“Oooh, did you get his number?” Gabby asks.
Tori sits in the empty seat beside me and stuffs the paper in her purse before nervously playing with her ponytail.
“He gave me his number, yes,” Tori confirms, and my jaw tightens so much, I’m shocked I don’t crack a tooth.
“But I don’t think I’ll call him.” Her eyes dart at lightning speed my way.
“Why? He’s cute, you should call him,” Gabby says.
“Oh, he’s cute, is he?” Brad asks, with a tight jaw, and the little vein in his forehead pulses quickly. It’s so funny to watch because I’ve never seen him like this, never seen him so affected by someone.
Gabby laughs and playfully slaps his chest. “Oh, calm down, caveman, I mean, he’s cute for Tori.”
No, he’s fucking not.
Gabby whispers something into Brad’s ear, and he whispers something back. She throws her head back and laughs, and then proceeds to kiss him, and suddenly I find myself envious of them. Of what they have, how they can love so openly and freely. I wonder if I’ll ever have that.
“So, Haz, how does it feel to be a married man?” Jack asks, Ria cuddled under his arm. I’ve never seen my sister so happy.
“It feels good,” Harry says, grinning, never taking his eyes off his wife, who’s over by the bar, saying her goodbyes to Grace.
“Your turn next, Braddy boy,” Harry says with a wink towards Brad.
“Sure is.” Brad beams, squeezing Gabby’s bare thigh. They look so loved up it’s almost sickening. I have never seen him like this. Usually, he’s the dark, brooding one, but Gabby has done something I never thought possible: she’s made him truly happy.
“Four weeks until I become Mrs Russo,” Gabby says excitedly, waving the giant diamond on her ring finger in the air, and then, acting like none of us are in the room with them, Brad pulls her in for a kiss.
“Easy, save it for the wedding night,” Jack teases.
Looking right at Gabby, Brad says, “No chance.”
“Oh, Noah, you’re back, so does this mean you can make the wedding?” Gabby asks.
“Yes, I can make the wedding. I don’t have to deploy again until after Christmas,” I confirm.
“Oh my god, really,” my sister screams. “When were you going to tell me that you can spend Christmas with us?”
“I was going to tell you on this trip.” I chuckle.
“This is the best news ever.” My sister beams at me. “We haven’t spent a Christmas together since we were kids.
“Tori, any chance you changed your mind? Can you make it?” Gabby asks, and I turn to look at Tori, who wilts a little under everyone’s stare.
“I, erm…”
She doesn’t get to answer because Gabby interrupts her and says, “Oh my, I have the perfect idea, Tori. You can be one of my bridesmaids. Now Noah’s back, we have another groomsmen, and my mother will have a conniption if we don’t have even numbers, and well, you are one of us now. Please, please say you’ll come and be in our wedding?” Gabby asks, eyes bulging, looking like a puppy begging for another treat.
“Erm, sure, I’d love to be in your wedding,” Tori says with a smile.
Gabby leaps off Brad’s lap and stumbles into Tori’s, hugging her tightly.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Tori softens under Gabby’s hug, and I can’t help but feel excited knowing we’ll be paired up at the wedding.
Gabby finally releases Tori and takes her place back on Brad’s lap.
“We have a dress fitting next week. Let me know your dress size, and I can get the shop to get one made for you.”
“Oh, I have to go back to London. I have work, but I’ll see what I can do,” Tori replies.
