Page 36 of The Secret Crush Book Club (Peach Blossom #3)

Twenty-Seven

“W hat the fuck am I thinking?” Dani muttered to herself as she looked down at the stove.

Sadly, the baked chicken looking up at her held no answers, but at least it had the kitchen smelling delicious.

Inviting Zoey to dinner had been all Daniel’s idea, though the fact that he said it in front of Ava’s nosy ass all but guaranteed Dani wouldn’t be able to talk her way out of asking.

When Jordan had joined in, she knew she was a goner.

Funnily enough, it wasn’t until she heard Zoey’s uncertainty at the validity of the offer that Dani realized she really wanted her to come too.

Maybe it was a little too soon, but what was done was done.

“Smells good in here, kiddo,” Daniel said as he walked in, interrupting her thoughts.

Dani jerked in place before grabbing oven mitts and grabbing the dish.

It was ten to seven, and Zoey would no doubt be around in the next few minutes.

Dani needed everything to be as perfect as possible.

If not for having already confronted her feelings, she would no doubt have been clued in by how badly she wanted this dinner to go well.

“Thanks, Pop,” she said, placing the dish on the table. She looked up in time to see Jordan launch himself through the doorway.

“Auntie Ava and Ms. Zoey are coming up the driveway.”

Dani frowned before remembering she had the sides to bring to the table.

By the time she had everything ready and waiting to be dug into, she heard the front door open and close, followed by laughter and voices.

As soon as Zoey walked into the doorway, all of Dani’s misgivings flew out the window and she couldn’t help but grin.

“Aw, you cooked just for me?” Grace said when she appeared behind Ava. “You shouldn’t have.”

“I didn’t,” Dani shot back, rolling her eyes. “Ava has been rubbing off on you way too much. You’re becoming just as obnoxious as her.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment because I’m amazing,” Ava said before smiling up at Grace. Dani shook her head and turned her gaze to the person she was excited to see.

Zoey looked just as good as she had that morning when Dani had spent way too much time kissing her in her doorway.

Their shower had been a bit of a wash since they spent more time kissing and exploring one another than actually getting clean.

Dani was now fully certain that she was all in when it came to women, and one woman in particular.

Watching Zoey, head thrown back in pleasure as the sweetest sounds tumbled from her lips, was damn near life affirming.

“Zoey,” Dani breathed out as she held out a hand. When Zoey took it with no hesitation, Dani couldn’t help the way her grin grew. “I’m glad you could come.”

“I’m glad you invited me,” Zoey said, her smile just as wide, and it was like the sun was rising in their kitchen instead of setting outside their windows. Her gaze fell on the table and her eyes widened. “Wow. This looks amazing.”

Dani tried not to puff her chest out and preen about her efforts being appreciated, but she could tell from Ava and Grace’s snickers that she hadn’t quite succeeded. Still, she didn’t give a shit what they had to say about it when Zoey was gazing around like Christmas had come early.

“Thanks. Come sit and let’s eat.”

Dani led Zoey to the table, happy when she sat down in the chair beside her.

Ava decided not to comment thankfully, and soon enough, the conversation was flowing as they all filled their plates and their mouths with food.

Dani felt warmth infuse her chest as she observed Zoey, enjoying the way she put her whole body into telling stories, her hands alive in a type of interpretive dance conveying even more meaning to her words.

She fit right in, surprisingly matching Ava in wit, no doubt due to the nature of both of their work.

When Dani caught Grace’s eye, they both exchanged semihelpless smiles.

If not for that, Dani might have missed the small bit of metal on Grace’s left hand.

She frowned before looking at Ava’s hand and seeing a matching one.

“Oh, shit.” The conversation halted at Dani’s words, and everyone turned to look at her in confusion.

“What’s wrong, Dani?” Zoey asked. She put a hand on Dani’s arm and if not for Dani’s shock, she would have melted into that warm touch.

Dani shook her head. She wasn’t sure how to answer that, not when she needed to confirm something very important. She pointed at Ava. “Those two have matching rings on. Why do you have matching rings on?”

Ava blinked quickly before a sly smile spread on her face. “Well,” she said drawing out the word until Dani swore she was leaning forward. Abruptly, Ava held up her hand. “Grace and I are engaged. And we’re moving in together.”

Dani’s mouth fell open. She had expected something like this to come soon, but she hadn’t been prepared for this at all. “Is this why you wanted Zoey at dinner with us?” Dani asked, trying to give herself time for the new information to pierce her brain. “To make the announcement?”

Ava and Grace glanced at one another before nodding. “Vini isn’t back for another two weeks, but we couldn’t wait.” Ava reached out, taking Grace’s ring hand in hers. “Actually, there was a double proposal. I hadn’t known she was going to ask me, and I tried asking her first.”

“Yeah.” Grace jumped in, giving Ava a soft smile. “She tried to stop me from asking because she wanted to ask first.”

“That’s because I started to speak first but we got interrupted,” Ava insisted.

“Well, whoever asked first,” Daniel cut in, staving off their bickering. “Congratulations. I’m so happy for the two of you.”

Ava smiled. “Thanks, Pop.” She turned to look up at Grace, and Dani’s chest clenched. There was no denying the strength of love in Ava’s gaze. If not for being so happy for them, Dani would have gouged her own eyes out. The two of them were so perfect for one another that it almost hurt to see.

“Congratulations, sis,” Dani said, her voice choking up briefly.

The sting in her eyes gave away just how much she felt about everything.

Life had a way of showing her that changes were happening, and she was realizing how caught off guard she felt.

It was good. Ava deserved to move forward after so many years of holding herself back.

And maybe since she was, it was okay for Dani to as well.

Warmth touched her leg and Dani blinked quickly before looking down.

When she saw a hand on her thigh, she followed it up to Zoey’s concerned gaze.

She was smiling but her eyes seemed to be asking if Dani was okay, and in that instance, she realized she was.

Change wasn’t always a bad thing. Dani covered Zoey’s hand with her own and gave her a small smile and nod.

“What’s going on over there?” Ava asked, breaking into the moment. Her grin was knowing as she gestured between Dani and Zoey with her fork. “What’s with the looks between you two?”

Dani snorted at Ava’s nosy questions, but before she could second-guess herself, she lifted her and Zoey’s entwined hands. “Nothing is going on. I’m just having a quiet moment with my girlfriend, you nosy little shit.”

“Mom said a bad word. That’s a dollar to the swear jar,” Jordan said, not looking up from his plate.

Dani looked over at him and when he glanced up at her, she couldn’t stop the giggle from bubbling up from her.

When the laughter started, she let it tumble from her lips unimpeded, taking with it the heaviness she had been feeling and leaving only the light excitement for the future.

Dani squeezed Zoey’s hand and laughed harder when she felt a gentle squeeze back.