Page 101 of False Confidence

She dragged Maggie into the storage room she’d heard about from Sierra, who had seen two paralegals sneaking off together last New Year. It was pitch black, but she felt around the wall for the light pull and tugged, illuminating them both in harsh fluorescent light.

“Okay. Let’s talk,” Jazz said, dusting the wall with her hand before leaning back against it.

Maggie took a deep breath. “You’re getting married.”

“Yep.”

“This is your wedding.”

“It is.”

“I’m dressed as an ogre at your wedding.”

“I bet the green really brings out Cal’s eyes,” Jazz offered, and Maggie palmed her forehead. “I know you probably need to freak out and ask a million questions. Go for it.”

“I say this with all the love in the world, but you’ve only been together for two months, Jazz. This is unhinged, even by your standards.”

“Liam’s been on board for longer than that,” Jazz pointed out. “And when you know, you know.”

“Sure. But why the rush?”

“Why wait? We already know we’re going to be together forever.” She wasn’t trying to convince Maggie. Jazz and Liam both knew everyone would think they were rushing things, but they loved each other and that’s all they cared about.

They didn’t want to wait the expected two to three years before starting the next stage of their life together; they wanted marriage, and babies, and a house with a backyard for Bray to sunbathe in because he was too lazy to run around. Jazz had found a new OBGYN to get to the bottom of her inconsistent cycle so they could start trying for a baby, they’d hired Nadia—who she actually liked a lot, now that she’d stopped being a jealous asshole—to help them find a house, and they would be walking out of their party as husband and wife.

She saw the moment her best friend recognized the resolve in her expression; Maggie’s panicked eyes softened into a smile, her shoulders relaxing.

“You’re sure? You’re really ready for this?”

Jazz nodded. The coiling panic that she shouldn’t bother with anything, because she’d only fail, was nowhere to be seen. This was Liam; as far as she was concerned, they were a guaranteed success. “Yeah. I’m sure.”

Jazz and Maggie stared at each other, Maggie’s eyes glistening. “Holy shit,” Maggie said, with a watery laugh, a tear slipping down her green cheek. And like cascading dominoes, Jazz followed suit. “You’re getting married.”

“You’re going to be my mother-in-law.”

Maggie groaned. “Great, but let’s not make that a thing.”

“I’ll think about it,” she lied. She absolutely was going to make it a thing. Maggie was getting Mother’s Day presents for the rest of their lives, as far as she was concerned.

“I’m so happy for you. For both of you. This is how it was always meant to be,” Maggie said, squeezing her in a tight hug. “I love you so much, Jazz. You deserve this.”

Jazz didn’t think she could ever, in a million years, truly deserve Liam. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to hold on to him for dear life and treasure every single second they had together.

There was a soft knock at the door, and Maggie opened it to find Liam. She threw her arms around his neck, wrapping him in a hug. “I’m so happy for you. If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”

“I’d expect nothing less,” Liam replied with a chuckle, hugging her back. They broke apart and Maggie grabbed a paper towel from a shelf and dabbed at her cheeks, wincing when it came away green.

“Do you need anything? What can I do?”

And that was reason number one they hadn’t told her. They wanted Maggie to actually enjoy the night, not exhaust herself worrying about what needed done.

“Everything is taken care of. Are you ready, darling?” Liam held a hand out to Jazz and she threaded her fingers with his.

“I’m ready.”

The three of them headed back into the party, the light from the mirrorball dancing across the floor. Everyone they loved was there: Liam’s moms, Sierra and most of the Michaelson and Hicks team, Nadia, Rose, Xan and his best friend Kami. Kami’s brother Leon, and his business partner, were catering the party and were the only people they’d told about the wedding ahead of time.

They’d gotten lucky that Halloween fell on the same week the Michaelson family had planned a reunion, making the trip to Seattle from Ireland to celebrate Liam’s grandma’s birthday. They were loud and chaotic and Jazz loved them.

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