Page 48 of Accidentally Falling For My Best Friend (Chicago Awakenings #2)
OAKLEY
December
A fter a relaxed make out session post engagement, we’re lying in my bed.
My head is resting on Parker’s chest and we’re both on our phones, sleep schedules completely thrown off by the time in the hospital and all of our travel the last few days.
I’ve been showing him different pictures of men’s wedding bands and what I want ours to look like—flashy with diamonds—when Parker suddenly shows me his screen that’s pulled up to a page on what looks like French Polynesian marriage laws.
“What if we got married at the resort launch?” he casually suggests.
I sit up quickly, spinning to face him with the biggest smile.
His entire body is relaxed and full of joy in a way that I haven’t seen from him in a while.
I’m immediately all in, practically shouting “Yes! The resort launch! I can’t believe I didn’t think of that!
It’ll be perfect. All of our friends and family and the important people from the company are already planning to be there.
You and I have been coordinating everything, so the details for the event are already things that we like.
We can surprise everyone once we’re there!
Like an ‘ask for forgiveness, not permission’ sort of thing with the company. ”
He laughs, obviously loving my enthusiasm for the idea as I continued to voice everything he was probably already thinking.
“That way if anyone at work is actually as concerned as you think they might be, we’ll already be married.
I’m sure HR would rather be the first to know, but we can point out that we’ve always been close.
Everyone knows that, and we’ll explain that when we decided to become more than friends we didn’t see the need to date, and went right to marriage. ”
“It’ll be good PR for the resort too,” he pointed out.
“Hell yeah, it will. We’re hot. Our wedding pictures are totally going viral.”
“So, should we tell anyone? Or are we even going to surprise our families?”
I pause for a moment to consider what he’s asking. I'm the one with the huge, super-close family. Even though I know a lot of them consider him to be an honorary member already, I’m the one who will end up facing their wrath when they find out we kept the truth of our relationship from them.
“Maybe tell our immediate family that we’re dating now. I think we can trust them to keep that a secret, but I love the idea of a surprise wedding.”
“Perfect. You know that means we’ll both be coming out to the people who don’t know as we walk down the aisle though?” he points out.
My eyes go wide and my smile turns a little wicked. “This is going to be the best wedding ever.”
“When you made the suggestion that the two of us secretly get married, knowing how much the idea of it being something special for just the two of us would appeal to me, I couldn’t help but think about the type of wedding you’d prefer to have,” he explains.
“One that would have gorgeous photos with over-the-top decor, every detail meticulously planned to your liking. I figured nothing could top the event we’ve already been working on.
You’ve practically been planning your dream wedding for almost the last year,” he points out and I laugh, a huge smile on my face as I stare at this perfect man.
How could I ever have thought there was someone out there for me who would be a better partner than my best friend?
“I considered not even telling you about the surprise,” he admits.
“I knew you’d agree the moment I suggested the idea, but there are legal aspects to getting married outside of the United States, and though it is legal for same-sex couples to get married in French Polynesia, all marriages have to be at a town hall in French.
The ceremonies on the beach and at our resort will technically be commitment ceremonies after couples take care of the legal bit if they choose to go that route,” he reminds me.
“So, I was thinking that maybe we could have the best of both worlds—a small, maybe courthouse, wedding in Chicago like you’d suggested—something for just the two of us, followed up by the big, flashy, surprise island wedding of your dreams witnessed by everyone we know.”
“That sounds perfect,” I agree, and I can’t hold back from kissing him any longer. We’re going to have the best wedding ever.
I’m abruptly woken from a peaceful sleep by loud banging on what I’m guessing is our front door.
Parker is wrapped around my naked body, and other than the incessant knocking, I’m quite comfortable.
I tap my phone screen to check the time and see a bunch of missed calls and texts from both Beck and Cody. I wonder who’s at the door?
It’s almost one PM, so at least we were able to catch up on some sleep before my brother interrupted us. I decide to call Cody back, choosing the nicer option, not convinced I really need to get out of bed yet.
“Hey!” he answers after the first ring.
“Hey, Cody. Can you tell my brother to kindly shut the fuck up,” I say in a cheery tone.
He laughs. “Yeah, I’m not saying that.” Then his voice gets quieter like he’s pulled away from the phone. “It’s Oak. He asked you to stop knocking, please.” Then there’s some shuffling noise, and Beck’s voice is coming through the speaker.
“I’ve given you more than enough time. I want details if I’m going to keep lying to the family for you. Let. Us. In.” Then the line goes quiet, so he must have hung up.
Lying to the family? Maybe he didn’t tell everyone about my love confession then.
“Cody and Beck are here to interrogate us after my abrupt departure at Christmas, but it sounds like they might not have told anyone else about my big speech,” I tell Parker as I get out of bed and hurry to put on clothes. I rush to open the door while Parker heads to his own room to get dressed.
Should we combine closets? Get a different condo? Move to the suburbs? We have so many decisions to make and I’m so excited for them all.
“Can I help you?” I say in a sugar-sweet tone as Beck pushes his way past me, making himself comfortable on our couch. “Come on in,” I huff sarcastically.
“Where’s Parker?” he asks, sounding concerned as he looks around the space to find it empty. I’d updated my family that Parker was doing okay and when we’d be coming back, but I guess I didn’t give any other details, too distracted by finally getting to be with him for real.
“He moved out,” I say, attempting to keep a straight face so I can fuck with my brother. I sink onto the armrest of our other couch, trying to look defeated while wondering how long I can keep this up before Parker comes out here.
“What?” Cody croaks out in alarm. “We were so sure that he was in love with you too…” he trails off, and I feel a little guilty for not telling Cody the truth, but Beck rudely woke me up, and he didn’t stop him, so they can both deal with me messing with them for a minute.
“I do love him. He’s just being a brat because you woke us up,” Parker guesses correctly as he joins us in the living room. He sits down on the couch right next to me, before surprising me completely by pulling me onto his lap.
“Hi,” I whisper, turning to sit sideways on top of him with my legs stretched out on the couch so that I can look at both him and our uninvited guests.
“Hello,” Parker responds in a soft tone, sounding amused before gently cupping my chin to guide my mouth to his.
“Well, it looks like you two finally figured your shit out,” Beck comments in a smug tone, but he also looks genuinely happy for us.
“Sorry. I couldn’t resist,” I say, looking at Cody.
“I’m just so excited that you two are together,” he replies.
“Took you long enough,” Beck teases.
“Have you told anyone else?” Cody asks, bouncing on the edge of the couch now.
“We haven’t even left our place since we got back from the airport. I had assumed that you guys would have told the family when I ditched Christmas, though,” I say looking back at Beck.
“I would never out anyone,” he says firmly .
I smile warmly at him in response. I really have the best family.
“Our other brothers and parents are all still staying at our grandparents’, you know how they like to pretend like we aren’t all local and have us spend the week there.
We actually came here as a well-being check and to see if you’d be up for coming back there since you left before everyone exchanged presents.
Which you would know if you’d checked your phone,” Beck informs us.
“Perfect. We can tell everyone at once. Want to see if your mom can meet us there?” I ask Parker and he nods, smiling as he pulls out his phone.