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“Right,” I say, getting my laptop out of my briefcase. I put it on the table and open it up as one of the guys asks the others about what courier services they use. Pulling up the notes I’d prepared for the meeting, I type the date and press return a few times to leave a space.
Then, finally, I look up.
Huxley’s leaning back in his seat, his arm over the back of his chair, watching me. As I meet his eyes, his lips curve up for a moment before he turns his gaze back to Marvin.
I let mine linger on him for a second. He’s showered, shaved, and changed into a navy suit. He looks fresh as a daisy, as if he’s had ten hours’ uninterrupted sleep.
Gritting my teeth, I drop my gaze back to the laptop and force myself to concentrate on the meeting.
After half an hour, there’s a knock at the door, and he leaps up to open it for the catering assistants, who bring in several platters of sandwiches and nibbles for a working lunch. As usual, he moves around in the background while the meeting continues, getting people coffees, handing out serviettes and plates, and directing the caterers quietly so the meeting can continue.
The guys tuck into the sandwiches with gusto, never failing to amaze me with how much food they can put away and still remain trim. I and the other two women at the table nibble more sedately, me mostly because my stomach still feels uneasy.
Toward the end of the lunch, Huxley chooses a small chocolate éclair filled with fresh cream, puts it on a plate, then offers it to me. He knows they’re my favorite. And I also think it’s some kind of peace offering, maybe him saying he’s sorry for what happened last night. I give a small smile and take it. No doubt he’s also having regrets about our conversation. I’m sure he doesn’t want to lose my friendship any more than I want to lose his.
Eventually the meeting comes to a close, and everyone starts putting away their laptops and getting to their feet.
Mack comes over to me and says to me, “Hang on a minute, will you?”
“Sure.” I sit back down and watch him go over and ask Titus and Victoria, too. Huxley obviously realizes something’s going on because he stays sitting. Titus and Victoria move up to sit next to us, and Mack takes the seat at the top of the table.
When the others have gone out and the door swings shut, he smiles. “You might have heard already, but I just wanted to tell you personally that I asked Sidnie to marry me last night, and she said yes.”
I knew because I played a small part in his proposal, and I vaguely remember telling Victoria last night. But Huxley and Titus obviously haven’t heard because their eyebrows rise in surprise, and they get up to congratulate him.
Mack and Titus exchange a bearhug, and then Mack faces Huxley. “I’m hoping you’ll be my best man,” he says.
Huxley’s eyebrows rise. “What about Jamie, and Kai?” he asks, naming Mack’s younger brother, and his business partner at Koru Technology.
I’m not surprised Mack has chosen Huxley. Both Jamie and Kai are quiet men who dislike the limelight, whereas Huxley was born for the role.
But Mack just says, “It was always going to be you, bro,” and Huxley nods and they exchange a bearhug, holding it a little longer than normal. It brings a lump to my throat, and Victoria says, “Aw, you two.”
“So when’s the big day?” I ask.
They break apart, and Mack says, “Well, we talked about it last night and decided that we don’t want to wait long. Neither of us wants a big wedding, and Sidnie especially would prefer to keep it quiet as her dad’s still having treatment. So we’ve decided to have a relatively quiet wedding on April the second. I hope you can make it.”
We all stare at him, delighted. “Where?” I ask.
“Do you know Cameron Brown?”
“The CEO of Panther Enterprises?”
“Yeah. He owns a luxury yacht, and he’s a celebrant. I spoke to him this morning, and I’ve hired his yacht for two nights. We’ll set sail on the first in the afternoon, go up to the Bay of Islands, and stop at one of the islands overnight. Then the next day we’ll pick up my family, do a day tour of the islands, and he’ll marry us. We’ll drop my family off next morning and then head back to Auckland.”
“Oh Mack,” I say with pleasure, “that sounds amazing. Of course we’ll be there.” I look around for confirmation, and everyone nods.
“Wedding bells,” Huxley says. “We’re all growing up, aren’t we?”
Mack grins. “Yeah. Just a bit.”
“I have to say,” Victoria says, “I’m not sure she’s good for you. You have dark rings under your eyes.”
“I’m not getting a lot of sleep,” he concedes, lips twisting as we all laugh. “She’s young,” he says, “and energetic. She’s wearing me out.”
“I’m going to have to get myself one of those,” Titus says. “Has she got a sister?”
“No, but Huxley’s got four,” Mack replies. “And only one of them is married.”
