Page 13 of Why Not Forever?

“Hey, I meant to get you to taste this new drink I found,” she says.

Adalie takes the glass, sipping it.

She seems confused at first, staring into the golden liquid. She has another sip and looks up at Lis.

“Is this… apple juice?” she asks.

Lis is fighting to keep her smile from getting too big.

“Yes,” she says.

The atmosphere changes in half a second, from confused to excited. Ava leans forward. “Amaryllis Cole. Why are you drinking apple juice instead of wine?”

“The doctors discourage alcohol during pregnancy,” Lis says, and everyone erupts into squeals of delight, congratulations, and overall happiness.

While the cacophony continues, Adalie stands next to me, linking her arm through mine.

“How are you feeling about this?” she asks.

“What do you mean? I’m excited for them.”

“Not this,” she says, waving toward the excitement in front of us. “You and Tanner.”

I turn toward her. Spencer had also asked about how I’m feeling. In fact, it’s a testament to how worried Derek is that he hasn’t already started teasing me about getting married. But Adalie is the definition of empathy. Of course she wants to know how I feel about marrying Tanner.

I haven’t said anything for a bit, so she continues.

“Something happened between you two right after we graduated.”

“How—”

She rolls her eyes. “He was your friend, then suddenly he wasn’t. It wasn’t gradual.”

She’s right. He’d been hanging out with us, then, one day, he was gone. I didn’t speak to him again until a couple years ago when Dad started inviting him to our family dinners. Ever since, he’s come to most of the family dinners, but I still tried not to speak to him if I could help it. Which is childish, I know. But seeing him again just reminded me about how much I wish things had been different.

The resentment that began with him getting my position has eased, but the fact that he is where I wanted to be still stings. I have come to accept over the last several years that it wasn’t his fault, which then began the regret. Now, there’s these conflicting emotions swirling within me, all wrapped up in one six-foot-two, brown-eyed, glasses wearing, sexy-as-fuck package.

I take a deep breath and turn to my friend. “Honestly, Adalie, I have no idea.”

Chapter 5

Tanner

“Soyouagree?”Richardasks as he comes into my office without knocking. I blink as I watch him taking a seat across from me. He’s closed the door, and it’s late in the day on Tuesday, so no one will hear our conversation. I’ve already sent Carly, my assistant, home for the night.

I’d sent Richard an email earlier in the day stating that I’d like to speak to him at his convenience regarding our conversation Sunday night. I guess now is convenient.

“I didn’t say I agreed in the email,” I say, leaning back in my chair.

“Why else would you want to discuss the matter more?” he asks. He’s also leaning back, completely at ease, like he knows exactly how this conversation is going to go and he’s going to get exactly what he wants.

It makes me want to not give him anything he wants.

“I want fifty-one per cent.”

Richard blinks twice. He hadn’t expected me to counter-offer. “Absolutely not.”

I shrug. “All right. No deal. I’m heading out. See you tomorrow, Richard.”

---