Carly
“Carlotta May Simpson.”
With a bounce in her step, Carly climbed the stairs onto the stage amidst mostly polite applause, with one notable exception. Nora made enough noise for twenty people—screams, whistles, and cat-calls—more than compensating for the fact that Carly had few guests at the graduation ceremony.
“Woo-hoo! You go, girl! Shake that hair!”
Carly laughed, obligingly flicking her iridescent blue locks with her hand.
With a job waiting for her at the Limitless Laboratories in Seattle, she was excited to get her doctorate and start work. Even the fact that her father wasn’t in attendance didn’t dampen her enthusiasm.
As Carly reached the top step and pivoted toward center stage, she locked eyes with the hottest guy she’d ever seen, sporting an ear-to-ear grin aimed only at her. Standing in all his doctoral regalia, some people might not even notice the wheelchair keeping Liam’s legs straight and upright. But Carly didn’t care what other people thought about him. Just like she didn’t care what they thought about her hair, which was why she’d agreed to wear the shoulder-length, shimmery blue wig that Liam had chosen for the event.
“It suits your personality,” he’d said. “It’s cute and fun and memorable.”
She didn’t complain. She knew it was his way of proving he loved her as she was.
Of course, the red Faye Fortune wig was still his favorite. The original had been ruined in the accident, a fact which had initially sent Carly into mourning because it had cost so much. However, Liam had not only replaced it with an identical one, but had also become addicted to shopping for new ones. And he had expensive taste, Diamond being his favorite brand, with wigs that cost upwards of ten thousand each.
In the beginning, Carly had objected to his purchases because he was spending way too much money on her. But about six weeks into their relationship, Liam had finally revealed his net worth... more than a billion dollars!
“I can afford to buy you a new wig every day for the rest of our lives,” he’d said.
The part of his claim that had intrigued her most was the fact that he’d said our lives, hinting at their future together. She’d simply gulped and smiled, still somewhat afraid to say anything that might rock their happy little boat.
Though his explanation had ended her complaining about the cost of his purchases, even the expensive Diamond wigs, she eventually objected at the sheer number. “I’m going to have to get an apartment with a second bedroom, just for my wigs!”
That was before she discovered she could donate extra wigs to Limitless, who provided free wigs to people in need. Now she could continue to let Liam indulge her, but without her former guilt.
As Carly approached Liam, he raised her doctoral hood in the air. She bent her head and allowed him to drape it over her shoulders, tucking it into place.
“Congratulations, Dr. Simpson.”
His eyes had that dark, drugged look they got when he was thinking about kissing her. He slid his hands to the sides of her face and tilted it upward.
“I think you’re only supposed to hood me,” she muttered, without moving her lips, “not kiss me.”
One eyebrow lifted as his shoulders hitched. “They won’t complain about one tiny kiss.”
He dipped down, gently brushing his lips against hers. Though she tried to ignore the effect of his touch, his lips stirred up currents that zapped her from head to toe. But true to his word, he kept it short and sweet, ripping his mouth away just as she was starting to enjoy it.
“Atta-boy, Liam!” Nora’s voice carried across the quiet auditorium, followed by peals of laughter.
With a smile and a wave at the audience, Carly started toward the next table where a professor was waiting with her diploma.
“Wait!” Liam caught her elbow and tugged her back. “I have something for you.”
His hand ducked inside his robes and came out with a small black box. She found herself posed in classic surprise, her hand covering her wide-open mouth. Her eyes went so hazy she couldn’t see the ring.
I can’t believe this is happening! It must be a dream.
With the crowd cheering in the background, Dream Liam spoke, his words for her alone.
“Carly, I don’t know how I lived without you, and I never want to do it again. Walk with me, and I’ll stay beside you even when the path is steep. Let me hold your hand when turbulence rocks the plane. When the blizzards come, I’ll shelter you in my arms. Please say you’ll marry me. And whatever comes, we’ll face it together.”
His hand rose to her face, his thumb brushing the dampness on her cheek.
I know for sure this isn’t a dream. It can’t be. Because I could never imagine anything this perfect!
She threw herself against him, the sanctuary of his embrace closing around her. At long last, wearing blue hair and wrapped in the arms of a man on wheels, Carly’s dream came true. Though it wasn’t exactly the way she’d imagined when she was fourteen, crushing on her brother’s hunky best friend.
Because real life was messy.
But real love... was nothing short of incredible!
And they lived joyfully ever after!
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