Fighting the lump rising in my throat, I nod. “Yes. Yes, I will.”

Relief floods his features as he stands, snatching me up for a hard hug as our friends erupt in applause behind him.

“Sorry!” Jess calls out. “He showed up with his own plans and wrecked ours, but I figured you wouldn’t mind.”

“Nope, not at all,” I say, laughing as Cam and I move apart. He slides his gorgeous ring on my hand, and I hold it up to the light with a happy sigh. “Damn. Your ring looks really good on my finger.”

He beams. “Sure does.”

I reach into my dress pocket and pull out the platinum band I’ve had for months, pressing it into his palm. “Check the inscription on the inside. Crissy and I decided on it together.”

He glances down, squinting for a moment before he laughs. “A cricket?”

I bob a shoulder. “If it weren’t for crickets, we might never have fallen in love.”

“Crickets and vomiting,” Crissy pipes up from beside us. She lunges forward, giving us both a big hug around the waist. “I’ve never been so glad for puke in my life. And now we can have a baby sister! Evie told me that’s how it works. That I had to wait to ask for a baby sister until after the wedding. But getting engaged is good enough.”

Evie laughs as she moves to Crissy’s side. “Sorry. I handled that question as best I could, but…I’m not a mom.”

“You handled it perfectly,” I assure her, leaning in for a hug from her, as well. “And we’ll talk about baby sisters later,” I tell Crissy. “After Jess’s party. Why don’t you show Jess her cake? And you can give her our present before everyone else gets here, if you want.”

“Yes!” Crissy bounces over to Jess, grabbing her hand. “Come on, come see! It’s decorated like your favorite video game. I helped Mom pick out the best characters! And you’re going to love your present. It’s a gift certificate for the tattoo you wanted, and Mom said I can come watch you get it if they’ll let kids in the shop!”

“Awesome, thank you guys so much,” Jess says, beaming as she follows Crissy over to the buffet area.

Cam and I accept congrats and another big hug from Harlow before grabbing beers from the stainless-steel tub packed with ice and refreshments. We wander over to the shaded area by the DJ table, where one of Jess’s friends from high school is soon working his magic, sending a happy beat throbbing across the rooftops as the other guests begin to arrive.

Henri and Adam spot us the second they step out into the evening air, and Henri dashes toward me, clapping his hands and giggling like a schoolgirl. “I knew it! I knew you’d both propose at the same time. You’re just that adorable and completely in sync.” He takes my hand, admiring the ring as he says over his shoulder, “Didn’t I, Adam? Tell them I’m the one who knows them best and should therefore officiate the ceremony. I’m available anytime in the next six months except for the last week in October, when Adam and I are eloping and heading to Thailand for our honeymoon.”

“What?” I shout, squealing in excitement as Adam holds up his left hand, revealing a gorgeous etched ring on his finger. “Oh my God, congratulations, you two! I’m so happy for you! What amazing news.”

“It is,” Henri says, hugging me tight before adding in a voice for my ears only, “All our dreams are coming true in New York City, just like we planned. We’re so fucking smart.”

“So smart,” I agree, patting his cheek as he moves out of the embrace. “And yes, you can officiate at our wedding. Unless we decide to elope, too, and as long as none of our parents have a fit about us getting married in a church by a minister or something.”

“My mom won’t care,” Cam says. “And your mom will come around, once I promise her that we’ll team up to keep you from ruining Thanksgiving with duck when we clearly should be eating turkey.” He takes a thoughtful drink of his beer. “Though eloping does sound good.”

“Right?” Adam agrees. “I love our family and friends, but I’m also a greedy bastard. I want Henri all to myself on our wedding day, and then I want to dance all night without worrying about Aunt Tabby telling everyone we’re going to hell for being gay or my mom drinking too much champagne and bitch-slapping Aunt Tabby.”

“Or my mother filling her purse with appetizers, even though she’s rich as Midas and they’ll all be spoiled by the time she gets home,” Henri agrees with a roll of his eyes. “And we won’t even mention Dad. He’s so deaf these days that he screams every embarrassing thing that comes out of his mouth, but still refuses to wear his hearing aid.”

Tags: Lili Valente Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net