He kissed her again. “Let’s go tell them, then. We need to celebrate.”
She hooked her arm through his as they made their way back to where their friends stood together across the room. Their friends. Not just Ash’s. These people were hers too and it filled her heart with warmth.
Brittany was over the moon with Kai. She’d already moved to Vegas with him but they visited the city often. Josie was glad that Ash had at least his sister. The rest of his family had backed off after he’d called his grandfather. He still didn’t know what the old man was going to do with his will, but Ash had done what he’d promised and then washed his hands of them all.
But Brittany and he were close now and she spent a lot of time with Josie and Ash. But his real family stood just a few feet away. Gabe, Jace, Mia, Bethany. Her family too.
They erupted in cheers when Ash announced that he and Josie would be getting married with Jace and Bethany. Then champagne was passed around again.
“Hope you’ll also come to mine and Brittany’s wedding,” Kai interjected with a smug grin. “Only just talked her into it today.”
Brittany held up a huge diamond engagement ring that Josie hadn’t noticed until now. Her face was flushed with happiness and her eyes glittered brightly.
“A double toast, then,” Ash said, holding his glass up. “To Josie and her success. And to Brittany and Kai.”
Everyone held up their glasses, noisily clinking them together before downing the bubbly liquid.
“To girlfriends,” Mia called out, holding her glass up to Josie, Bethany and Brittany.
“I’ll drink to that!” Bethany exclaimed.
“And here’s to us providing the guys many more girls’ nights out,” Josie said with a grin.
“I’ll drink to that,” Ash said.
“Me too,” Jace put in.
“And me,” Gabe said, grinning.
“I’ll definitely fly Brittany in for the occasion,” Kai said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Josie pulled Brittany and Bethany to her side, hugging them both while Mia slid in next to Bethany. They raised their glasses.
“To girls’ night out!” they chorused.