Page 71 of Crazy In Love
The server set down our cocktails in front of us, along with a basket of bread.
“Tell us,” Emerson said as she smiled through the phone screen. “I’m on the edge of my seat.”
“I’m proposing to Lulu on Christmas morning.”
Gasps and cheers and excitement erupted around the table.
I, however, did not make one celebratory noise. Because we’d gone with him to purchase an engagement ring. It had been outed in that fucked-up column, “The Taylor Tea.” So we already knew he was proposing.
“Why the fuck did you make me think someone was dying?” I chucked a roll and hit him in the chest, and of course the goofy bastard just roared out a laugh before taking a bite of it.
“I didn’t. I said that I had news. This is my news. And I wanted to share how it would happen, because I want you all there.”
I’d never liked the buildup of news. Hell, maybe that’s why I despised that annoying-ass gossip column. I didn’t like the ideaof guessing what was coming. Assuming and projecting. That was a bullshit thing to do.
If you’ve got news, just tell me.
Don’t drag it out.
I’m a dude with a dark mind. I certainly didn’t enter the world on a magic unicorn, so I know that life isn’t always rainbows and sunshine.
But my family typically saw the best in everything, and I did what I could to survive their positivity most days.
“Tell us the plan,” Axel said.
Rafe spent the next twenty minutes filling us in on how he was having a custom gift box made, which would be delivered to our parents’ home.
He would make up some bullshit story about needing to go to their house early on Christmas morning to set up a few toys for Melody and Cutler. He wanted Easton and Henley to pick up Lulu and bring her over with them. He would apparently already be inside said gift box when they arrived.
Yes. He was going to jump out of a giant gift box, because who would expect a grown man dressed like a goddamn ice cream bar to jump out of a life-sized box?
“It’s going to have a tag on it with Lulu’s name. So when she walks over to see what the hell it is, I’m going to jump out with a ring in my hand and propose. Yes…I’m the gift that keeps on giving. She gets to keep me forever.” He laughed, and everyone was shaking their heads and smiling at how over the top he was.
“Congrats, brother. I’m happy for you.” Easton clapped him on the shoulder as everyone said some sort of similar congratulatory words.
Emerson said she would wait to tell Cutler until Christmas Eve so he wouldn’t slip, but that they were looking forward to spending the holiday in Rosewood River.
“Well, it’s a bit over the top, but that’s kind of your style. I’m just hoping you choose to dress like a grown man when you jump out of a box.” I smirked.
“Says the dude who sent a high-end toilet to his nemesis as an apology gift,” Rafe said, before turning his attention to everyone at the table. “Have you heard the other big news? Grumpy McMuffin just hired Emilia Taylor to do the interior of his McMansion.”
I rolled my eyes, grateful when a big fat rib eye was set down in front of me.
And they gave me shit for the next thirty minutes.
I didn’t mind at all.
Emilia had agreed to design my home.
Normally I despised having people in my space, but for whatever reason, the idea of Emilia Taylor in my space didn’t bother me at all.
twenty
. . .
Emilia
The days were passingby in a blur. I’d spend my mornings at the flower shop and my afternoons at Bridger’s house. I hired Monique Whitfield to work part time in the afternoons during the holidays. Her sister was my friend Jazzy Leighton, who owned Booze and Brews with her husband, Ben.
