Not only is she wearing this tiny pink skirt that I’ve already taken off her once tonight, but also a custom Vancouver Havoc Shore jersey that she slipped on only a few minutes ago just to tease me, I’m sure. I can see the ring on her finger sparkling from here. The diamond catches on every turn of the disco ball above the two women and twinkles so obviously you’d have to be blind to miss it. It’s making me feel incredibly smug.
“I plan on keeping it that way.”
His hand falls to my shoulder and squeezes. “I know. That’s the only reason I let you marry her.”
“Let him?” Finn snorts when he joins us.
The rain on his Havoc jacket drips to the floor as he shrugs out of it and hangs it on the back of an empty chair. I nod at him, still learning how to navigate all of these new friendships. It’sbeen a few weeks now since I proposed to Brielle and welcomed all of these people into my life, but it’s a learning curve. After going so long without accepting anyone, it’s taken a lot of work to allow myself to let them all in.
They’ve made it worth it, though. Not only do they love Brielle as fiercely as any blood relative would, but I’ve come to realize they want to love me, too.
“Hey, if I’d said no, he wouldn’t have done it,” Wesley argues.
Finn folds himself into the chair claimed by his jacket and looks in the same direction I am. Only it isn’t Brielle his attention falls on.
“Keep telling yourself that, buddy. We both know she’d have proposed to him instead if he waited too long.”
“It’s only been two months.” Wesley’s grumble makes me laugh.
Finn twirls the watch on his wrist. “Time works differently when you have someone you love. It goes on warp speed.”
“In that case, you and Aubrey are way overdue for a wedding. You’ve been together for what, seventy-five years?”
I take a sip of my beer to hide my smile. Finn gives Wes a withering look over his shoulder.
“Aubrey doesn’t want to get married right now.”
Wesley lags a bit before asking, “Why not?”
“She’s at the peak of her career, and I have no intention of distracting her from that.”
“You could get engaged and then wait a few years,” I offer, setting my glass down.
“I know. I’m just enjoying finally being with her, I guess. Engaged or not.”
It makes complete sense to me, though from Wesley’s confused expression, I think it’s gone over his head. Finn and Aubrey have spent decades together, but never like this. I don’t blame either of them for wanting to take things slow and justenjoy the change, especially with how successful Aubrey’s career has been.
“Plus, Bree wants to focus on planning Brielle and Roman’s wedding, anyway. How much did this party cost you, Rome?” Finn asks with a giant smirk.
“You don’t want to know.”
I knew exactly what I was doing when I handed my bank details over to Brielle and told her to do whatever she wanted for our engagement party. My only saving grace was that she wanted to have it at Pretty Little Pour and not some private island.
One look from her and I’d have said yes, regardless of how much it cost.
The regular staff was brought in for the night to run the bar and serve the custom menu items that Brielle convinced the owner to have made specifically for us. There are various signs set atop every table and scattered across the bar top with our names in fancy cursive writing. A drink menu was curated by Aubrey and features the specialty pink martini that the girls usually order on their nights out, with the addition of an on-tap beer with my name attached to it. All that’s missing are the desserts that haven’t arrived yet, designed and baked by the team at Blank Page.
Brielle was extremely adamant about ordering from Quinn, and I think that has more to do with the team’s closing pitcher, who’s sitting at the next table, than her baking abilities.
“Probably a drop in the water compared to the ring,” Wesley pokes, nodding at where Brielle’s turned our way.
She wiggles her eyebrows and lifts her hand in front of her, flashing her ring finger. My heart pounds viciously before I stand from the table, needing to get closer to her.
“I’ll be back.”
“Sure you will be,” Finn drawls as I walk away.
The grin that tugs at Brielle’s mouth sends fire through my gut. Every day that I see her, I tell myself that she’s never looked so beautiful, but tonight, I’ve been proven wrong once again.
