Chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
LOUISE
W ith a giddy grin, I stared down at the ring Theo had placed on my finger in Vale. Surrounded by the restorative, bubbling waters with violinists serenading us, it had been a perfect romantic moment.
I’d stared at the ring all night, still trying to convince myself it was real. But it was. And I couldn’t be more excited.
I kept the news under my hat for the weekend, carefully observing Spencer and Eve. They seemed to act almost normal after my trickery to force them together, yet there seemed to be some tension between them.
Had the forced proximity somehow made things worse or had it been my non-commitment to Theo that held them up.
I shifted in front of my vanity as I recalled a conversation with Eve as the men dealt with checking us out of our rooms.
“So, how did things go with Spencer in that confined space? Nothing shows true colors like being stuck together in unexpected circumstances.” I arched an eyebrow as I waited for her response.
“Oh, it was fine,” she said, her voice a little too nonchalant.
“Fine? Or fine ?”
“Stop,” she said with a shake of her head and a laugh. “We worked it out and got through the weekend. But I’m more interested in how things went with Theo. Are things looking promising after your weekend together?”
Something about the way she studied me, the eagerness in her eyes tipped me off. She and Spencer were holding back because of me. They didn’t want to giddily announce how happy they were together until they knew I was settled.
I raised my chin and stared at my reflection. And happy I was.
All I had to do was make the announcement about our engagement, and I just knew things were going to fall into place for my two best friends.
I couldn’t wait until I helped Spencer pick out the ring–at least, I hoped he asked for my advice. I’d already been browsing several jewelry stores and had my eye on a few things.
Of course, it would be his choice in the end, but I’d make sure I steered him in the right direction for what Eve would want that spoke to her uniqueness, her sweet personality, her down-to-earth side but still said my husband is rich.
I definitely wanted the last bit to rub in her sister’s face.
My nose wrinkled as I recalled Audrey Dawson. “She’ll probably be the maid of honor at their wedding.”
My voice matched how deflated I was about the news. I knew it was Eve’s choice and Eve’s wedding, but I desperately wanted to be included. “Maybe she can work me into the bridal party at least.”
I’d mention it to her when we had our first wedding meeting because no matter who was her maid of honor, yours truly was planning her wedding.
Ideas floated through my head, both for my wedding and Eve and Spencer’s.
I launched myself from my stool and hurried to dig through my desk drawer for a notebook. I jotted down all my ideas for both of us before I flipped the notebook shut and pressed it to my chest. I couldn’t wait to share all of them with Eve–who would be my maid of honor for certain.
I couldn’t wait to tell her, and I planned to do it over a lunch date this afternoon, but first, I’d break the news to Spencer.
With the notebook stowed in my purse for our first wedding meeting later, I pranced my way downstairs in search of my roomie.
“Spencer? Spencer!”
The kitchen was empty as was the living room.
With my hands on my hips, I climbed the stairs again, shouting for my soon-to-be-ex-husband, “Spencer? Spence?”
I plowed into his office, finding his desk chair empty. My head tilted at the odd sight. If I couldn’t find Spencer working, where was he?
I tried his bedroom, searching his closet, and even the en-suite, but no Spencer. “Now, where in the world are you, darlin’?”
As I glanced out his window, the corners of my lips turned up. I spotted Spencer on the beach, his hands shoved into his hoodie as he stared at the water. “There you are.”
I couldn’t think of a better place to reveal the news as I made my way down to the pool, kicked off my shoes and took the boardwalk down toward the water.
My bare feet sank into the sand as I approached him. He seemed lost in thought, unable to hear or see anything beyond his own thoughts.
“There you are. I never expected to find you on the beach,” I said with a grin as I sidled next to him.
The soft sea breeze rustled my hair as the waves crashed against the sand in front of us.
“Hey, yeah, just…thinking.”
“About your game?” I asked. I’d never known Spencer to venture outdoors when thinking, but maybe he’d hit a snag in his sequel. This didn’t seem to be his usual work stress.
He hesitated, a clear signal he was wrestling with more than just game design. “Uh, no, not exactly.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Were you thinking about Eve?”
He shifted his weight, appearing uncomfortable with me mentioning her. “No, it’s the game, but not…I just…never mind, why were you looking for me?”
“I have some news.”
“Oh, okay. If this is about how you need more closet space…”
“Well, I do,” I answered, “but that’s no longer your problem.”
He furrowed his brow. Sometimes I loved how innocent he was. I raised my left hand in the air, my giant ring sparkling in the sun. “I’m engaged!”
His eyes went wide, and for a second, I thought he was upset rather than happy for me. “To Theo?”
“Who else, darlin’? Of course, to Theo. Aren’t you happy for me?”
“Well, uh…yeah, of course, I am,” he answered, still seeming less-than-enthused.
After as second, he reached for me, wrapping me in a hug. “I’m so happy for you, Lou. Really. I’m glad you found the right man for you.”
“Oh, I did, I did. I couldn’t be happier. I’ve already started planning the wedding.” I winced as I raised my eyes to his. “Which means…”
“We need a divorce.” He bobbed his head as he swept his gaze over the sea again. “I’ll call my attorney right away and have the papers drawn up.”
I grinned at him. “Most amicable divorce in history.”
“Yeah, definitely.” He offered me a soft smile. “Well, I’m really happy for you. Are you sure he’s the one?”
“Definitely,” I said with a nod. “Theo is my one and only.”
“Good,” he answered, going quiet for a few moments as the surf pounded in front of us, inching toward us as the tide rolled in. “So, uh, how did you know?”
