Page 9

I swallowed hard. Day one and I had already put my foot in my mouth. I clutched the box in my arms and followed him up the steps.

Boxes were strewn around the living room and on top of the kitchen counter. Cal and Lance walked from the hallway.

“We put the desk in that front room.” Cal smiled.

“Thank you.” I felt like a complete idiot.

Cole brushed past me and followed them out the door. I turned to the boxes and started opening. I pushed the flaps to the side and unwrapped a stack of bowls. That was until Sasha showed up.

“Knock knock.”

I squealed when I saw her auburn head peek around the side of the door.

“You’re here!” I jumped toward her.

“No, you’re here.” She hugged me and I laughed.

“I guess I am.” I waved my hand across the room. “All of my stuff and I made it in the middle of the night.”

“This is awesome. This place is so perfect for the three of you.”

I swallowed. It was crazy that there were three of us. I looked at Grayson in front of the TV. He was coloring more than he was watching.

“It is perfect.” I had already fallen in love with the little blue cottage. “I’d offer you something to drink, but I have no idea where the glasses are yet and I don’t even what Cole has bought.” I opened the refrigerator.

Sasha ran her fingers through her hair. “Oh, I’m fine. I just had to come see you before work today.” She rested her palm across her chest.

“I’m glad you did. It might be a couple of days before I’m done with all the boxes.”

She shifted her hand to her shoulder and then I saw it. The rock sparkled and glistened in my tiny kitchen.

“Oh my God. Sasha! Is that what I think it is?”

She nodded and let out a high-pitched squeal. “I’m getting married!” She hopped in place.

“Congratulations.” I reached for her hand. “Let me see this up close.”

She eagerly extended her hand so I could look at the ring.

“It was Cal’s grandmother’s ring. He asked his mom if he could have it.” Sasha’s eyes were glowing almost as much as the cluster of diamonds.

“Oh, I’m so happy for you.” I hugged her again. “Have you set a date?”

“I was waiting for you to get here so Cal and I could announce it together. Do you know how hard it’s been not to tell you on the phone?”

I shook my head. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

“You know my mom is going crazy about it. She wants to plan the whole thing, but I want her to be the mother-of-the-bride, not the wedding planner. She won’t listen though.”

I giggled, remembering the storage unit full of wedding decorations Sasha’s mother kept for her clients. Sasha didn’t seem like a paper dove kind of bride.

“Ok, so tell me the date,” I urged.

I figured they had a nice spring date on the calendar when Padre wouldn’t be blistering hot and they could have another eight months to get plans underway.

“It’s going to be the end of October.”

“As in next month, October?” Maybe she meant a year from now.