Grey brushed past me and followed them out the door. I turned to the boxes and started opening. I pushed the flaps to the side and unwrapped a stack of bowls. My happy mood was soured. That was until Marin showed up.
“Knock knock.”
I squealed when I saw her auburn head peek around the side of the door.
“You’re here!” I jumped toward her.
“No, you’re here.” She hugged me and I laughed.
“I guess I am.” I waved my hand across the room. “All of my stuff and I made it in the middle of the night.”
“This is awesome. I can’t believe Grey got this place for you. Right beside the Palm? It’s perfect for you two.”
“It is perfect.” I had already fallen in love with the little blue cottage. “I’d offer you something to drink, but I have no idea where the glasses are yet and I don’t even think we have drinks.” I opened the refrigerator. It was bare.
Marin ran her fingers through her hair. “Oh, I’m fine. I just had to come see you before work today.” She rested her palm across her chest.
“I’m glad you did. It might be a couple of days before I’m done with all the boxes.”
She shifted her hand to her shoulder and then I saw it. The rock sparkled and glistened in my tiny kitchen.
“Oh my God. Marin! Is that what I think it is?”
She nodded and let out a high-pitched squeal. “I’m getting married!” She hopped in place.
“Congratulations.” I reached for her hand. “Let me see this up close.”
She eagerly extended her hand so I could examine the ring.
“It was Pick’s grandmother’s ring. He asked his mom if he could have it.” Marin’s eyes were glowing almost as much as the cluster of diamonds.
“Oh, I’m so happy for you.” I hugged her again, not quite sure what to do in this situation. Marin was my first friend to get engaged. “Have you set a date?”
“I was waiting for you to get here so Pick and I could announce it together. Do you know how hard it’s been not to tell you on the phone?”
I shook my head. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
“You know my mom is going crazy about it. She wants to plan the whole thing, but I want her to be the mother-of-the-bride, not the wedding planner. She won’t listen though.”
I giggled, remembering the storage unit full of wedding decorations Marin’s mother kept for her clients. Marin didn’t seem like a paper dove kind of bride.
“Ok, so tell me the date.”
I figured they had a nice spring date on the calendar when Padre wouldn’t be blistering hot and they could have another eight months to get plans underway.
“It’s going to be the end of October.”
“As in next month, October?” Maybe she meant a year from now.
“Yes!” She started hopping again.
Just then, the door flew open and the guys staggered in with the mattress.
“Babe, I’m headed to work,” she called to Pick as he shuffled past her.
“All right, call me later.” He huffed as they turned the corner for the bedroom.
“Eden, let me know if you need help getting settled. I’ve got to get to work.” She twisted the watch on her wrist.
“Congratulations, again.” I watched as she practically skipped out the door.
Grey kicked on the door with three boxes stacked in his arms. I rushed over to let him in.
“I just heard Marin and Pick’s news.” I slid my hands in my back pockets.
“Oh yeah?” He crouched low to put the boxes on the floor.
“Yeah.” I smiled. The misunderstanding in the moving truck seemed stupid and insignificant.
“What do you think about that?” He stood, his arms crossed. I wasn’t sure he wasn’t still annoyed with me.
“I think it’s great news. I can’t believe the wedding is next month.” I didn’t have a chance to get all the details from Marin, like how Pick proposed, where they were going to live, or were both families supportive. I didn’t want to wonder about whether she was pregnant. It did seem kind of rushed.
“She couldn’t wait to tell you. Made all of us keep it a secret until you got here.” He took a step closer and my heart rate sped up. “Found my phone.” He held it up, and moved even closer.
“That’s good. Where was it?”
“In the maintenance cart inside the storage closet. I forgot I had put it there when I was checking rooms.” His eyes followed his fingers as they tangled through my hair, sweeping along my collarbone.
Pick and Connor were in the other room, but all I could think about was getting Grey’s lips on mine.
“I’m sorry if I overreacted in the truck.” I edged toward him, my chin tilted up, my eyelashes fluttering more than usual.
“Don’t they say moving is one of the most stressful life events?” He caught the small of my back with his palm and placed enough pressure so that I was firmly pressed against his body.
If he didn’t kiss me now, I thought I might die on this kitchen floor. My chest tightened with heavy breaths, ready to feel the warmth of his mouth, his tongue. Taste his breath on my lips. Why were there other people in the house?