“I think it’d be better if we both could doit.”
“Married?! Married? You’re getting married?!” Frances shouted, leaning back in her seat, eyes wide, hands raised to her face as she unleashed a delighted squeal that Wes had never heard her make before, but just as quickly quieted herself and glanced around as though suddenly she needed to be careful not to draw any more attention than she alreadyhad.
“Now, Frances, what are you going to do if they tell us they bought a timeshare?” Tony askedher.
“I’d be pissed at them for all that buildup over a goddamnedtimeshare.”
Art laughed. “Yes, we’re gettingmarried.”
Tony made a squealing sound and imitated Frances’s initial reaction, which got the group even more riled up with excitement before he added, “Okay. Let’s group-hug this out before we go and get to enjoying those celebratory Field Day brownies Frances made night beforelast.”
“Haven’t certain people already been enjoying them?” Art pressed, obviously teasing them from their run-in.
Tony blushed. “Well, yes, but there’s plenty to go around. And it’ll make the miserable wedding-planning part that much morebearable.”
They all agreed to the plan, making a few toasts with their coffees and teas, their friends as supportive as Wes could have imagined they would be. When they finished breakfast, they headed back through the courtyardtogether.
“Hey!” a booming voice came from behind them, and they all turnedtogether.
Joseph Duvall approached, covered in gold and purple glitter, which was so thick, it appeared to be painted onhim.
Wes’s jawdropped.
“Well, thought I had a package, but apparently you guys had a surprise for me. I know this was you, and when I prove it, you are in so muchtrouble.”
“Yes, have fun proving that,” Wes said. “Perhaps then I will be less generous about keeping our little secret.” Wes had wanted to say something to that effect the night before, and he was pleased to get it off his chest, to keep Joseph in his place, something Joseph’s act had surely been designed to do with him andArt.
Joseph sneered, but that was surely plenty to shut him up. He scoffed and headed off, and Wes turned to Frances and Gabe. Their eyes grew wide, making them look not like they had perpetrated any wrongdoing, but as though they themselves weresurprised.
“You didn’t,” Tony said before he had achance.
“Actually…” Art said, and Wes turned to his fiancé, who had a more mischievous expression on his face than he’d ever seen before. “I had an exercise class, and I had just enough time to swing byJoseph’s.”
“Art?” Wesasked.
“I had asked Gabe if it was safe, and apparently itwas.”
Wes found himself stunned and impressed all atonce.
“Art, you are so bad,” Francessaid.
Wes shook his head. “I guess you’re gonna be keeping me on my toes for the rest of my life, Mr.Cromley.”
“It’ll be mypleasure.”
Wes knew, hard as he may have fought him on it, Art just couldn’t understand how much it would be hisown.
