Page 87 of Forever to Fall
Sophie, never one to miss sisterly drama, quickly joined them. “What’s going on?” Her focus was solely on Mallory, even though she was the one with a hand pulled against her back.Ah, the joys of sisterly dynamics.
“Um, can I please point out the fact that Emily’s the instigator?”
Sophie reached out and flicked Mallory on the forehead. “Ow!” She broke free of Emily’s hold and rubbed the spot with her left hand.
Finally, Sophie saw the ring and gasped. “Holy crap,” she exhaled, her eyes growing ten sizes. “What the hell is going on?”
Emily was triumphant. “That’s what I want to know.”
Mallory balled her hands at her sides and lifted her chin. “I have news, but I don’t want you two making a scene.”
“Fat chance of that happening,” Beckett said, joining the trio and handing Sophie her own wine glass. “Pretty much everyone in here is watching the Lawson sisters.”
Emily raised an eyebrow at Beckett. “You seem pretty happy.”
Rocking back on his heels, Beckett merely grinned. “Yep.”
“Why?” Emily asked, peering over her wine glass at him and Mallory. “In fact, you’re both too happy.”
Sophie snorted. “Can we please get to the issue of Mallory wearing...” Her words died on her tongue as realization dawned. “Holy shit,” she spluttered. “Holy shit!” She now exclaimed, drawing the attention of everyone in the diner.
Mallory grimaced, hating herself for forgetting her sisters and their flair for the dramatic. Before she could say anything, Emily burst into tears. “It’s happened, it’s finally freaking happened.”
“Girls.” Their mother arrived at the perfect moment to watch Emily’s mascara run down her face. “You’re making a scene, and I...” Flattening a hand over her heart, she stammered, “Emily, what’s the matter?”
Mallory opened her mouth to respond, but Emily beat her to the punch. “Beckett and Mallory are engaged.”
Sophie finished the announcement with, “And it’s about damn time.”
Their mother spun in a circle, unable to hold her gaze on more than one daughter at a time. Evan joined them, clapping his hand on Beckett’s back. “I guess this proves that literally everyone knew about you two except for me, huh?”
Beckett shrugged. “Looks like it?”
“Pamela?” Their father joined the fray and grasped his wife’s elbow. “You’re white as a ghost, what is going on?”
Reaching out, she snatched her youngest daughter’s hand and studied the ruby shining on her ring finger. Glancing up at Beckett, she quickly confirmed what she already knew. “Mallory and Beckett are engaged. Isn’t it wonderful?”
Her father recovered his shock quickly and reached out to shake Beckett’s hand. “Nice work, son. Welcome to the family.”
Mallory watched with pride as her family welcomed Beckett into theirs, officially. Despite her knowing they would love Beckett as one of their own, she knew Beckett needed to see—and experience—it for himself. He was far from alone in the world, and it was high time he understood that.
After ten minutes of applause and well wishes, the party got back to the focus that mattered—Evan and CeCe. Everyone took their seats and the happy couple celebrated their impending nuptials the only way they knew how, with copious amounts of food.
When the desserts were cleared, Mallory took Beckett’s hand and pulled him outside for a moment of peace. “That went surprisingly well.” She yanked him down by his tie and planted a kiss on his lips.
Beckett moaned his approval before pulling back and asking, “So I can mess up your makeup now?”
Mallory snorted. “Yes, you can, but maybe don’t grope me in front of my entire family?” She gestured toward the diner, where a row of Lawsons had their noses pressed to the windows. A chorus of cheers erupted when Beckett closed the distance and kissed her again.
“I love you, Mal,” Beckett said between kisses.
“I love you, too.” Mallory pulled back and sighed. “Now take me home and away from all these prying eyes.”
“With pleasure.” Beckett draped his arm around his shoulder and walked them toward the car.
Mallory couldn’t believe they’d made it here, but she was eternally grateful that they had. Her life only made sense when Beckett was a part of it. “I meant to ask you,” she said as she climbed into the car. Beckett hovered in the open doorway, the lights of the diner’s sign reflected in his glasses.
“What?”
