Page 156 of The Friend Situation

“Always? What does that mean? You’d been planning this for months, just waiting for a good time to ask the question?” She sighs.

“Harper told me to be ready and to trust my gut,” he admits.

My mouth falls open because he mentioned Harper gave love prophecies that came true.

“Great! You got a love prophecy from Harper. It’s over. If you pull an Easton and elope, I’ll never forgive you,” she warns.

“Are you finished?” he finally asks.

I mindlessly scroll through the text messages my family sent. I’m furious because Matteo decided to invite our grandmother into the discussion. What’s next? The rest of the Jolly cousins? I can feel my anger rising, hating that I’m thirty years old and they’re still meddling.

Billie sighs. “Congratulations. You seem very happy. I just want to make sure you’re not putting yourself in the same situation as before. I worry about you, Bubbie.”

“Aww,” I whisper.

He winks at me.

“I’m happy and safe,” he comfortably confirms as he twists the ring on my finger. “We’ll plan something soon, okay? You, me, and Carlee.”

“Good! I still need to plan a girls’ weekend with her and Lexi,” she says.

“I’m sure she’d love that,” he repeats back to her, and the call ends. “Anyway, we’ll chat soon.”

“Soon,” she says and ends the call.

“Didn’t want her to know I was here?” I ask.

“I didn’t want her to bombard you with five hundred questions that you’re not ready to address yet,” he replies, watching me. “What’s up?”

I shake my head.

“Come on. Something is bothering you.”

“Are you sure I can make you happy?”

Weston chuckles. “I’d be a lot happier if you were sitting on my face, but this will do for now.”

A smile slides across my lips.

“Get out of your head,” he says. “And to answer your question, yes. You have no idea what you do to me.”

We arrive at The Park and head to Easton and Lexi’s place. As we walk in, music drifts through the air, and the delightful aroma of baking cookies fills the space. Easton is settled in an armchair, carefully drawing in a little black book.

“Breakfast,” Weston announces, holding up several takeout bags.

“Amazing!” Lexi replies from the bar, her focus glued to her laptop, where she’s typing away.

She has been honing her playwriting skills for the past five months while navigating her pregnancy. Easton has already secured a production company for when her project is complete. From what she’s let me read, I think her work is nothing short of incredible. With the right actors, it could be Broadway huge.

As she takes a sip of tea, Weston carefully sets the bags down on the bar.

“What have you two been up to today?” Lexi asks, her gaze flickering to the hickeys on my neck and my swollen lips.

“Just been working and had breakfast. Oh, Weston playedFür Elisefor me,” I offer casually as I meet his warm gaze.

He shoots me a wink.

“Really?Für Eliseis an interesting choice.” Easton closes his book and strides over to us. “You played again?”

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