Page 85 of The Forever Game

A few minutes later, we’re listening to a bunch of overenthusiastic voices as they all try to figure out what’s going on and what Rachel is babbling about.

“Okay, everyone, shut up!” Ethan calls through the speaker.

We all go quiet, and I hear him sigh while Mikayla stifles a giggle.

“That includes you, lil’ mouse. We need to get to the bottom of this.” His voice is playful and cute, like the Ethan we haven’t seen in a while. Asher and I share a hopeful look.

“Have they made up?” I mouth.

Then Asher just gets to it and asks, “Hey, have you and Mick worked out your shit?”

Casey snorts and starts to laugh. “Always to the point, Bensen. Nice.”

“You have no class,” I whisper, my voice a teasing lilt.

He wiggles his eyebrows at me while Mikayla clears her throat and tells us, “Yes, marriage crisis averted. I don’t want to go into it right now, but I can assure you that we willbothbe there for the Fourth of July picnic, and I will not have my phone with me.”

Caroline and Rachel both cheer, and I blink back happy tears, relief pumping through me.

“Well, thank fuck for that,” Casey mutters. “Now, why are we on this phone call?”

“Because Asher and Lani have some news to share,” Rachel singsongs.

I blush and nearly call her out onherepic news, but this phone call has the potential of being way too long already, and we can catch up on all the latest goss at the July Fourth picnic.

“So, what is it?” Tammy asks.

I wince and quickly tell them, “We got engaged.”

There’s a collective gasp as I ease them into this.

“It happened just before the wedding, and we didn’t want to steal anyone’s thunder, so we kept it quiet,” Asher explains.

“I knew something was up with you two,” Casey murmurs.

“Yeah, they were sickeningly loved up at the rehearsal dinner,” Ethan grumbles.

Asher grins. “Not apologizing for that. We had the best reason to be.”

“So, you were engaged for less than a week?” Rachel balks.

“What!” Mikayla matches her tone. “What’s that mean?”

“It means…” Asher looks at me again, his eyes so full of love they’re practically shining. “We flew to Vegas to get married… and this sexy woman in front of me is now officially my wife.”

The phone explodes with shocked surprise, and we let the voices drift around us as we lean together for yet another kiss.

The limo driver is patiently waiting as we stay in this chapel parking lot, making out and listening to our friends talking over one another as they process their surprise.

“You little shits.” Mikayla’s voice finally pulls us apart. “Sneaking off to get married without us. Damn, I wish I’d thought of that. We would have saved a fortune.”

Ethan laughs. “You didn’t love our wedding? Come on, babe. It was epic.”

“It was epic, but Vegas sounds amazing!” Her voice picks up. “I’m so happy for you guys.”

“Me too,” Caroline pipes up. “And I can’t wait to hear all the details when you get back. Lani, I meandetails. Every tiny thing you can think of. I’m gonna want it all.”

“I promise to deliver,” I tell her, relieved she’s forgiven me so easily for not including her. I was her maid of honor, and she has every right to be pissed at me for sneaking off without her.

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