“Know what, sugar?”
“That he was the one? How did you know? How are you sure?”
My lips curled into a devilish smile. Sweet Spencer wanted to stack his experience up to mine. I figured he must have been out here trying to determine the same thing about Eve, but his lack of confidence probably clouded his judgement.
“Well,” I answered as I sucked in a breath, “I think you just know. You know? Trust your gut feeling. How do you feel around this person? How do they make you feel? Do they make you laugh? Are you comfortable with them? Do you have an easy time when you’re together talking and such. That sort of thing.”
I glanced sideways at him as he stared down at his bare feet in the sand.
“Is there some specific question you wanted to ask or…maybe some advice you needed about Eve?”
He shook his head, his eyebrows pinching. “No, I just…just wanted to be sure you and Theo were the right match. It seems like it happened kind of fast.”
“Kind of fast? Darlin’, no offense, but this took long enough. I’d have preferred to have been engaged months ago.”
“Aren’t you worried about this not working out?”
I shook my head. “No, sugar, I know in my heart of hearts it’s right. When you know, you know!”
With a grin, I kissed his cheek and squeezed his arms. “I’ll leave you to your thoughts about your…game.”
“Thanks, Lou. And, hey, Lou,” he said as I stepped toward the house.
“Yeah?”
“I’m really glad for you.” As he said the words, I detected a sadness in his eyes, though I couldn’t figure out the reason. Surely, he wasn’t upset over our divorce. Maybe he felt like we’d be less of friends with Theo in the picture, but that wouldn’t happen.
I would be Spencer’s friend forever after what he’d done for me.
“Thanks, sugar,” I answered with a kiss to his cheek before I returned to the house, grabbed my purse, and hopped in my car to break the news to Eve.
I whipped into the restaurant’s driveway and tossed my keys at the valet before I hurried into the restaurant, finding Eve already waiting for me.
As I sat, the waiter asked about drinks. “Champagne, bring the bottle, we’re celebrating.”
Eve’s questioning gaze fell on me as he left with a nod and an order to bring their best bottle. “We are?”
I wiggled my left hand in the air. “We are.”
Her eyes went wide, and she shifted her gaze from my ring to my eyes. “Louise! Are you engaged?”
I nodded before a squeal escaped me. I pounded my feet on the floor before I leapt from my seat and met Eve halfway around the table for a hug.
“Aw, Lou, that’s so fantastic. I’m so happy for you.” The grin on her face spoke volumes, but I caught a flicker of something in Eve’s eyes, a shadow perhaps a hint of sadness or envy. It was gone before I could read it clearly, but it left a seed of doubt rattling in my mind. What was it with her and Spencer today? Was there more going on between them than they were letting on?
“Don’t worry, darlin’,” I said as we sat down again. “You’ll be next.”
She offered a fleeting smile and a soft chuckle. “Well, not yet, so let’s talk about yours. How did he propose?”
“Oh…” I pressed my hand against my heart. “It was so romantic. He had violinists, rose petals scattered into the hot tub we were in. The ring floated over on an inflatable rose. And it’s a honey of ring, I think you’ll agree.”
“It is very big.”
“Just like I like ‘em.” I admired the fat stone on my finger before I accepted my champagne flute from the waiter.
With Eve’s in her hand, I lifted my glass, the bubbles catching the light like tiny stars.
“Now, wait a minute,” she said. “You can’t toast yourself. It’s bad luck.”
“Is it?”
She nodded. “Allow me. To you and Theo, may you find an everlasting happiness together.”
“Aw, thank you, sugar, but we already have. We’re going to be so happy together. And now, I do have a toast if you don’t mind.”
“Well, you are the bride,” she answered.
I arched my eyebrow at her as I nodded. “Yes, I am. And I would like to toast to my beautiful, lovely, kind, sweet, perfect maid of honor. Eve…would you do me the honor of standing beside me at my wedding to the man of my dreams?”
“Aw, Louise, of course, I will. I’m honored you’d ask me.”
“So, you’re saying yes?”
“Of course, I am.”
Another squeal escaped me as tears formed in my eyes. “Since I was a little girl, I dreamed about my perfect wedding. And I just knew I’d have my best friend standing at my side for it, and now I do.”
I snaked my arm across the table and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. The sadness I’d detected before danced in her eyes again before she shoved it aside, focusing on asking about my wedding.
“I have got loads of ideas,” I said as I pulled my notebook from my bag and flicked it open. “Now, I have a few musts…oh shoot, wrong one.”
She burst into a giggle. “Wrong one? What other wedding are you planning?”
“Yours,” I answered with a grin.
Her lower lip bobbed a few times before she plastered on what looked like a fake smile.
“Trust me, darlin’, it’s going to happen. I’m pretty certain Spencer was thinking about just how to propose earlier.”
She shifted in her seat, the fake-looking smile still on her features. “Well, for now, you are the only bride, so bask in that moment. Let’s keep the focus entirely on you.”
“I won’t complain about that. As long as you let me do the same for you when it’s your turn.”
“Okay,” she answered.
We spent the rest of the lunch gabbing about wedding details and making plans for that all-important dress shopping day.
As we parted ways, our date already made for the shopping trip, I squeezed her tight, so happy I could burst.
Soon, I’d be marrying the man of my dreams, and shortly after that, my two best friends would be getting married. My life couldn’t be more perfect. Nothing was going to ruin my happiness now. Nothing. Except…something niggled at the back of my mind. Could it really be this easy?