Page 54 of From Best Friend to Bride
Yet.
We probably would be in a few hours.
“Thank you,” Fred said, nodding towards Henry gratefully. “It takes two to maintain a relationship, Mel. She’s consenting to this, too.”
Under duress.
I was consentingunder duress.
I would have that written on my headstone if it came to it.
“She’s having a bout of temporary insanity,” Mel insisted, snuggling into me.
Well.
Yeah.
That, too.
I blinked at the painting on the far wall. “Will you two please let me go?”
“No,” they both said at the same time.
“I can’t let you marry this egomaniac.” Mel squeezed me, and I groaned at the pressure on my stomach. “Even if it means we will be sisters.”
“Then we won’t bother inviting you to the wedding,” Fred said, pulling me as close to him as he could. “I’ll have you removed from the premises so you can’t make any objections.”
“Why, you—”
“Okay, all right, that’s enough,” I said, wriggling until they both loosened their holds on me.
They didn’t let go, though.
No.
That would be too simple.
“Mel, Fred and Henry are right. And that might be the only time I ever say those words aloud, so enjoy it,” I added, glancing at Henry’s smirking face. “I am a willing participant in this relationship, and if we get married, it’ll be because both of us have made that decision. Besides, it’s actually the safest option for me. Fred will never mistreat me because he knows I’ll beat the shit out of him if he does.”
Fred nodded solemnly.
“Atta girl,” Nana said chirpily.
Mel’s hold on me loosened until she sat back upright with a little huff. “Fine. I don’t like it, though. But you can’t ban me from the wedding because I’m going to be your bridesmaid.”
“You can’t just decide to be someone’s bridesmaid,” Fred said, scooping me against him now that she’d released me. “It’s her choice, not yours.”
“Deal.” I hurried out the word before they could start arguing again. “You can be my bridesmaid.”
Mel clapped her hands together.
At least she was happy now.
“And, Fred.” I shifted so I was looking up at him. “You cannot monopolise me just because we’re in a relationship. Even if I ever become your wife, you can’t just keep me to yourself.”
He bent down until his eyes were level with mine, and I was momentarily trapped in the abyss of his shining, blue gaze. “Is that so?” he asked in a low voice. “But what if that’s what I want to do?”
“What are you—”
