Page 97 of The One I Love
“I’m sorry, guys. I couldn’t stop them.”
As soon as we walk in, I realize what she’s talking about.
This is about to get bad. Really bad.
Chapter 29
Shane
“Happy engagement!”
The screams and the cheers are so loud I am nearly knocked over from the volume. I take Amelia’s hand to brace myself, because…what in the actual fuck is going on?
The diner isn’t the same place we walked out of twenty minutes ago. Earlier it was just the normal, busy Sunday breakfast crowd. Now there are balloons and streamers all over. Everyone is standing and cheering. And is someone pouring champagne?
“When did this all happen?” Amelia asks. “How long were we outside?”
“Long enough for this to get out of fucking control.”
All of a sudden Simon appears, looking gassed.
“When did you get here?” I ask.
He bends at the waist as he tries to catch his breath. “I was driving past when I saw you and douchebag about to square up, and I haven’t been in a fight in a while so I thought it might be fun. But when I pulled in, Mariah grabbed me and told me that she needed me inside. When I came in, I was informed thateveryone just found out you two were engaged, and since no one knew you were even dating, that a celebration was in order. And don’t ask me where Mona got the champagne. I’m too scared to ask. She then made me go get the balloons and streamers I had in my car.”
“How? Why? What do you mean you have balloons and streamers in your car?”
“I keep them on me just in case,” Simon says. “Mona asked me if I had any leftover from when we surprised Oliver. And she’s scary right now, so I followed directions.”
I take a deep breath as I try to grasp my bearings. But when I look around, I’m even more off kilter.
“Oh my God.”
Amelia said it, but I was thinking it. This place is insane. I’m pretty sure I’m barely blinking as we start walking through the crowd that is sending us congratulations. Then I see the booth we were sitting at with a cake now on top of it.
And it’s being occupied by Barb Cunningham and Tammy Evans.
And they look pissed.
“Shit,” I say under my breath. I’m guessing Amelia heard me because her hand tightens against mine. “Mom alert.”
“When did they get here?” she whispers back. “Also, what the hell are we going to do?”
“Go with it,” I whisper back, doing my best not to move my mouth. Instead, I plaster on a smile I know must look fake as hell. Maybe since I rarely smile, people will think this is what I look like?
“Everyone! Can I have your attention please?”
I look up at Simon, who has taken it upon himself to stand on a chair in the middle of the diner and play master of ceremonies. I pull him down so I can whisper, because if I didn’t,everyone right now would hear me cuss him out. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Getting control of the situation.”
“By putting all eyes on us?”
“Would you rather have me do this or Mona? Or better yet, do nothing so you are forced to go talk to your mothers, who look like they’re about to internally combust?”
“Good plan.” I pat him on the back. He may be my most frustrating friend, but he’s damn good under pressure.
“Everyone, I know today is coming as a surprise to many of you. Me as well. I hadnoidea two of my best friends were sneaking around on us this whole time. You two are sneaky, I tell ya.”
