My words cut off at the sight of our friends standing in the living room.
“I’m pretty sure you were about to say sex,” Nash said, his brow lifted. When I caught Lily on the other end of the group, I smiled. I was glad to see her and Nash in the same room, even if they were as far away from one another as possible.
Picking up a pillow from my sofa, I threw it at Nash. I scanned the group of friends standing in front of me. Nash, Blake, Jim, Terri, and Lily were all dressed in suits and dresses. “What are y’all doing here?”
Tucker handed Mr. Pootie to Terri then walked over to me. The way he moved in that tux had my insides quivering, and I was silently wishing we were alone.
“Charleston Ava Monroe. You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met, and today was another example of your kind and thoughtful heart. You continue to amaze me day in and day out, and I don’t want to wait another minute longer.”
Terri walked up to me and handed me a white garment bag.
Joy bubbled up in my heart as I took the bag and looked back at Tucker.
“I don’t need a big production, and I know you don’t either. All I need is you, our friends, and …” Tucker turned to point to Mr. Pootie, who Nash was now holding up and waving a paw at us. “And even Mr. Pootie.”
“What … what are you saying?” I asked, a sob slipping from my lips. I knew what Tucker was saying, but I needed to hear him say the words that would melt my heart.
“I’m saying let’s get married. Right now.”
“Here?” I asked, peering around the room.
“Sort of. All I need you to do is get changed, and Terri and Lily will do the rest.”
MY HEART RACED. Excitement like I’d never felt flowed through my veins, and I couldn’t control my happiness. I jumped up and down like a little girl and rushed toward a waiting Lily and Terri. They both practically pushed me into my bedroom.
When the door closed, they demanded I get undressed.
“Okay, so hold on. Tucker planned all of this in the three hours since he left my office?”
Terri nodded. “Yep. When that man sets his mind to something, he gets everyone on the same page.”
“But weren’t you all at work?” I asked as Terri started to pull my shirt out of my skirt.
“Yes, but when your friend calls and says his girl had a bad day and he wants to marry her to make it all better, you drop everything to make it happen.”
Laughing, I placed my palm on my forehead. “Oh my gosh, is this really happening? And was Mr. Pootie really wearing a tux? Where does one get a cat tux on short notice?”
Both of my best friends laughed.
“That was all Nash,” Terri said. I couldn’t help but notice the sadness that appeared on Lily’s face. It was gone so quick that if I hadn’t been looking at her, I’d have missed it.
“Of course he did,” Lily said with a strained chuckle. She was trying; I had to give her that.
I was ushered in the shower after I was stripped of my clothes.
“Put this hairnet on,” Lily demanded.
“I just took a shower this morning,” I exclaimed as the plastic cap was placed over my head and I was shoved under the water.
“Clean your va-jay-jay. It’s going to be your wedding night.”
“When was the last time you got waxed?” Terri asked through the bathroom door.
Sighing, I responded. “You know, this is all very weird. Y’all are telling me to clean my lady bits and asking about my grooming habits!”
I heard muffled voices from the other side of the door and decided they had both abandoned me for other things.
It was then everything really hit me.