Page 100 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
Chapter Forty-Eight
LATER THAT EVENING, when Josh’s dad and Riley’s parents had turned in for the night, the Braden living room was alive with conversation. Riley sat on the couch beneath the curve of Josh’s arm, Jade’s legs stretched across her lap. Jade’s head rested in Rex’s lap at the other end of the couch. He stroked her long dark hair. Hugh and Dane occupied the leather recliners, andSavannah sat on the floor, her back leaning against the bottom half of Hugh’s chair. Treat and Max shared an oversized chair beside the warm fire. Dane’s phone vibrated, which reminded Josh that he needed to check his own messages. He pushed the thought away, not wanting to break the closeness he was enjoying with Riley.
Josh had spent most of the evening watching Riley stare at her ring, thenlook at him with disbelief in her beautiful eyes. He pulled her tighter against him and whispered, “I love you.”
“I love you, too, but you didn’t have to do all of this,” she said, looking up at him from beneath the fringe of her bangs.
“I know. I wanted to.”
“I want every bit of this night to last forever,” she said.
“Me too,” Josh said.
Dane’s phone vibrated again. He pulled it out, readthe text, smiled, then typed a message into the phone.
“Did you ever listen to Reggie’s message?” Treat asked.
There was still the chance that Reggie would have news about Riley that Josh wasn’t prepared for. He pushed away the thought.
“I forgot,” Josh said.
“Please, listen to the message. The sooner this is behind us, the better,” Riley said. “I still can’t believe you fired Claudia.” Shereached down and tickled Jade’s feet.
“Cut it out,” Jade said with a laugh.
Dane’s phone buzzed again.
“I should have done it ages ago,” Josh said.
Rex leaned down and kissed Jade’s lips. “If you’re going to put your feet there, then you have no say in the torture she imposes.”
“Oh, really?” Jade poked Rex’s ribs.
He bent over, and in one swift move, pulled her up onto his lap and begantickling her. Jade squealed.
“Get a room,” Max said.
Dane’s phone vibrated once again.
“Jeez, Dane, who are you talking to?” Savannah asked.
“Please check the message,” Riley urged Josh again.
“Lacy,” Dane answered.
“Ri, it can wait.”I want to enjoy this happiness for a while.
“Please?” she urged again.
“Fine.” He pulled out his phone and dialed voicemail, half listening to the othersas the electronic voice answered.
“Lacy Snow? Really? This has gone on a long time,” Treat said to Dane.
“Yeah, it sure has,” Dane said. “Do you mind if she comes to your wedding?”
“Lacy? Really? Oh, Dane, I was going to invite her anyway. Of course she can come,” Max said.
After listening to messages from Reggie and Peter, Josh left the room and returned Peter’s call. Ten minutes later hereentered the room. Josh hung up the phone and spun Riley around to face him. “You, my dear, are brilliant. If I ever forget that, please slap me.”
