“Noah, I wanted to know if you could come out and look at the tablecloths. I added those cute candle sticks and I just want to make sure it looks romantic. Not cheap. Also sprinkled rose petals on all the tables,” Bri says.
“Coming.” Noah hops down off his stool. “All the truffles are accounted for except for the blueberry crumble ones.” He squeezes my arm then leaves, leaving Jamie and me alone.
“Um...” He scrubs the back of his neck. “I want to ask something, but you can say no. Tonight’s your night, so I understand if you don’t want me to do this.”
“What is it?”
Jamie reaches into his pocket, pulling out a tiny box and opening it to show me a white gold band. “If you don’t mind, before the event I’m going to propose to Noah.” He smiles at it before closing it and putting it back in his pocket. “If you’re alright with that.”
It takes my brain a minute to come back online.Lucky guy.“Oh yeah. Yes! Oh my god, sorry, I’m just shocked. Yeah. That’s... wow. That’s incredible. Why now?”
“A super cheesy yet romantic queer-friendly event with all his close friends here? Noah will love it. I’ll do it before the event. Just us.”
“Of course. That’s, wow. Congratulations, man.” I give him a hug, still in shock.
“He’s got to say yes first.” My stomach clenches a bit. I’m so happy, but yeah. Jealousy sucks, and I am a little. They deserve it, though. Noah deserves it. “He’s worked so hard on this. I thought it’d be perfect.”
“Noah is going to scream. He’ll say yes.” I smile at him.
Jamie gets off his stool, nodding. “I’ll do it in a bit. I’m so nervous.”
“Hey, Noah is going to lose it. He’ll say yes.”
Jamie nods at me with a tiny nervous smile. “I really hope so.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
AIDEN
I don’t wantto go in there, but I know I have to.
I’m not sure quite what I’m feeling, but it’s sitting like a lead weight in my stomach. As soon as he fell asleep beside me, I slipped out of his apartment. I just can’t do this anymore. No matter what I do this is all going to blow up in my face.
Either Ivan will kill me if I don’t do this. My sister depends on me.
Or . . .
Or Sawyer will eventually grow tired of me.
Days spent in bed with him made me lose sight of what’s important.
I should have looked for it.
So why didn’t I?
Not wanting to delay this any longer, I get out of my car where I parked behind the building next to Noah. It looks like everyone is here already. I promised to run the register, and that part of me that doesn’t understand this won’t let him down. Not yet. He’s worked so hard and I’m not going to fuck this up for him.
I’ll fuck it up after.
I would’ve been here earlier—I wanted to text and ask if he needed help. But I didn’t. What I need is to find that stupid fucking elephant. What’s so special about it anyway, and whydoes Sawyer have it? How did a small-town baker even get wrapped up in this? What connection can the two even have? Sawyer seems oblivious to any of the bullshit I’m stuck in.
I just need to get my mind right.
One more night.
Then I’ll do what I’m supposed to. When this night is over, I’ll find that fucking statue and then move on with my life. I’ll block him and never see him again.
It’ll be perfect.
