Page 22 of From Best Friend to Bride
“Shall I pop one on the door and see what everyone thinks, then?”
Si turned to him. “What are you keeping score about?”
Didn’t I just say that we weren’t?
Did anyone listen to me around here?
Don’t answer that, Delilah.
“Whether or not anyone would be surprised if we suddenly announced we’re getting married,” Fred answered. “I don’t think anyone would be, but she does. I’m already two up.”
“Three.” Lucy held up her hand, sipping on her drink.
“Traitor,” I muttered, shrugging Si’s elbow off my shoulder.
He tugged on my ponytail. “Don’t be so grumpy, Deli. You know it’s true. Not a single resident of Hartford Green would be shocked if you two sent out a round of wedding invitations in the next five minutes.”
Look.
It wasn’t like Ididn’tknow that. Not only was Fred the most eligible bachelor in the area, but he was genuinely the nicest guy, too. More than that, he was handsome, thoughtful, motivated, kind, and rich.
He was perfect husband material.
But he was my best friend. I’d never seen him as a man—not like that. Sure, we’d been each other’s first kiss, but that was when we were awkward preteens and didn’t know anything about it and practiced with each other.
That was a long time ago. Since those misguided days of learning hownotto suck someone’s face off, we’d never repeated anything like that. We’d never wanted to.
He was just… Fred.
And I was just Delilah.
No matter what anyone insisted, there was nothing remotely romantic or sexual between us. There never had been, and Igenuinely could not foresee a time in the future where such feelings would ever arise in either of us.
So how could we possibly get married?
“All right, that’s enough,” Fred said. “Stop teasing her, or she won’t speak to any of us for a week.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, and he smiled lopsidedly, his eyes twinkling with a softness I knew was reserved for me.
“Don’t threaten us with a good time,” Si joked.
I punched him in the arm. “You’re on cleanup duty tonight for that,” I said as I walked off.
“Hey, aren’t I your boss?”
“So legend says,” I retorted. “You’re still mopping the floors, though.”
6
DELILAH
Imanaged to successfully avoid Nana’s questions about my secret lover for three days, but I was shit out of luck today.
It was my day off.
I had no excuses to avoid her, even when I’d offered to pick up her prescription before she went to her brunch meeting with Fred’s grandmother. Alas, my mother, the filthy traitor, was one step ahead of me and had already collected it the moment the pharmacy opened.
Which was exactly why I was sitting between Nana and Granny, partaking in afternoon tea.
