off a text to Luna, letting her know I was spending the weekend with Cap, what I’d said to Dad, and Cap was in on the intervention as well as for dinner at her place the next night (it was a long text).
I was doing my makeup when I got back from Dad, That works, honey. We’re renting a car so we can entertain ourselves until we see you. Email sent!
I had to take a break from blending to stare at his text.
Because…
We?
I didn’t ask. I’d had a rollercoaster week. I couldn’t take anymore. So I let it lie.
I was back to blending when Luna returned, Good. Mom and Dad are in with the addition of Cap. Three at theirs. Have fun with your hot guy. Later, bitch.
I finished my makeup and was confronted with the impossible task of sorting a Spend the Day with Cap outfit.
The dress I wanted to wear was at Luna’s, and I lost some time wondering why I’d benched that dress over at Luna’s when it was super cute.
I notched a trip to Luna’s to cycle out my wardrobe on my mental to-do list, marking it high priority.
The runner-up I decided on didn’t suck, though.
I pulled out my babydoll dress that had a mixed floral and band pattern of blues, pinks, reds and peaches, with full three-quarter sleeves gathered at the ends and a vee neck. I buckled on some tan, flat sandals with thick straps that had scalloped edges, spritzed with perfume, added some gold hoops and rings, and switched out my bag to a cute, little tan crossbody, just in time for Cap’s arrival.
I’d given him the gate code so he didn’t have to deplete his magic by bypassing it anymore, thus he knocked on the door.
I opened it to see him wearing beige Bermuda shorts, an ashy-dark taupe, untucked button-down with the long sleeves rolled up high to over his elbows, and some white Chucks. He had a worn, but still awesome, leather backpack slung over his shoulder.
Before Cleo, who was crowding me to get to Cap, could do it, I threw myself at him.
He caught me, and giving me little kisses in between sweet smiles, he shuffled me in.
His little kisses weren’t near as good as having his tongue, but I wasn’t complaining.
He dropped his pack to the floor.
Still pressed up against him with my arms around his neck, I asked, “What do you wanna do today?”
“You’ve been in this city a lot longer than I have, what’s there to do?”
“Can I take you to my favorite place in all of Phoenix?”
“Perfect.”
We took Cleo out for another stroll to tide her over while we were away because only service dogs were allowed where we were going, and we had to leave her behind. Then we loaded up into Cap’s Porsche.
As such, I guided him to the Desert Botanical Gardens.
I’d been there bunches of times before. In fact, Luna and her family and I went there every Christmas season to do the luminaria extravaganza.
But as much as I loved them (and the luminarias), no visit I’d taken there was as fabulous as strolling the paths hand-in-hand with Cap.
Indeed, doing that made the place flat-out magical.
We took our first selfie together under the big shady tree just up the way from the patron mosaic (and it was hard to stop looking at that snap, because, straight up, we were perfect together—so perfect, it was going to take all my willpower not to print it out within twenty-four hours, find the ideal frame and put it pride of place in my pad).
Eventually, we had a late lunch sitting outside on the patio at Gertrude’s.
We ended the visit by stopping by the gift shop, where I bought two succulents. One for my house and one to adorn Tito’s table at SC.
Late afternoon, we let ourselves into the gate of the Oasis, holding hands and each of us carrying a pot in our free one.
Just to say, on the whole, Cap was a hand-holder, not just when things were emotional.
I loved it.
No, wait.
Strike that.
I loved it.
Once inside, we spied Martha and Linda hanging out in the seating area by the barbeque.
“Yo!” I called.
“Get over here,” Martha called back.
I stifled a smile, because Martha was a hoot. But she was also a lot.