“Damn. I think he wants to fuck you sideways, Dyl.”
I giggle and smooth out my apron. “Well, naturally.” I glance over at my best friend who is standing in the middle of the shop, rubbing her eyes and looking positively glowing. On a Thursday? “What’s up with you?” I ask.
“Nothing, I just have something in my eye,” she replies, as she keeps wiping below her lashes with both hands. She’s really going at it and I look over at Joey whose mouth has dropped open.
“JULS!” he yells and startles me so bad I have to grip the counter.
“Jesus Christ, Joey. What?” I ask, my eyes falling on Juls who is now only holding up her left hand. My eyes flick between my two best friends, back and forth, still feeling completely lost until something sparkles and catches my attention. My jaw drops as I finally focus on what Joey has seen. Her delicate hand is now adorned with a shockingly large diamond and I scream. Joey screams. Juls screams. There is a lot of fucking screaming going on.
“You’re engaged?” I shriek and she nods frantically, her hands coming up to cover her face as Joey and I round the counter and charge at her. “Oh, my God.” The ring is beautiful and totally her. Massive and sparkly, the princess cut diamond is surrounded by smaller delicate diamonds and gleams brilliantly. Tiny diamonds run along both sides down the band as well. “Holy shit, it’s gorgeous. When did this happen? How did it happen?” I ask as Joey studies the ring closely.
“Seriously the most beautiful ring I’ve ever fucking seen. Damn,” he chimes in as he holds her petite hand in his.
She wipes the tear that has streamed down her face and shuffles excitedly on her feet. “Last night. Ian took me to Grant Park for a stroll after the rain had let up and he dropped down in front of that massive fountain. I died, right there on the spot.” More tears come down and she quickly rubs them away. “He told me he’s loved me for so long and he’ll love me forever. God, it was so fucking romantic.”
My waterworks are now free flowing and turning toward Joey. I see he is as much of an emotional wreck as I am. “You’re going to be the most beautiful bride,” I manage through sniffles. “I’m assuming we’re looking at next September or October for the big day?”
“Fuck that noise. I am not waiting a year to marry that man. We’ve decided on September seventeenth.” Joey gasps and I’m pretty sure I do also. I’m stunned, completely shocked. Is she crazy?
“That’s like three months away,” I say as the shop phone rings.
“Oh, please. Have you forgotten who you’re talking to here? I could plan a fabulous wedding in a month if I had to.” I dash behind the counter and grab the phone on the fifth ring. She is right though. If anyone could pull off a spectacular wedding in three months, it’s Juls. Besides, I’m fairly certain she’s already planned most of the details without Ian’s knowledge of it.
“Dylan’s Sweet Tooth,” I chirp into the phone as Joey and Juls excitingly talk about the wedding.
“Hi, sweetheart.” My mom’s voice instantly sends my back rigid and I squeeze my eyes shut. Oh, great. It’s starting
“Hi, Mom. What’s up?” I ask casually. Please, Lord, let her be calling to tell me someone died or something else non-romance related. Maybe she’s forgotten all about Reese.
I hear muffled noises in the background, most likely the sounds of my father getting shushed. “Oh, nothing much. So how exactly did you meet Reese? I’m dying to know all about him and Google only tells you so much.”
“You Googled him?” I didn’t even think my mother knew how to use the internet. Now she’s googling the man I’m sleeping with? Hmmm, maybe I should do that.
“Yes. Good grief, he’s handsome. Now tell me, how did you two meet?” Oh, you know, he nailed me up against a bathroom sink at my ex’s wedding. Crap. I need a distraction and the sight of my bouncing best friends gives me inspiration.
“Mom, Juls is engaged. Isn’t that great? And she’s getting married this September.” Nothing like wedding news to get my mother sidetracked. She’s a sucker for hard gossip, especially when it involves my friends.
She gasps dramatically. “That’s wonderful. Oh my, that’s so soon.” I hear her hands clapping together through the phone. “How lovely. Juls will make such a beautiful bride. You know who else would make a beautiful bride?”
What? Shit! I scramble around the counter and grab Joey by the hair, a loud scream emanating from him followed by a string of curse words directed at me. “Oh, shit. Gotta go, Mom. Joey’s having a gay emergency. You know him. Love you.” I end the call quickly before she can throw out any questions. Whew. Crisis Averted.
“What the fuck, Dylan? That hurt. And why does it have to be a gay emergency?” Joey rubs his scalp, his face scrunched up in pain as he glares at me.