Liv had organized a night out under the guise of finding out how things had gone for Antoni meeting Nate’s parents, though, I suspected she really did it to cheer me up.
“We ordered you a margarita,” Katie said, pointing to the vacant spot beside me.
He clutched his chest. “You know the way to my heart.”
“Hey, sweet cheeks,” he said when he got to me, kissing the corner of my mouth. “Where’s Miss Grace tonight? How’s she feeling?”
“Better. She and Sam went to see a movie with Derek,” I answered as he took his seat beside me. “So, how was Nate’s family?”
“Yeah,” Liv said. “Remind me again where they live?”
Antoni raised his brow. “Honey, they live in Valentine, Nebraska.”
“I don’t think I’ve heard of that place before.” Liv took a sip of her cocktail.
“Exactly.” He leaned in as though he were telling us a secret. “Population: twenty-eight hundred. But honey, this place was God’s country. It felt so good to kind of unplug a little bit. I mean, I’d never want to live there because I need to be within a ten mile radius of every minor convenience at all times, but it’s sure fun to visit.”
“What was his family like?” I asked. It felt good to see Antoni so happy, even if I was a sad sack at the moment.
“His mama and daddy are sweet as strawberry pie,” he purred. “I swear to God his mama is basically M’Lynn fromSteel Magnolias,and his daddy looks like Clint Eastwood. I see where Nate gets his good looks from.” He paused to take a swig of his margarita. “We went kayaking together. Even his cute little granny went with us. Her name is Mildred, and if Shirley McClain and Betty White had a lovechild, honey, it would be her. She’s ninety-one, but she could out row every single one of us. We were thick as thieves by the end of the weekend.”
“That’s so sweet.” I may not ever get to meet the people Cash considered family, but I loved seeing the way Antoni sparkled talking about Nate’s family.
Katie laughed. “Sounds like a great time.”
“It was. And I’ve come bearing news.” Antoni paused dramatically before thrusting his left hand out at us. “I’m engaged!”
I looked down to see a gorgeous diamond-studded platinum band wrapped around his ring finger.
Liv shrieked and grabbed his hand. “Oh my God! It’s gorgeous, Antoni.”
“It’s beautiful,” Katie echoed, leaning in to take a closer look.
“Wow,” I said. “That’s wonderful news, babe.” My throat constricted, and my eyes clouded over. “I’m so happy for you.”
And I was. Antoni deserved every ounce of happiness, but I couldn’t stop my mind from wandering to Cash and the moments I’d naively let myself hope for. If I couldn’t get a happy ending of my own, I was thankful I got to watch two of my friends get one.
“Thank you.” Antoni pulled his hand back and admired his ring. “We’re so happy. I know we’ve only been together a few months, but honey, when you know you know.”
Except when you thought you knew, but it turned out you didn’t know at all.
Liv flashed me a sympathetic glance.
“So, what’s new with you, ladies?” Antoni asked.
Liv shrugged. “I’ve seen every available episode ofPaw Patrol.”
“I’ve been discovering the world of internet dating,” Katie added.
Antoni pursed his lips. “When is Dallas going to pull his head out of his hairy ass and ask you out?”
“We’re just friends,” she insisted, but I caught the wistful look in her eye. I recognized it because I felt it too.
Liv burst into laughter. “Wait, how do you know if his ass is hairy?”
Antoni chuckled. “Honey, whenever they have wardrobe changes at awards shows, those boys will drop their drawers without warning, and the next thing you know, you’re staring at a full, hairy-assed moon.
“I get to go home to Bradley Cooper every day,” I said, shifting Antoni’s focus to me as I sucked down my margarita.
