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“You said yourself that it’s not like you’re actually getting married right away.”
“No, I know, but... what if it doesn’t last? What if I move in and get used to this whole life, and then we break up and I’m alone? And all the way back at square one?”
“You wouldn’t be at square one, for one thing.”
I just shake my head.
“You wouldn’t,” she says firmly. “The diner was square one.You’ve moved on from that. And if you do break up and need to move out—which isn’t going to happen, because you’re madly in love and I know he is too—then you come straight to me. You’ll stay with me and Barry, we’ll cry enough to fill the bathtub, and then I’ll help you figure out the next steps.”
I smile despite myself. “Really?”
“Of course. You think I won’t be there for you? Please. You’re stuck with me, even if you’re moving to an inferior city.”
“I love you,” I say helplessly. Laura always knows what to say. She’s going to make an excellent lawyer—and if I told her that, she’d just say, “I know.”
“I love you too,” she says. “And I wish I could hug you right now, as always. But Bex? You’re not going to break up with him. You two are forever, and you know it. Why torture yourself, and him, when you can be happy? You don’t have to have everything figured out to enjoy it.”
I sit up. “You’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. Do you have pictures of the townhouse? Send them to me so we can start decorating.”
I smile. “You’re going to love the rooftop patio. Just let me jump in the shower first.”
Chapter 8
James
Bex bounces on the edge of the bed as she watches me change into my bathing suit. “What do you want to do first? Ocean or pool?”
We’ve been at the rental house for about half an hour, and in that time, Izzy went to sunbathe, Seb and Coop argued over which of them the flight attendant flirted with, Dad mapped out the restaurant schedule, and the housekeeper dropped off enough groceries to feed an army. You’d think we were settling in for the month, rather than just the week.
I pull off my shirt, leaning over for a kiss when she reaches for me.
“Ocean,” I say, kissing both her cheeks before brushing my lips against hers. “Because someone’s never been. And somehow, I’ve never seen you in a bathing suit.”
Bex bites her lip. “You’ll hold onto me?”
“Of course, baby.”
She slides off the bed and goes to her suitcase, pulling out something that will no doubt look hot as hell on her. While I would like the show, I don’t mind when she disappears into the bathroom. I check the side pocket of my backpack yet again, making sure that the little square box is still tucked inside.
I’ve gone on family vacations to Kitty Hawk for years, but never with a girlfriend... and especially not with an engagementring in hand. I’ve thought about how to propose for the better part of two weeks, and when it came down to it, I couldn’t think of a better way than somewhere private and beautiful, with my family on hand to celebrate. It’s not a proposal in my future football stadium, but Bex wouldn’t want that anyway.
I tuck the box into my pocket and knock on the bathroom door. “I’m going to talk to my parents, okay? See you down at the beach.”
While I’m not about to ask my parents’ permission to propose, I don’t want to surprise them when I get down on one knee. Mom will be thrilled, but I’m not sure about Dad. Even with the ring in my pocket, my conversation with Cooper and Sebastian echoes in my head.
I find my parents in the kitchen. I knock on the doorframe, interrupting their quiet conversation. They’re officially in vacation mode; my mother is in a bathing suit and lacy coverup, big sunglasses perched atop her head, and it looks like my father has broken out the Hawaiian shirts.
“Hey.”
Mom looks up. “Hi, sweetie. What are you and Bex up to this afternoon? Cooper and Sebastian are at the beach with Izzy.”
“I think that’s what we’re going to do too,” I say. I lean over the kitchen island. “I just... had something I wanted to talk about with you first.”
Dad looks up from his phone. “What’s up?”
I run my hand through my hair, scratching the nape of my neck. My heart jumps with nervousness, but I push forward anyway. “I wanted to let you know that... I’m going to propose. This week.”
