I get him.
I love him.
When we pull up to Nik and Tina’s, we somehow get the parking spot right out front. Making a funny, I whoop then say, “Oh my God! You just won at life, baby!”
Brow still furrowed, he utters, “Never really been a winner before.”
That makes me sad.
Unsure if anyone is watching us, I keep my eyes forward and say confidently, “All that’s changing, babe. You’ll see.” Sliding my hand over to his thigh, I whisper on a squeeze, “I love you. You’re a winner to me. You always will be. So suck it up. Let’s get in there and show everyone how happy we are.”
His hand covers mine and he squeezes it, saying confidently, “Let’s do it, babe.”
We exit the car barely looking at each other. I approach the front door and enter without knocking, I yell out, “Hey, hey!”
Ceecee spots me down the hall. Wearing a brilliant crooked smile, she wheels herself over to me really damn fast. I chuckle at her enthusiasm and lower myself to my knees to hug the crap out of her. Brushing her auburn hair out of her face, I say, “My God, sweetie. Every time I see you, you’re more and more beautiful.” And I’m being honest too. She’s so pretty. Max is going to have a hard time when she’s older. He’ll have to beat ‘em off with a stick. Scowling at her playfully, I utter, “Stop stealing all the beauty! We old people need it too!”
Covering her mouth with her palm, she giggles. “You’re so silly, Nat.”
Standing back up, I moan tiredly, “I know. I know.”
I follow her into the open lounge slash dining room slash kitchen and see everyone sitting out on the porch. I tell Ceecee, “You mind telling everyone we’re here, honey?”
With another sweet smile, she speeds off towards the backyard. I feel Asher press in behind me and mutter, “Ready?”
Without looking back at him, I nod and walk toward the sliding door. I take a deep breath to steady myself and slide the door open. Everyone looks over at us. I walk out and say, “Hey guys.”
A smiling Max stands first and wraps me up in a flirtatious and very touchy hug. Knowing Ash is probably scowling behind me, I chuckle in embarrassment. When Max’s hand reaches my ass and squeezes, my laughter can no longer be contained. It bursts out of me and I wrap my arms around Max’s neck tightly, knowing this hug will be the last of its kind. Pulling back from Max a little, I peck a kiss to his mouth and tell him, “You know I love you, right?”
Max gifts me a stunning smile. His amber eyes sparkle and he says, “Uh, hell yeah I do. I love you too, boo.”
Letting go of him, I move around the table, hugging and kissing everyone in greeting, even though I just saw Tina not an hour ago, but I love them all so much right now that I need contact with them all. When I reach Nik, his eyes narrow at me suspiciously. Suddenly panicked, I lean down and kiss him full on the mouth. I pull back from him and say a little too loudly, “I love you too, Nik.”
Nik smiles so hard it looks like his dimple might slit his cheek open.
What the fuck are you doing?
I have no idea, brain. Just roll with it.
Realizing I missed out on Trick, I walk over to him and his eyes widen. I grab his cheeks, pull him forward and smack a kiss on his mouth too. I announce a little dramatically, “I love you all. A lot.”
I turn to Ash and we have a silent conversation.
His eyes narrow. What the fuck are you doing?
My eyes widen and I play with my wedding ring. Oh god, I’m so bad at this shit.
He slightly nods to his side. Get over here, girl.
Sitting in the vacant seat by Nik, I shake my head discreetly. You are on your own, buddy.
Ash dips his chin and places both hands on his hips. I know he’s this close from going all caveman on me, but he somehow pulls it together. He looks around the table and says, “I bet you’re wondering why I’ve gathered you all here today.”
Lola looks up at Ash and chuckles, “That was a kickass line, Ghost.”
Mimi laughs and looks to Lola, “I know! It was all mega cool villain-like.”
Tina giggles and whispers, “Sorry, Ghost, but it totally was.”
They all look around that table smiling like a bunch of fools and I’m so nervous that I blurt out, “Please, go on, Dr. Evil.”
The whole table erupts into laughter. I look up and even Ash is losing his fight to be sincere. We all laugh til we cry and I’m so glad tonight is going this way. I prefer laughter than tears any night of the week. When it’s clear we aren’t going to get over our giggles, Ash announces loudly, “I got married two days ago.”
And the conversation all comes to a screeching halt.
No one says a word for a good minute. I’m pretty sure I hear crickets chirping in the background too.
Ash explains, “The girl I was telling you all about, the one I was dating, I realized I love her too and didn’t want to be without her, so I proposed and we got married the same day.”
I look around the table to find almost everyone’s gaping at Ash. Only Mimi and Nik look at me and gape. Tina exclaims, “Ghost, honey! That’s great! Who is she?”
Ash shifts from foot to foot, and I smile at his sudden nervousness. He clears his throat and confesses, “Well, she’s here…right now.”
Lola looks a little glum when she says quietly, “Okay. Bring her in so we can meet the lucky lady.”
Trick booms, “Holy shit!” He looks around the table in shock and shouts again, “Holy shit!”
Ash looks over to me, his expression pleading. I breathe deep and stand up, moving to my husband. When I reach his side, I say quietly, “Hey guys.”
Tina, Lola, Trick and Max all look at me wearing blank expressions. They don’t get it.
Mimi and Nik smile big. They get it.
Unsure of where to go from here, I take hold of Ash’s hand, linking our fingers. I look up to my husband with a tender smile which he returns, and standing on my tiptoes, I gently kiss his mouth. He wraps his arms around me and I run my hands up his back.
Through our kiss, I hear Tina and Lola gasp in obvious shock.
Max says slowly, “No. Freakin’. Way.”
Trick yells out once again, “Holy shit!”
When we pull back from each other, I look into Asher’s eyes and peck his mouth once, twice, three times and whisper, “I love you.”
He pulls me close, kisses my forehead and whispers against it, “Best thing that ever happened to me.”
I look over at the table to look at my friends.
Lola looks as if I just told her that ice cream actually has crack in it. Tina weeps softly wearing a watery smile. Max smirks at me. I wink at him. He winks back at me. Mimi kisses her fingertips and places them on her heart and I want to cry from the overwhelming support I feel. Trick, who’s obviously having trouble getting over this, says quietly, “Holy shit.”