Page 28 of Something Forever

I have a fiancé.

Technically, neither of us have rings, so I guess it’s not a completely done deal. Well, it won’t really be done until someone says, ‘I do’. Still, rings or no rings, I’m freaking out. After Liam and I shook last night, I spent the remainder of the evening chugging red wine and watching Love Island in a fruitless attempt to distract myself from my impending marriage.

I’m almost regretting quitting because I don’t even have work to distract me. I have lots to do with the salon, but I can only dedicate a few hours a day to that before I start to feel agitated, worried that it’s not going to work out, or worse, that I’ll pour all this money into my idea only to discover that I can’t do it. Still, now that I know the marriage deal is secured, I can at least start making plans. As soon as the certificate is signed and the first check is on its way to my account, I’m going to start looking around Brooklyn for a location.

Cycling between dread over the salon’s potential failure and disbelief over my new relationship status, I decide to text Abbi and tell her that I have updates on the hubby hunt and need to meet.

I’m sipping an Aperol Spritz at the Italian restaurant across from her office when I spot her red hair at the entrance and wave a frantic hand in her direction.

She crosses the room and flings her arms around me. “You crazy bitch,” she laughs into my hair. “Tell me everything. Wait, where’s the waiter? I need a drink for this.”

Once she has a glass of wine in hand, she leans closer to me. “Okay. Spill.”

I shake my head. “I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe I agreed to this.”

“Wait. Back up. Who’s the guy?”

I pause, unsure how she’s going to react.

“It’s my roommate.”

It’s silent for a moment before Abbi throws her head back, cackling. She laughs for a full minute and doesn’t stop despite my shushing and eye-rolling. The elderly couple sitting next to us eyes her like she might be a real-life witch.

“Oh my God.” She wipes at her eyes. “This is amazing.”

“No, it’s not. It’s probably the worst idea I’ve ever had, and you were there that time I took six jello shots.”

“That was epic. But this… wow. The grumpy roommate. I was not expecting that.”

“I’m freaking out. I barely know this guy, and what I do know of him, he seems like the world’s biggest jerk. Now I’m going to chain myself to him for the next three years? What the hell am I thinking?”

“Oh, calm down. It’s perfect. The universe knew you needed a husband, and it sent you a tattooed hunk.”

“He’s like, the rudest guy I’ve ever met.”

“Come on, he can’t be that bad. I’m sure you’re exaggerating it.”

“Nope. He sucks.”

She rolls her eyes. “Whatever. I’ll bet you fifty bucks you guys sleep together eventually.”

I gape at her. “That will never happen. He doesn’t even think of me like that.”

She raises her eyebrows. “Oh, but you think of him like that?”

I shift under her knowing gaze. When you’ve been friends as long as Abbi and I have, it’s impossible to hide things. She always knows when I’m lying, and worse, she seems to have some sort of Whitney-radar that tells her when I’m horny.

“Oh my God,” she cackles again, throwing her head back. “You totally want to fuck him.”

People around us turn again, some giggling, the elderly couple next to us gaping in horror. If I weren’t so used to it, I’d be mortified.

“I do not!” I protest. “I just… haven’t been with a guy in a while, and he’s really muscular.”

“I bet you’re flicking the bean to him.”

“Oh my God.” I laugh despite myself. “No way. That position is reserved solely for Dr. Spencer Reid, and you know it.”

“This is very unlike you, Miss Virgo,” Abbi observes, her brow furrowed. “First the impulsive quitting, now an impulsive engagement. What’s going on with you?”

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