Love and Neckties - Lacey Black Page 0,95
me the happiest I’ve ever been. But then I glance his way and see the look in his eyes, and I realize the happiness is a two-way street. We’re in this together, Samuel and me.
Mary Ann squeezes me one last time, but before she releases me whispers, “Thank you for loving my Samuel.”
Her blue eyes shine brightly as she smiles at me, her hand cupping my cheek in that tender way she does. I can’t speak, so I just nod.
Mary Ann nods before finally stepping back. We return to the table and start to snack on the appetizers Samuel made this afternoon. With a plate full of food and a smile on her face, she turns to me and says, “Now, let’s talk about this wedding.”
***
“Where are we going?” I ask as I slip into Harper’s car.
“It’s a surprise.” She gives me an ornery grin as she pulls out of the driveway.
To be honest, I’m a little surprised Samuel allowed my bestie to whisk me away for a few hours. He’s been completely overprotective, hovering almost, since we got home from the emergency room Friday night. Now, here we are on Sunday, and he practically pushed me out the door.
“I’m just happy to be free for a few hours,” I tell her with a smile. “What’s first on our list of debauchery?”
“Lunch!” Harper declares, as if she knew I’d be hungry.
My stomach growls, making us both giggle. “Perfect.”
She drives to our favorite Mexican restaurant. It’s not yet quite as busy as it will be, but there aren’t too many tables open. Sundays after church are a very popular day for dining in Rockland Falls, and it always seems like every place you go is packed.
I order an ice water and dive into the chips and salsa the moment the server sets them down on the table. “How have you been feeling?” she asks, toying with her napkin.
“Fine,” I tell her over the large smothered chip I just shoved into my mouth.
“Good. No nausea?”
I shrug. “Maybe a little every now and then, but not too bad. I haven’t actually thrown up, which is a plus, because I really, really hate throwing up.”
“Ugh, yeah, so gross.” Harper reaches over and dips a chip in the tomato goodness and munches away. “I hear you had company for dinner last night.”
The smile is already crossing my lips. “Yeah, we did. Samuel told her about the wedding, the rewedding, and the baby.”
“I bet Mom was about to burst with excitement.”
“You know it. She was really surprised it was Samuel who ended up eloping in Vegas,” I tell her.
“No shit! We all are. I mean, I’d pick Marissa or Jensen hand-over-fist to run off and get married before Samuel.”
I laugh. “That’s pretty much exactly what she said.”
“Well, I’m super happy for your two. And just so you know, Latham and I were totally out in the hallway at the hospital, listening.”
I glance up, my eyes wide with shock and humor. “Shut up!”
She’s already nodding. “Totally. He didn’t want to, but the moment Samuel started talking, he was glued in place like a teenager girl.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Well, I was a bit surprised by his confession. I mean, I was prepared to go to my apartment Friday night. Finding those papers, well, I thought there was no way we could move forward.”
“I probably would have thought the same. Actually, in a way, I did think the same. When Latham won the bid on that building, I was so pissed off. I had no idea he wanted to share it with me. Not until he put in all that work and made it a joint space.”
“Then you shagged like rabbits,” I tease, recalling exactly how everything played out that night he told her he loved her and showed her the building. I was a part of it, making sure she was still there that night.
Harper snorts. “He’s definitely a male rabbit. He could go anytime, anywhere.”
“He’s a man, so…”
She snorts and smiles at me. “You know, I love oversharing with you, right?” When I nod, she continues, “But I really don’t ever want to know about my brother’s rabbit tendencies. Deal?”
“So, you don’t want to know that he really likes to take me from behind?”
Her mouth falls open and a look of disgust mars her beautiful face. “Shut up!” she gasps.
“He’s really good with his—”
Harper’s hands go to her ears as she makes noises to block out my words, drawing attention from a few tables around