Page 71 of One More Round

“I do.” The smile never leaves his face.

“Well, hot ham, man. I think some early congratulations are in order,” I say. I’m truly happy for him.

Link lets out a whistle, leans over, and slaps him on the shoulder.

“Yeah, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I still have to ask, and she still has to say yes,” he says.

“She will,” Link and I both say.

“Does it make me a pussy, if I say I want to see the ring?” Link asks slightly bashfully. “I mean, you’re the first one of us to do this and I want to start preparing myself to outdo you someday.”

I bark out a laugh as Link takes enjoyment in his dig. But Dex just smiles.

“Yeah, I bet. I can see Ruby requiring an over-the-top, expensive fucking ring. Have fun with that.”

“Oh, snap.” I laugh out loud and Link loses all his mirth.

“Whatever,” he grumbles.

Minutes later, I find myself staring down at the diamond solitaire engagement ring that my best friend plans on giving the love of his life. He’s so damn happy and in love. I can’t stop the new crack that forms in my chest. This could have been me someday, getting ready to ask Gia to spend the rest of her life with me.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Gia

I stand impatiently right inside the entrance of the airport. I even have a little white sign that says “Ms. Lawson and Ms. Jacobs” on it. I haven’t seen my best friends in four months and waiting the last five or so minutes it takes for them to get here is nearly killing me. Neither of them checked any bags since they are only staying the weekend. But Morgan texted me almost 20 minutes ago telling me they were deplaning.

Then suddenly, I see them coming right for me, big smiles on their faces. I see Morgan reach up and wipe something off her cheek. It’s taking everything in me not to run to them, but I’ll be classy for just a little longer.

As they get to me I take the last few steps and ask in a deep, manly voice, “Ms. Lawson and Ms. Jacobs, I presume? Your chariot awaits.” We all laugh and then embrace each other in hugs.

God, I've missed them so much. Hugging them, seeing Morgan tearing up, just cements the fact that I need them in my life.

“I don’t ever want to go four months without seeing you guys again. Understood?” I say, fighting back my own tears.

Ruby slings her arm around Morgan’s shoulders. “This one here has been so excited I figured she would start crying before we even got off the plane. The minute we touched down she started bouncing in her seat.”

I chuckle and Morgan shrugs. I grab her hand and tell her how happy I am that she’s here.

We pile into a taxi and leave the airport.

“What are we doing first?” Ruby asks.

“Well, it’s only five here. You guys are two hours ahead of us back in Chicago. So, do you want to eat dinner? I don’t mind eating a little early. There is this super cute pub near my apartment we can go to. Then we can either go out or go back to my apartment for the night.”

“That sounds great, but can we drop off our stuff first?” Morgan asks.

“Absolutely,” I tell her.

“I still want to walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame tomorrow; can we do that?” Ruby asks.

“Of course, I haven’t had a chance to see most of Hollywood yet,” I tell her. I knew it was something she has always wanted to do so I’ve been waiting to see it with her. “We can play the rest of the day by ear. But we can also see theChinese Theater, the Dolby Theater, NBC, and the Hollywood sign while we are over there.”

They both like the sound of that.

“And I thought that if you were up to it, Ruby, maybe we could spend Sunday morning on Rodeo Drive. I need some new clothes. I have a press event and gala coming up at the end of the month that I need a cute new outfit for. I need a dress and heels too,” I tell her. It’s another thing I have been putting off doing.

“Gia, I think I’m going to cry with how excited I am right now,” she says, leaning over Morgan in the middle seat to grab my hand.

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