They all lifted their beer bottles in the air, and Eli kissed her cheek.
“So, Aria, first I wanted to wish you a very happy birthday. We’re all so happy for you to be old enough to finally screw.”
“Not that it stopped us,” Branson said, laughing.
He felt her chuckling along with them.
“I consider you an amazing person, a sweetheart, and I’m glad that we all survived the school system to stay friends. You two were always meant to be together. We all know that. It has always been that way, and I for one, am glad, and a little saddened that Eli got to the proposals first. Never one to be outdone.” Chris turned, and lowered down on one knee. “Rachel, will you marry me?”
“Is this a joke?” Rachel asked.
“Give the guy a break,” Eli said.
“Come on, we can marry whenever we want. Our parents are happy with us being together. My stepmom adores you,” Chris said.
“So did the last two stepmoms. You go through them really quickly.” Rachel was smiling, and Eli saw the tears in her eyes.
“Well, will you?” Chris asked.
“Yes. I will.” Rachel held her hand out as he slid the ring onto her finger.
“What about you? Are you going to propose?” Eli asked, looking at Branson.
Branson moved toward Mary, wrapped his arms around her, and smiled. “We may as well tell them.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. We’re friends.” Branson turned toward them. “We’re pregnant.”
Everyone turned toward the couple. Mary’s face was bright red.
“You’re going to be parents?” Aria asked.
“Our parents know,” Mary said. “We told them this morning. We didn’t want to wait around, and also, they’ve already agreed that we can get married.”
“I bet your parents went crazy.”
“They’re not thrilled. Of course they’re not, but it happened, and now we have to deal.” Mary rubbed Branson stomach. “We were careful though, or at least we thought we were careful.”
Eli saw they were scared. “We’ll always be here, together.”
“Dad’s putting me in his company. After graduation I start from the bottom, and gain experience,” Branson said. “It’s fine for me. I’ve always been a hands-on kind of guy. You know.”
Eli nodded. Out of all of them, Branson had never had the dream of going away to college.
“We’re making this year the most memorable,” Aria said, with a smile. “Talk about gossip.”
“We’ll handle it. We always do.”
Later that evening after they finished the food, and blew out the candles on the cake, Eli and Aria made their way to her home. He sensed how nervous she was, and he held her hand, hoping to put her mind at ease.
“I’m worried,” she said.
“They can’t do anything, babe. I won’t let them. You’re eighteen now. There’s nothing they can do.”
Parking up outside of her parents’ house, Eli kissed her hand, and climbed out of the car. Before he got around to her side of the car, she was already out, and he took her hand, holding her close.
The moment they entered her home, Harvey Dean was there, shouting. “Where the hell have you been? I’ve got the biggest deals going on that requires your cooperation, and you’r