“We should’ve properly proposed. All of us,” Theo agrees, nodding.
Saint drains his beer and stands, his eyes brimming with determination. “It’s not too late to rectify that.” He looks at Theo. “I need you with me.” He points at me and Caz. “You two stay here and watch over the princess.”
“Where are you going?” I ask.
He flashes me one of his supremely-annoying smug grins. “Ring shopping.”
Theo grins, raising his hand for a knuckle touch. “Now you’re talking.”
“Come up with a wedding plan while we’re gone,” Saint adds, grabbing his wallet and keys from the coffee table. “I know we’ll have to do this hush-hush, and in a rush, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make it romantic for our girl.”
“What da fuck do we know about weddings?” Caz grumbles. “I wish I’d paid more attention when Giana was boring the shit out of us about her wedding.”
I’d say that makes four of us.
“Google’s your friend,” Theo says, slapping his tablet into Caz’s hands before the two assholes leave.
I nudge Caz in the elbow as I struggle to my feet. “You heard the man. Get your ass in gear, dude.” I shuffle toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
“I need to talk to Lo.”
“Galen.” Caz censures me with a warning look.
“It’s not what you think.” I turn to face him. “I’m letting her know that her choice is a little easier.”
Caz’s eyes grow wide. “You’re bowing out?” He steps toward me. “You don’t have to do that. She’s forgiven you, and you have every right to be considered as equally as we are.”
I smile, slapping him on the shoulder. “Appreciate the support, but it’s not that.” I slip out of the house before he can quiz me further, following the tracking app we all now have installed on our phones, which leads me to Lo’s location.
She’s sitting in a pretty garden that’s been created just inside the edge of the forest. It’s a small circular shape with a covered wooden gazebo in the middle, occupying prime real estate. A couple of benches are sheltered underneath the gazebo, and our girl is sitting on one. Shrubs and flowerbeds surround the wooden structure on all sides, and I’m betting it’s a gorgeous spot in the summer when all the flowers are in full bloom.
Lo looks up as I approach, her brow puckering. “Is everything okay? Has something happened?”
“Relax.” I ease myself down beside her. “Nothing has happened. I want to talk to you.”
She eyeballs me curiously. “Okay.” She drags out the word, and I can tell she’s still thoroughly confused.
“I’m not here to influence your decision, but I wanted to let you know it can’t be me.”
“Why not?” She pierces me with those gorgeous green eyes I dream about.
“I’m not eighteen till December. I can’t legally marry without parental consent.” Although Mom wouldn’t stop me, I can’t trust her with something this important.
“I just assumed you were the same age as us,” Lo admits.
“Everyone does, and I don’t bother correcting them.”
“Why didn’t you say anything inside?”
I shrug. “The others haven’t realized, and I preferred to talk to you in private. No one believes it would be me anyway.”
“Stop.” She clasps my face in her hands. “Don’t do that. I thought we had dealt with this.” Her eyes probe mine. “You mean as much to me as the others.”
“I know that.” I offer her a reassuring smile.
“Do you?” She holds my face tighter. “Do you know how much I love you? Because I do, Galen.” Her eyes blaze fiercely. “You haven’t made it easy, but the heart knows. I fucking love you.”
