We head back to Jack’s house to hang out for the night and within an hour, news of our engagement has spread. His backyard hang has turned into a full-blown party.
“Do you know all these people?” I ask Tyler. We’re stopped every few seconds by someone congratulating him or asking me to see the ring.
“Some of them I know by name, others I just recognize from parties. You’ll get used to it. Jack knows a lot of people.” He wraps his arms around me and pulls me against him. “Are you sure you know what you’re marrying into? I come with a whole team of dudes that are often obnoxious and sometimes awesome.”
Laughing, I lean forward and brush my lips over his. “I have a pretty good idea.”
The music is blasting, and people are standing in groups talking, some girls are dancing, and a few guys are playing cornhole. But Tyler and I make our way to the edge of the yard where we find a little slice of privacy.
His phone vibrates and he pulls it from his pocket. A grin tugs at one side of his mouth. “Looks like Everly is staying at Grace’s tonight.”
He taps out a response and then puts it back in his pocket.
I place my hands on his shoulders and then eliminate the space between our bodies. “Oh no. What will we do?”
“I have a few ideas.” His deep voice vibrates low in my stomach as his fingers glide around my waist to my lower back and then dip to palm my ass.
I squeak my approval and kiss him again.
“I love you so damn much,” he whispers into my mouth. “But why did you have to wear jeans tonight? My access points are severely limited.”
“When have you ever backed down from a challenge?”
His eyes darken, and I can practically see him calculating a hundred different ways to get into my pants without anyone noticing.
But before he’s able to act on it, Jade finds us. She’s beaming as she launches herself at me in a bear hug.
“I just heard. Oh my gosh! I swear I leave and ten minutes later you’re getting engaged.” She shoots Tyler a disapproving scowl. “A little heads-up would have been nice.”
“Sorry.” He chuckles.
“Scarlett is grabbing a bottle of champagne so we can pop it in a proper celebration, and I want to hear all about it.”
Tyler looks like he might want to object, but Jade shakes her head. “No, you get her for the rest of your life. I’m stealing her for thirty minutes.”
“Thirty minutes.” He taps the face of his watch.
I kiss him before Jade pulls me away.
Scarlett is waiting for us with a bottle in one hand, and three glasses in the other. She hands them out, pops the bottle, and then fills us each a glass.
“I am so excited for you,” Scarlett says.
“Same.” Jade lifts her glass, and we clink them together before drinking. “The way he looks at you is really something.”
“How does he look at me?” I glance over my shoulder to find Tyler chatting with Leo and Declan. He catches my gaze and grins.
“Like he can’t believe you’re really here.”
My heart races because that’s exactly how I feel about him each and every time I see him.
“I have news too.” Jade holds out her glass for Scarlett to refill it.
“Good news or bad news?”
“Good,” she says in a tone that sounds unsure. She takes a large sip before continuing. “I’m getting married this summer.”
Neither Scarlett nor I say anything as we wait for her to elaborate, but she doesn’t.
“Congratulations,” I say. “What made you set the date so soon? I thought you wanted to wait?”
“My editor. She wants to cash in on all the buzz I’m getting. She thinks that if I drag it out too long, people will lose interest.” She shrugs. “Anyway, I know it’s a big ask since you’re planning your own weddings, but will you both be bridesmaids?”
“Of course.” Scarlett hugs her, then I do the same.
“Yes, absolutely.”
She still looks nervous. “I thought I had another year. I’m freaking out a little. Marriage. Bleh.”
Scarlett bites back a laugh, then Jade looks at me. “I’m sorry. I know you got engaged like three hours ago, so I don’t mean to be all anti-marriage over here. I am so happy for you and Tyler. You two are perfect together. I just thought I had more time, that’s all.”
“You can always say no.” Scarlett bumps her with an elbow.
“No. I’d be crazy to turn down this opportunity. The magazine is basically paying for my dream wedding, and I love Sam.”
I feel like there’s a but coming; instead, she smiles. “It’s crunch time, ladies. Let’s plan some weddings!”
Jade makes me recap the entire proposal, then we do talk a little about weddings, but it isn’t long before Leo wanders over, followed by Tyler.
“Time’s up.” He kisses my neck.
Jade laughs good-naturedly. “Fine. Take your hot fiancées back. I need to go find my man and attach his ball and chain.” She gets a serious look on her face. “Where do you buy those? Target? The Container Store?”
“Ikea,” Leo and Tyler say at the same time.
A little later we escape the party and head home. We don’t make it all the way into his room before Tyler has his mouth on mine and his hands going for the button of my jeans.
Parties are the best foreplay.
Instead of taking my jeans off, he slides his hand down the front and inside my panties. The tips of his fingers brush over my pussy sending heat rushing to my core.
He deepens the kiss but doesn’t make any move to get us on the bed or undress me.
“You know you can take off my clothes, right?”
“Not yet.” His thumb drags along my clit. “I spent all night imagining how to get you off just like this.”
And get me off just like that he does.
We’re downstairs on the couch looking through pictures the next morning.
“Holy shit. This is you?” Ash asks Tyler as he picks up one of me and Tyler on the beach from that summer we met.
“He looks exactly the same,” I say.
“No way. I’m a good fifteen pounds heavier.” Tyler seems genuinely shocked by my comment.
“Okay, yes. You’ve added more muscle but look at this face.” I grab his chin and then kiss him.
When I pull back, Ash is watching us with a smirk. His tone is all sarcasm as he says, “Aren’t you two adorable.”
“Yes, we are.” I lean over Tyler and snatch the picture back.
He coughs and makes a face. “Whoa, Ty, my man. When is the last time you showered?”
My face heats, and Tyler starts chuckling. “It’s not me.”
“Throwing your girl under the bus?” Ash quirks a brow. “Real nice, Sharpie.”
“I’m serious.”
Ash leans closer again and then his eyebrows raise. “P. Vaughn. Wow.”
Tyler kisses me.
“Well, I guess love is blind and has a loss of smell.”
“She likes to wear my workout shirts.” Tyler’s gaze dips over me.
“Do us all a favor and give her one that is a little less…used.” He shudders.
We’re all laughing when Everly comes in.
“Hey.” She walks into the living room. She glances at Tyler, and he nods, then she squeals. “Yay, we’re going to be sisters.”
She comes in for a hug, then starts coughing.
Ash laughs. “Bet you wish your new sister had showered first this morning.”
I stick out my tongue at him. It feels so good to be silly and joke with this group.
“Have you checked your email this morning?” I ask Everly.
“No. Why?”
“Check it.”
She smiles tentatively and pulls it up on her phone. I can see the moment she finds the email. Her face pales and I hold my breath, hoping it’s the same good news I received.
“I got in,” she says, calmly. She looks up from her phone and her smile widens. “I got in to Whittaker!”
