Page 2 of Before This Ends (Before)

As soon as Lynn sees us, her face lights up, and she starts to wave.

“Hey.” I laugh, giving her a hug when she stands as we reach the table.

“I’m so glad we were able to get together.” She rocks me from side to side as Mica and Eli do that whole one-armed back-pat thing men do when they greet each other.

“Me too.” I give Mica a hug, then slide into the booth, and Eli slides in next to me.

“So….” Lynn grins, holding up her hand, and my mouth drops open when I notice the glittering diamond ring on her finger.

“Stop it!” I cry, grasping her hand from across the table. “When did this happen?”

“Yesterday.” She looks over at Mica with a sappy smile. “He proposed when we were at the zoo last night for the Beer and Wine Festival.”

“I love that. Congratulations, you two.” I glance up at Eli as he repeats my sentiment. “I think we need champagne.”

“Wedefinitelyneed champagne,” Lynn agrees from across the table.

“I’m good with beer,” Eli mutters, and I elbow him in the side. He looks down at me and sighs. “Or champagne.” Mica laughs.

When the waitress comes over to take our orders, we ask for champagne, but since they don’t have any, we order tequila shots, which are not the same, but weareat a Mexican restaurant, so… when in Rome.

Feeling a little tipsy after shots and a margarita, even after eating fajitas, I look up at Eli when Mica asks playfully, “When are you going to propose to Emma?”

Of course, he and I spoke about getting married and having kids before I moved in with him almost a year ago, but since then, that subject hasn’t come up again. And being me, I’ve never wanted to be the woman to hound a man into popping the question, so I’ve left it alone, figuring he would do it when he feels the time is right. But we’ve been together for almost three years, and that time still hasn’t come, so I’m as curious as everyone else.

“Emma and I are good with the way things are right now.”

My eyes widen. “Are we?”

“Yeah.”

“Uh… I still want to get married.” I mean, sure, I’mokaywith things right now, but I want the ring, the husband, and the kids. Not today, but definitely within the next few years. I’m not getting any younger, and at almost thirty, I hear my clock ticking a little louder each day. Plus I want to be married and enjoy that for a bit before having kids.

“Marriage is just a piece of paper.” The statement, his tone, and the look in his eyes, which hold no humor, catch me off guard. While he’s not wrong—it is a piece of paper—it’s also a whole lot more than that. At least to me.

“Okay, but I’d also like to have the same last name as my kids.”

“What if we never have kids? What’s the point then?”

I study him, wondering if he’s being serious, and I hate that I’m too drunk to tell.

“I want kids though,” I remind him softly, wishing we were alone and that we didn’t have an audience for this conversation.

“What ifIdon’t want kids?”

“But you do.” I search his blue eyes. “Right?”

“I don’t know.” He lifts one bulky shoulder, dropping his gaze from mine. “Kids change things.”

My throat burns. “We talked about getting married and having kids before I moved in with you.”

“I know, but things change.”

“Whatchanged?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugs again, and I swear if we were alone and not in a restaurant with our newly engaged friends sitting across from us, I might’ve started screaming. I don’t understand where this is coming from or why he hasn’t said anything before now.

“I think we’re going to take off,” Lynn cuts into my thoughts, and I turn my attention to her. The sympathetic look in her gaze as her eyes scan my face has me wishing the floor would open up and swallow me.

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