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“Nah, all good here. How are you guys?” I desperately attempted a redirection. Elora buried her face in her hands with a groan that sent me smiling.
“Great! Noel just wrapped up work down at the office and is heading home.”
So, we had a minute. Hopefully, it would be enough. “Nice, say hi for me.” Right as I was going to ask if he had time to chat, he beat me to it.
“I’ve been meaning to call, man. You got a sec?”
Running my hand over my face, I blew out a breath as I said, “Yeah! What’s up?”
“I need your help.”
“We burying a body, or something less eventful?”
“Fuck, dude, we don’t discuss felonies on the phone,” he laughed. A real one. Those were far and few between with Jameson, and my interest piqued despite the anxiety telling me to rip off the metaphorical bandage.
“You’re right—my bad.”
“But I really could use your help. No felonies—or misdemeanors, for that matter.”
“Shoot.”
“I’m going to propose to Noel.”
My head snapped up from where my gaze had settled on the plain gray carpet. “I’m sorry. Am I having a stroke?”
His laughter emanated enough that Elora clambered over the mattress to stand beside me, pressing her ear to the opposite side of the phone. Smirking, I flipped my cell into my palm and hit the speaker button.
“I mean it. She’s it for me. Known for quite a while now. I’m thinking I’ll do it during Christmas in Florida. We’ll have the whole family together, in her hometown. I figure do some Florida Christmas shit—I dunno what that is—and ask her to be my forever.”
“Damn,” I muttered, as my stomach constricted. If anybody deserved a happy forever, it was Jameson and Noel. “Congratulations, bro. That’s… huge.”
“I know.”
“How you feeling?”
“Really, really damn good. I’ve had the ring for months, just waiting for the perfect idea. And I think this is it. Is that good enough?”
“It’s great, James. Surrounded by your big ass family and hers? She’ll love that.” When I found Elora’s eyes, they were glossy, her hands crossed over her heart and face so sappy I could have laughed. It would’ve ruined the moment, though, so I held it together.
“So, I need your help planning.”
“Of course.”
“And you’re coming.”
“To the wedding? No kidding.”
“To the Christmas proposal, smartass.”
That earned a chuckle, but my eyes slipped up to El, who was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. I just got invited to Christmas. “My parents will be on that cruise with Max’s folks.”
“Perfect.”
“No ideas on where you want to do this?”
“I was thinking about the house. Maybe hide it on the tree or something? She likes romantic shit like you read about—oh shit, she’s home. Gotta run. Love you, man.”
Before I could respond, the line died, and I was left staring down steel-blue eyes a beat before Elora balked like a chicken.
