Page 3 of The Proposal
“We aren’t fighting. There’s nothing to fight about.” She lifts her chin to the sky. “I’m right, and he’s wrong. That’s all there is to it.”
“I agree. You’re right this time.”
Her eyes widen. “You’re damn right I’m right. I’m not putting up with him taking off to Miami with his friends and not even mentioning our anniversary.”
“How can you have an anniversary if you aren’t in an official relationship?” I snicker. “Isn’t that what you always tell me? That you aren’t in an official relationship with him?”
She waves a hand through the air, dismissing my question. “It’s a prelationship, but that doesn’t change anything in this circumstance.”
“Awhat?”
“Aprelationship.The formative stage where boundaries and expectations are established so you can determine if the other person is willing to abide by them.” She pauses. “Brock isn’t.”
I roll my eyes and let it go. They’ll settle this before Brock returns from Miami and we’re home from Vegas. I’ve seen it too many times to count.
“Then fine,” I say, sitting up. “Let’s go to a show. But if my brother asks whose idea it was, I’m not taking the blame.”
“Tell him it was mine.I want him to know. A little competition never hurt anyone.”
“Competition for your non-boyfriend?” I ask, grinning.
“Precisely.”
I shake my head as a bead of sweat trickles down my face. I wipe it away with the back of my hand. “I’m ready to go in and grab a shower.”
“And I need to make reservations for dinner.” She sits up, slipping on her flip-flops. “You owe me, you know.”
“What do I owe you for?”
“For depriving me of my right as your best friend to throw you the most outrageous, amazing birthday party that Nashville has ever seen.” She stuffs her water bottle in her bag. “I’m known in certain circles as the girl who throws the best bashes. I can only wonder what everyone is thinking about this.”
I laugh at her ridiculousness, slipping my cover-up over my head. “You’ve thrown me a huge birthday party every year I’ve known you. You can miss this one. It won’t hurt.”
She frowns. “Maybe it won’t hurtyou, but it painsme. I have a reputation to uphold.”
“You’ll survive.”
I drop my phone, towel, and water bottle into my bag. I skim the area around me to ensure I have everything.
“Ready?” she asks.
“Yeah.” A bubble of excitement fills me.Let the birthday festivities commence. “Let’s go find trouble.”
Ella shares my smile as we slide our bags on our sun-kissed shoulders. I spot my book under her chair and grab it.How did it get there?
As I stand, my gaze falls on Ella. Her wide eyes are twinkling. I’ve seen this look enough times to know things are about to get real.
“What?” I ask, frozen in place.
Her grin pulls wider. “I think trouble just found us.”
Oh no.
CHAPTER2
Blakely
This could go so many ways.
