Page 53 of The One I Love
“I don’t like any of that.”
“I know,” I say as I tug on his shirt. “But we can do it. Plus, Oliver isn’t sending out an SOS just because he wants to catch up. I’m sure whatever it is will make us forget we’re even in the same room together.”
Shane shakes his head. “Nothing could ever make me do that.”
He leans in for a kiss, and I know I’m at work and this is probably unprofessional, but fuck it. It’s a Tuesday afternoon, and the only people here right now are me, Kendra, and a construction worker who is dealing with a possible broken arm. So I kiss him back. I put my arms around him and smile as I feel his lips on mine.
“Get a room, you two.”
“Gladly,” Shane says, pulling apart just enough to get out the word, but not far enough that he can’t lean in for one more small kiss. “See you tonight?”
I nod. “Just remember to keep your hands to yourself, Cunningham.”
He shakes his head. “No promises.”
Chapter 16
Shane
“When are we meeting Mrs. Price?”
Part of me is still in disbelief those words just came out of my mouth. The other part of me is wondering how I haven’t said those words sooner in the thirty years I’ve known Oliver.
My best friend has proposed to more women than anyone on the planet. Before he went to Vegas, our last count was at thirty-three. Some of those might have been exaggerated, some were not. The man has loved love and wanted a family for as long as I’ve known him.
So telling us tonight that he got accidentally married in Las Vegas wasn’t shocking. The fact that he barely remembers it? Now that’s another story.
“What about Friday?” Oliver says. “I’ll bring Izzy to The Joint. Maybe being in public will make it a little less awkward.”
“She’s meeting your entire friend group in one swoop a week after getting accidentally married in Las Vegas,” Wes says. “I don’t know if you can avoid awkward.”
“What if we bring the kids?” Betsy suggests. “Maybe that will keep some people on their best behavior.”
Every person in the room looks over to Simon. “What? Why is everyone looking at me?”
“Because she’s talking to you, dumbass,” I say. “This is a big night for Oliver, and he doesn’t need you being you.”
“I’m offended,” he says. “How dare you—how dare any of you—think I’d go and do something that would freak out my best friend, or his new wife?”
“Now he’s your best friend again?” Wes asks.
“For two men who give me constant shit about friend rankings, you sure do always know the score,” Simon stands up and grabs his jacket. “I don’t need to take this abuse. I’m out of here. See you Friday. I’m not buying.”
“Oh, sit down,” Wes says, which Simon does, showboater that he is. “Oliver, it will be fine. I’ll bring the kids, and we’ll do it early, before the crowd starts piling in.”
“And if it goes well, Luke and Mariah can come and pick them up and take them back to the house. That way we can hang out for a bit,” Amelia says.
“Yes!” Betsy says. “No matter how it goes, let’s do that. We haven’t all hung out in forever.”
I can’t help but look over at Amelia, who happens to be looking at me too. Fuck…she looks beautiful tonight. I mean, she always does. Her beauty is subtle. Delicate curves. Smooth skin. Skin that I now know what it feels like against me. Then there’s her smile. It, like always, fills me with a joy I can’t describe.
I wish I could touch her. Hold her. Kiss her. Tonight hasn’t been bad so far, but twice in a week with our friends? That’s going to be pure torture.
Note to self: slyly convince Wes and Betsy to let all the kids crash at their house so she and I can have a night to ourselves.
“Hello! Earth to Shane!”
I give my head a shake and look to Wes. “What?”
