them privacy, but instead I keep my position and listen harder.
“What do you mean?” he asks. “Baby, we are fine, please don’t freak out.”
“I know.” She sniffles. “But this is all just too much. I love you, but we’re still so young and—“
“No,” King says, his voice taking on something like panic. “Don’t do this. If you don’t want to tell your parents we’re getting married then we don’t have to. We can just wait and do it when you’re ready. This isn’t supposed to be stressful, it’s supposed to be about us.”
“It’s not about that,” she says. “It’s not about them knowing. It’s just the idea of telling them made it all so much more real. I… I don’t know if I’m ready for this King.” My heart drops as I look up toward the window. I can’t see them but I’m starting to feel like an asshole eavesdropping on their conversation. I move from my spot on the deck and head out into the yard. Damn, I really hope they get through this. I’ve never seen a couple so in love. It would be a shame if cold feet ruined it all.
The yard is huge, surrounded by a wooden fence with pristinely-trimmed hedges and a flower garden that runs alongside it. White gravel covers a path through the yard which leads to a small sitting area near a fire pit. It’s nice; something my mother would have loved. My thoughts move to the lake house and how excited she’d be to see the progress Dad and I have been making on it. Pain begins to spread through my chest and I shake the thoughts of her away just as my phone begins to ring again, Xia’s name flashing on the screen.
“Hey baby, we’re still at Cherry’s house. We should be leaving soon, hopefully,” I say. “Are you on the way to the restaurant?”
“No,” she huffs. “I think I might be sitting this one out.”
“Why?”
“I’m just not feeling well still. Tell Cherry I’m sorry, I know this is a big deal for them.”
“What’s wrong?” Reaching the end of the yard I see a small pathway leading to the river. I glance behind me before heading through the trees.
“I think I may have started eating too many solid foods too soon after the virus. I got sick a few times today and my head is killing me.”
“Shit,” I say. “Need me to come over? I can make you a get well bag. Though before you ask, I won’t be renting The Little Mermaid.”
She chuckles. “No, I feel bad enough that I can’t be there and it would totally suck if both of us didn’t show up.” My mind goes to the conversation I overheard a minute ago.
“This dinner may not happen anyway,” I say, running a hand behind my head as I reach the clearing to the river. “I think Cherry and King are fighting. I heard her say that she wanted to call it off.”
“Oh my God, what do you think happened? I mean, Why? What’s going on?”
“I don’t know.” My foot rolls over a small stone and I pinch it between my fingers before throwing into the water. It splashes, causing small ripples to move over the surface.
“Roman and I have been here for at least half an hour and they haven’t come downstairs yet. We’ve been keeping Kenzie busy but her parents should be here any minute.”
“No,” she whines. “They are like our Megan Markel and Prince Harry,” she says. “They can’t break up.”
“Baby, we are like our Megan Markel and Prince Harry.” I say, which makes her laugh. “But you’re right,” I huff. “Hopefully they’ll come down and talk to us about it and maybe we can try and help them out.”
“Yeah,” she sighs. “Well, just let me know what happens. I’ll be here lying on the couch with Casper.”
I gaze over the rippling water, my eyes falling on a large tree stump that sits about five feet from the dock. A small red bird perches on its top.
“I’ll come over and spend the night once I leave them,” I say, turning back toward the path.
“Okay, see you soon,” she says before ending the call.
I’m halfway down the path when my phone rings again, this time with Satchi’s name displaying across my screen. Confusion floods in. It’s a Saturday and it’s weird that he’d be calling me. So I answer quickly and press the phone to my ear.
“Sir?” I say, stopping between two trees.
“Hey, Jordan, do