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Lark and Willow were sitting comfortably on the couch that stretched across the back wall of exposed brick. Laeth, the fucker, was kicked back with his feet up on my desk a-fucking-gain. And Jensen was standing, his shoulders propped against the wall of glass that faced out to the hallway.
I knocked Laeth’s feet down, dropped my keys and phone onto my desk, and took a seat. “All right. You have three minutes. Get it out now because this is the last time I’m talking about this shit with you guys.”
Lark grinned smugly. “That’s fine. The other girls are already heading to the city to get the real dirt from Wynn.”
Of course they were. Should have known they’d divide and conquer. I wouldn’t expect any less. That was why I’d insisted on taking her to get a ring yesterday. We’d managed to avoid our friends for two days, but even that had been pushing it. I was surprised they hadn’t beaten down our doors before now. Still, with that ring sitting firmly at the base of Wynn’s finger, I felt a hell of a lot better about everything.
And, fuck me, but that ring had been all Wynn. I knew before I even saw her face that it was the one for her, and I didn’t care how damn much it cost. Everything about that ring, the class, the delicacy, the way it grabbed your attention and refused to let go... that was all Wynn. I couldn’t have done better if I’d had a ring designed specifically for her. It was as if it had been waiting all these years for its perfect owner. The fact that it fit absolutely perfectly only drove that point home.
“So it’s true?” Jensen asked, brows raised. “You two are engaged?”
I rolled my tongue in my mouth before nodding. “Yep. We’re engaged,” I answered, testing the words out to someone other than Wynn for the first time, and I would have been lying if I said they didn’t feel great to say. Even better to hear.
When she’d pulled that little number, tucking her hand into the back pocket of my jeans in the middle of Hot Java, my entire goddamn body lit up like the Fourth of July. Having her pressed against me like that, tucked under my arm where she fit perfectly, felt so right. And the moment she opened her mouth and announced our engagement, a plan had formed in my head.
I knew that had been an impulsive gut reaction to seeing Vanessa standing there, but I had every intention of capitalizing on my best friend’s tendency to react before thinking things through.
I hadn’t been able to get that shit about her breaking that damn dry spell out of my head, and the seed planted by my friends about me being the one to do it for her had grown out of control. The truth was, I couldn’t stand around and watch her flirt with other guys on the chance of them taking her home. Just the thought of that made me ballistic. I didn’t want to think whatseeingit would have done. I’d get my ass locked up for beating some asshole bloody. It was a guarantee.
For more than two years this woman had been under my skin, whether I’d been willing to admit it to myself or not. But she’d been safe. With that douchebag boyfriend back in Connecticut, she’d been off limits. I was able to draw a line between friendship and what I really wanted with her while still holding on to my vow of never committing to another woman ever again.
Because the one I’d gone and committed myself to in the safest way possible was with someone else.
Wynn and I could claim to be friends and keep going about our lives, sharing meals, binging shows together, basically spending every free minute with each other. Christ, we’d been in a serious goddamn relationship for three years now. We’d both been too blind to realize it.
I might have reacted rashly to Vanessa’s sudden appearance, but if I really stopped to think about it, I hadn’t kissed Wynn in the middle of a crowded coffee shop, claiming her in front of everyone, because I wanted to stick it to my ex. Well, notjustbecause of that. But I’d seen my in and I’d taken it. And when she pushed that door open even further, I went ahead and busted it down.
She was gun shy. After what that fucker had done to her, she was leery about new relationships. And I knew her well enough to know she’d never in a million years risk our friendship when she wasn’t certain we’d end up solid.
Luckily, I was sure enough for both of us. I grabbed her by the hand and jumped, giving her no other choice but to take the plunge with me. I only needed a chance to prove to her that this was right. That we were it. Full stop. And this so-called “fake engagement” was the way to do it.
Willow began hopping in her seat with a yelp, her whole face lighting up. “Oh my God. This is so romantic,” she expressed, eyes shining so bright I worried she might start crying.
Lark, on the other hand, slapped her palm down on the dark leather of the couch. “It’s about damn time. Damn it,” she snapped her fingers as though just remembering something. “I was so freaking close.” She looked back to me hopefully. “I don’t suppose you guys would be willing to break up and get back together in say... a month and a half?”
My chin jerked back in shock. “What?”
Laeth spun in his seat, jabbing his finger in our office manager’s direction. “No way. You lost. You can’t try and cheat just because you bet on the wrong date.”
My gaze bounced between them like I was watching a ping-pong game. “You’re only saying that because it’s down to you and Poppy and you want the money.”
He let out a bark. “Damn right I do. Speaking of...” He turned back to me and leaned forward, one hand braced on the arm of the chair. “What’s theexactdate that you and Wynn got together? Think carefully. This is really important.”
My mouth hung open. “You assholes have been betting on us all this time?”
Murmurs went up throughout the room from everyone, all of them basically adding up to the same thing:No freaking shit.
It was official. Our friends were the worst.
“Get the hell out. I’ve got shit to do.”
They all started toward the door. Lark and Willow were the first to exit, no doubt heading off to call and harass Wynn. I could have texted her to give her a heads-up, but where was the fun in that?
Jensen stopped just inside the door and turned back to me. “Didn’t think this would be the way things played out when I got on your case about being jealous, but if you’re happy, we’re happy. You know that, right?”
I jerked my chin up. “I know, man. Thanks.”
Laeth spoke next. “But seriously, man. What’s the date?”
