Page 31 of First Comes Marriage

“Jesus Christ, we went to Vegas. Shit happened, alright?”

“Are you saying you didn’t mean to get married?” Jamie asked.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Then you’re staying together?” Ethan asked.

“Of course, they’re staying together. They just moved in together,” Gavin said.

“Thanks for that, by the way,” Baz said, narrowing his eyes. “That’s not what your spare key is for.”

“That’s right. It’s for stealing pieces from Baz’s board games,” Jamie said.

“I knew that was you!” Baz threw a handful of popcorn at Jamie across the table, swearing under his breath when his friend caught a piece in his mouth. “I tore apart my apartment looking for that fucking dog.”

“Relax. I know exactly where your precious Monopoly dog is,” Jamie said. “He’s in the top drawer of my desk at the restaurant.”

“He’s in your fucking desk?”

“He’sa hunk of metal mass produced for a children’s board game,” Jamie teased. “And you can have him back when you tell us what’s really going on with you and Sabrina.”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“You went to a conference and ended up married,” Jamie said.

“I wouldn’t have even been at that fucking conference if you hadn’t promised Norm one of us would go,” Baz shot back.

“Well, then, apparently, you’re welcome.” Jamie grinned.

“He’s salty that he lost at Scrabble,” Ethan said. “Don’t worry.We can rematch this weekend.”

“Not gonna be here this weekend,” Baz said, straightening his jacket to have something to do with his hands.

“Since when? I thought we were all going to the carnival on Sunday. Like always,” Gavin said.

“I don’t think we’ve missed a carnival closing night as long as I’ve lived here,” Jamie added.

“Longer,” Ethan said. “Not since Gav broke his arm in fifth grade and Mrs. West wouldn’t let him go.”

“I’m busy,” Baz said.

“Doing what?” Jamie asked.

“Sabrina and I are needed in Brookline.”

His friends fell silent, sharing glances that were either concerned or shocked, he couldn’t decide.

Gavin leaned across the table, lowering his voice. “Are you sure that’s—”

“Are we gonna play trivia, or what?” Baz swung around on his barstool, trying to get a line of sight to Mike Greenhall at the front of the bar. The asshole was still arranging his index cards, like he was preparing for a student council speech or something.

“Let it go, guys,” Ethan said, digging his hand into the bowl of popcorn in the center of the table. “I’m sure Tessa and Kyla will get the whole story from Sabrina tonight.”

“What the fuck are you—” Baz froze. He exhaled harshly through his nose. “Girls’ night.”

***

The incessant buzzing of the doorbell pulled Sabrina from sleep. She sat up on the couch, staring out through a wall of glass at the most gorgeous sunset over the bay.

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