She grabbed the ring box and then squealed with delight. “Oh my god! Yes!”
I stood up and helped her with the ring, slipping it on her finger. She held her hand out in front of her. “It’s perfect.”
I kissed her long and hard, and she didn’t protest about her lipstick this time. Relief spread through me. I knew it was what she wanted, and I loved seeing her so happy.
I held her in my arms, and she leaned her head against my chest. “This is so perfect. I can’t believe you did this.”
“Sienna helped me,” I admitted. I hoped Sienna and Rachel could somehow fix the issues they had with each other, and maybe Rachel being married to me would help.
“Did she also help you pick out these flowers?”
I tilted my head. “Yes, why?”
Rachel sighed. “I was wondering why you picked white flowers instead of red.”
Chapter Four
Sienna
I wasn’t the first to arrive at Sunny Daes that Monday morning. The outline of Tony’s motorcycle leaning against the building indicated his arrival. I parked alongside it and turned off the engine.
A small circle of orange caught my attention.
“Seriously?” I mumbled and got out of the car. “I thought you said you stopped?” I said to him.
Tony blew a puff of smoke through his lips. “Yeah, yeah.”
I stormed over to him and placed my hands on my hips. “No yeah; my uncle died from those cancer sticks. You said you were going to stop. Now put it out before I do it for you.”
He stood up and towered over me, but I didn’t move from my spot. He had muscle and weight on his side, but my determination to save my friend from dying an early and unnecessary death would overpower him. And I knew he would never hurt me. I think his intimidation techniques worked with some people, but not me.
He took one last drag and threw the cigarette the ground, smashing it with the toe of his shoe. “Happy?”
I pushed past him and dug my key into the back door’s lock. “I’ll be happy when you quit for good.”
He reached down and picked up the butt and flicked it into the garbage bin.
I held the door open for him. “You know, if I wanted a girlfriend to nag me all the time, I would get one.”
I chucked him in the arm. “Until then, you have me.”
He went inside and I followed, closing the door behind me. “I might have to call Parker and get him to come by so you can annoy him instead of me.”
The lights flicked on and I squinted at the harsh light. Tony was across the kitchen and into the dining room before I could see clearly.
“I only ‘annoy’ you because I care,” I said.
“Have you heard anything from him lately? Usually, he comes in at least once a week. I don’t think I’ve seen him since the day before the proposal.”
Ugh, don’t remind me.
“He’s busy, I guess,” I said, lifting an apron from the hangers on the wall.
“You haven’t heard from him since the proposal? I thought you helped him prepare everything?”
“I got a quick text that night saying she said yes.”
“And that’s the last you heard?”