A small laugh bubbles out of me.
He winks. “And I have no problem being in love with your beautiful mess. There isn’t anyone in this world I’d rather spend the rest of my life with.”
His sweet words touch the deepest parts of my soul.
My tears are free flowing.
He attempts to brush them away, but it’s in vain.
Other than my boyfriend’s beautiful words filling the bookstore, it’s as if everyone here is holding their breath.
I find my voice. “Falling in love with you, Kaz, was like going blind into a book without reading the blurb, not knowing it will become your next book hangover and your fave read of all time.”
“So, it’s a happy ever after for us.”
“I’m yours forever.” I smile.
“Good because I want to wake up every day wrapped around you,” he says. “I want to protect you, cherish you, and worship you. I'm yours, Harley. Forever.”
Forget about being an author, this guy is a poet.
“Harley McKenzie Lancaster, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Ye—yes, Kaz. I want nothing more than to be yours forever.”
He stands up and embraces me in his arms. “You’ve made me the happiest man on earth.” He crushes my lips in a passionate kiss to the soundtrack of roaring applause.
My feet are no longer touching the ground.
He pulls away from me, but I’m still floating.
“I can’t propose without a ring?—”
“It’s okay?—”
“No, it isn’t. My girl deserves a rock.”
Giddy energy zips through me.
He lifts his eyes over my head. “Will my ring bearers come out.”
Ring bearers?
I flip around and nearly tumble backwards.
A Hispanic beauty with long dark, curly hair that looks a lot like my bestie steps on stage, holding one of her two-year-old triplets, followed by her hunk of a husband, holding the other two boys.
All three little munchkins with dark blue eyes and wild curls that have been tamed for the occasion are wearing ivory shorts and tiny color-coding jackets—navy-blue, forest green, and light blue with matching bow ties. They’re holding onto a small gift bag with tissue paper looped around their arms. It’s totally adorable, but that’s not enough for me to let the betrayal slide.
I squint at my best friend, my lips pursed.
I was at her place earlier today. She could’ve given me a heads up.
She flashes me a row of pearly white teeth.
My ass she couldn’t make it.
After the birth of her babies, Ciara and her husband moved back to New York since the US division of Nikolaj’s sports gaming company was blowing up on this side of the pond. The thrill of having my bestie living in the same city has been incredible. She's always been so good when I was dealing with shit and that didn't change when I confessed all my family’s sins. My bestie still loves me.
