Page 10 of Hot Route
“Okay, I give,” I say, raising a brow. “What’s going on?”
“Pow!” She yells, punching her left fist out between us. It takes me a moment to focus because she’s jumping higher now, but once my eyes lock on, I gasp.
‘Oh my God!” I yell, standing and grabbing her hand to get a better look at the ring on her finger. “You’re getting married?”
“I’m getting married!” she screeches. We probably look ridiculous, but I don’t care. Sarah spent four years in a toxic relationship before she found the strength to leave. When she met Tyler a few months later, she was so afraid he’d hurt her that she pushed him away. But he hung in there and waited until she was ready to let him prove that he wasn’t like her ex. They’ve been inseparable ever since and I couldn’t be happier for them.
“Tell meeverything,” I say, dragging her to sit next to me on the couch. She turns to face me, grabbing a throw pillow andhugging it in her lap. She’s glowing. If I didn’t love her and Tyler so much, I’d be jealous. It’s always been our dream to have the big, lavish ceremony where we would promise forever to guys who were totally obsessed with us. We used to wear our mom’s dresses and heels, picking wildflowers and weeds from my back yard to make bouquets for our pretend weddings. I still have that dream. And I know I’ll find it one day, but my main focus right now is landing the job at Tailgate, so I’m more than happy to let Sarah have her time to shine with me by her side.
“Well,” she begins, “he had this whole elaborate plan where he would take me to watch the sunset at the docks. He even had fairy lights and blankets set up ahead of time. But you know me. I was hangry and refused to go anywhere without eating first. So, he rushed to Mister Burgers, but the drive thru line was like, ten miles long. I could tell he was really frustrated, so I asked him what was wrong. And he just blurted it out. Said he couldn’t wait another minute to ask me to be his wife.” She smiles, eyes glassy with unshed tears.
I slap a hand over my mouth as I try to stop the waterworks, but I fail miserably. “That is the cutest thing ever! You guys should totally have Mister Burgers cater your wedding.” I’m half joking, but I can’t say I would be mad if they actually did. Their fries are, by far, the best I’ve ever had.
She purses her lips like she’s actually considering it, which makes me laugh. “I’m so happy. I feel like I don’t deserve Ty. He’s so good to me and I just want to be a good wife to him.”
I grab her hands, pulling her eyes to mine. “Sarah, you areperfectfor him. I’ve seen the way he looks at you like you’re the only person in his world. You deserve all of this.” I allow my tears to flow freely, happy for my cousin.
“Thank you,” she whispers softly.
“Let’s celebrate!” I yell obnoxiously, running to the kitchen to grab the bottle of champagne we bought earlier this week for ourSunday morning mimosas. I rip off the foil and unwind the wire before resting the bottle on my bent knee and working the cork loose. It pops somewhere into the corner and I quickly fill two glasses before walking back to the couch.
“So,” she says, grabbing the champagne and taking a sip, “Ty did suggest that I move into his place so we can start saving up for the wedding. I know you and I planned on re-signing the lease here together when it goes up at the end of the month, so I didn’t want to make any decisions about that without talking to you first. Maybe we can talk the landlord into a month-to-month lease, and I’ll keep paying my half here until your internship is over. I don’t want?—”
“Sarah,” I interrupt, “I can find a smaller place. Between my internship and my job with Blaze, I’m sure I can find a one-bedroom close to the city. You need to be with Tyler right now.”
She looks up at me, reluctance clouding her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” I reply. Honestly, I have no idea how I’ll find a place to live in the next two weeks, but I won’t be the reason she doesn’t enjoy these first days with her new fiancée. Even if it’s a tiny apartment, I’ll be fine for now. At least until I land this permanent job and the paycheck that comes with it.
She tips back her glass, finishing the bubbly while kicking her feet wildly. “I’m getting married, bitches!” she screams with her hands cupping the sides of her mouth.
I run to refill her glass, pushing my living situation to the side for now. That’s a problem for tomorrow.
Tonight, we get wasted.
TEN
BLAZE
“Hmmm,”Mads says, tapping her finger against her plump bottom lip while she thinks. “I think you need to change the trunks. Those ones are too long.” After she took some time to get comfortable with her job here, we finally decided it was time to dive in on trying to boost my social media presence.
My eyes go wide. “If I go any shorter, this’ll go from thirst trap to porno faster than you can say ‘wardrobe malfunction’. I don’t evenownshorter ones.”
She pauses, a sly smile taking over her face. “Off,” she says, pointing to my lower half. When I don’t react fast enough, she snaps her fingers, catching my attention. “Lose the trunks.”
She can’t be serious.
“Mads, I’m not wear?—”
“Do you want me to teach you how to make a thirst trap video or not?” she whines, stomping her foot on the pool deck. She reminds me of a little baby bear when she’s frustrated. Cute as fuck but could still probably rip you apart.
I raise a brow at her, hoping she’ll relent, but she doesn’t. So, I turn my back to her before whipping my shorts to my ankles like she asked.
“Jesus fuck, Blaze!” she yelps, causing me to turn around abruptly, cupping my hands over my junk. She’s got both hands glued to her face, eyes completely hidden. “What are you doing?!”
“What you told me to do!” I reply. “You literally saidlose the trunks.”
“I didn’t know you weren’t wearing underwear!” She’s squealing at this point. I can’t help the laugh that bursts out of me.
