Page 126 of Caper Crush
“Congratulations!” Peter says. “I’m so happy your exhibit is back on.”
“It’s a huge relief,” I say. “This is William, my boyfriend.”
“The whole gang is coming over to celebrate,” Tessa says. “I still can’t believe it was Edmund. I put out the coatrack in your room.” Light jazz music is playing; my easels have been stowed in the closet. Tessa has put little tea candles around and dimmed the lights. Our apartment is definitely set up for a party.
William glances at me. I pout. I really was looking forward to a private celebration with him. He gives me that wry smile and mouths,Later.
“Let’s pop the champagne; here, Peter, you were always good at this.” Tessa hands a bottle of champagne to Peter.
“I’ll get the glasses.” I grab William’s hand. “Come with me.”
“I’m sorry,” I say in the kitchen and kiss him on the lips.
He kisses me on the forehead. “It will be fun to celebrate with friends. And you can’t blow Peter off if he just arrived from California to see you. We’ll celebrate after the party.”
“I should invite Annabelle over then. And Thijs. I want Tessa to meet him.” I text Annabelle and Thijs about the party.
“I’ll put my stuff in your room,” William says.
We bring out the wineglasses. Penelope and Zelda show up from downstairs with flowers, another chair, and more champagne glasses. Tessa’s older sister, Kiara, arrives with more wine. William gets some more chairs from the back bedrooms. We all sit around our table, wineglasses in hand.
“What toppings does everyone want?” Tessa asks, holding her phone to her ear. “I’m ordering the pizza.” Different toppings are yelled out.
“I guess you can open up your own detective agency now,” Tessa says.
“I’d hire you,” Zelda says. “And we have big news here too.” The doorbell rings. It’s Rory. I buzz him in.
“I’m moving in with Rory,” Penelope announces.
“And Kareem is moving in with me,” Zelda says.
“Congratulations!” I exclaim. “But we’ll miss you, Penelope.”
Rory enters the apartment through our unlocked front door and gives Penelope a quick kiss hello. Peter pops the cork and pours the champagne into the waiting glasses.
“Cheers, Miranda!”
“And William.” I smile at William and clink glasses with him.
“And Takashi and Tony,” William says. “We made a good team.”
I sip my bubbly champagne. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Peter frowning. I’m not sure what he expected. I was up front that I was dating William. Maybe he didn’t expect him to be such formidable competition. Because the thing about Peter is that he’s very good-looking. Things tend to come easily for him. I was a bit of a challenge at first because I thought he was another smooth-talking pretty boy and didn’t give him the time of day. But even I fell easily.
Max and Kareem arrive next—at the same time as the pizza delivery guy—so they bring up four pizzas. We set up the pizzas on the kitchen counter with paper plates and napkins, allowing everyone to come in and take a slice and then go back out and mingle.
Jake arrives next with Audrey, his arm around her, and they both flash their engagement rings at the entrance.
“We’re engaged!” Jake says. “She said yes.”
“He said yes,” Audrey says.
“I proposed to her, and then she proposed to me.” Jake grins. “We both had the same idea when we played hooky together today.”
“Look at the ring I got him,” Audrey says. “It’s got a fish swimming upstream while all the other fishes swim downstream.”
“It’s perfect.” Jake kisses her.
Thijs is suddenly at the door, and I introduce him to Tessa. Tessa’s eyes widen when she sees him. I snicker inwardly. I love to be proved right, but he’s also a good guy.
