“Hey Ash. Is Claire with you?”
“What? Why?” I throw back the sheets and swing my legs over the side of the bed. Holding the phone between my ear and shoulder, I pluck my shorts off the floor and yank them on. “Did something happen to Claire?”
Panic courses through me. Why the hell would Millie be calling about Claire?
“Nothing happened to Claire,” she says. “Clearly, if she’s not in your bed, dummy.” I can hear her eye roll over the phone.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, rushing down the hall to Claire’s room.
Her door is open, but the space is empty. When I whip around, I nearly bowl her over as she exits the bathroom.
“Jesus, Greer!” She smacks a hand to her chest, stumbling back. “You scared me. Is everything okay?”
My heart thunders against my ribs. “That’s what I’m trying to find out.”
Brow furrowed, she whispers, “Who’s on the phone?”
Millie’s voice trills from down the line. “Is that Claire? I’m switching to FaceTime.”
“What’s going on?” Claire asks.
“The hell if I know. C’mon.” I press my hand to the small of her back and lead her into her bedroom, then close the door so we don’t wake Bea.
She turns on the lamp, and we settle on the mattress just as Millie and Ezra appear on the screen.
Jaw clenched, I examine them, looking for any sign of what’s going on. “If I have to ask one more?—”
“We’re engaged!” my sister squeals.
Claire jumps onto my lap, her whole being lit up, the jostling making me drop the phone onto the bed.
Cradling Claire with one arm, I pick up the phone with my free hand and hold it up in front of us.
“About damn time, man,” I chastise my future brother-in-law.
“Yeah, yeah,” he says.
My sister rolls her eyes, then breaks into a smirk. “There’s more.”
“We’re getting hitched tomorrow,” Ezra rushes, like he’s on the verge of exploding.
Claire gasps, smacking a hand over her mouth.
“What do you mean you’re getting married tomorrow?” I ask, my eyes nearly popping out of my head. “Are you pregnant?”
“Asher Eli!” my sister shouts, just as Ezra says, “Not yet.”
Millie elbows him, but that doesn’t clear the impish expression from his face.
Claire giggles at their obnoxious banter, then utters the words I should have said in the first place. “That’s amazing, you two. Congratulations. Tell us everything.”
“Holy forking spancakes,” Claire says when we hang up. “I can’t believe they’re finally getting married. Are you surprised?” She studies me, her eyes twinkling. “How are you feeling about it? You seemed a little upset. Maybe? Or did I read that wrong?”
I give her a half smile. “I knew he was going to propose.”
“You did?”
“You know how Ezra is. Probably the most upstanding guy I know. He asked both Dad and me for permission.”
