Phoebe smoothly hands me her unsipped glass of champagne and hugs Hailey across the counter.I drain her glass and half of mine, catching Teagan’s wink when she realizes what I’ve done.
“Okay, gang,” Teagan says.She doesn’t raise her voice, but everyone quiets and pays attention to her.It’s powerful.“Let’s stop crowding Hailey’s store and move this party along to one of the lounges.If you’re done with your champagne, you can leave your glass, and we’ll take care of it.If you want to take it with you, that’s fine too.”
Hailey accepts my empty glass with a smile and places it on the counter at her back.
“Thank you, Hailey!”everyone calls out almost in unison.I’ve joined a hockey cult.But they’re friendly.Maybe that’s not so bad.I accept the back slaps and congratulations as Phoebe and I are swept along out the door.We’re holding hands again, and I raise our joined hands to press a kiss to the back of her hand.I know our engagement is fake, but it feels so real and, for today, I’m going along with it.
20
PHOEBE
We’re engaged.I’m wearing the ring Ollie placed on my finger.It’s so pretty, and I love it.And I love him.The only thing that would make this moment better was if it was real.When he asked if I wanted this, he was asking about the ring.But when I said yes, I meant the ring, him, marriage, family, everything.I want it all.
Ollie bends to whisper in my ear.“Do you want to hang out with them?”
I like everyone here—Teagan, Stone, Mac, Randi, Daphne and Mallory and their guys—but I don’t want to hang out with them now.I want to be with Ollie.I want us to have our date.I want to be with him up in that suite, cuddling.
I turn my head to respond and find our faces, our lips, inches apart.Do we lean in and finally kiss?I want to, but not like this.I want that moment to be for us, not something someone’s going to catch on their phone and sell to a gossip site.Or something to prove to our friends.I want it to be real, not the next scene of the stage show of our fake engagement.
As if he’s reading my mind, Ollie whispers, “I want to kiss you so badly, Phoebe, but not like this.”
Holy shit.Is he on the same wavelength as me?Am I not alone in wanting this all to be real?I’m afraid to hope, but at least now I know for sure he does want to kiss me and it’s not only me feeling this attraction.I don’t know if it’s me specifically he wants to kiss or if he wants to finally kiss someone, and I’m the handiest opportunity.I should have more pride, but I don’t care.
I give a quick nod.
“Same.One drink and then go?”
We part and walk with the group to one of the bars.
“Do you want soda or a mocktail?”Ollie asks as we walk in.
“A Coke, please.What are you getting?Guinness?”I ask.
“I’ll get a Trojan Horse, it’s half Guinness and half Coke.You can have a sip if you want.”
I nod and take a seat with Mallory, Randi, and Daphne while Teagan and the guys go to the bar.
“Let me send you the engagement video,” Daphne says.“I’m so glad we wandered by when we did!”
She types on her phone, and I hear mine ding.I’m dying to see the video but want to wait for Ollie.
“Were you all together?”I ask.I like these people, but if they travel around in a flock, that’s kinda weird.
“No,” Randi says.“Declan and I were grabbing lunch with Stone when Mallory waved us over.Then Teagan came along.”
Daphne tucks her phone away.“I like to walk here to get my steps in.The carpeting is nicer on my joints than the cement at the Nest, and there are plenty of restrooms.”She rests her hand on her belly.“Birdie likes to use my bladder as a trampoline.”
“How far along are you?”I ask.
She sighs.“I know I look like I could go any moment.I’m carrying a giant baby.Only one!”
She’s fierce on that point.I guess she’s been asked a lot if she’s sure she’s not having twins or triplets.
“I have around two months to go.But since I’m a human having a shifter baby, it’s not as exact.And with Logan being an avian shifter but also having a cougar shifter parent, the due date is a bit unpredictable.I’m cleared to travel until the end of the month, and then I can’t fly.I’ll have to stay here while the team travels for out-of-town playoff games.”
I didn’t realize having a shifter baby is so complicated.“Is it the same for Shelby?The uncertainty?”
Ollie slips into the seat next to me and hands me my drink.It’s in the same style glass as his, but mine has a straw.
