37. Hazel
THIRTY-SEVEN
Hazel
“It. Has. Been. Forever !” Olivia runs up to me in the coffee shop, yanking me into a massive hug.
As soon as I can breathe again, I laugh. “I know. I know. I’m sorry, but with everything going on, it’s been a bit hectic.”
Olivia regards me, her eyebrows up as she smirks. “Umm, understatement of the year, babe.”
“Ha,” I nod, bobbing my head, “you’re not wrong.”
“Look,” Olivia rubs me on the shoulder, walking me back towards the table, “I'm just glad you're okay, Neil is behind bars, and Easton is actually living up to the expectations I set for him.”
Again, I'm laughing, and I can't help but give Olivia the stink eye. “Expectations you set for him? Why is this my first time learning about this?”
She rolls her eyes at me as we take our seats in a booth near the back.
I still love this coffee shop. Even though I left once and something terrible happened, it's still one of my favorite places.
It's quiet, there's music playing gently through the stereo, the coffee is amazing, you can get ice cream behind the counter, and there are plants everywhere.
“Because I didn't tell you about them. Duh.”
And there I go, laughing again. This feels so normal, and I've missed it terribly.
“Hazel, we are going to have the best girl’s day around. Don't you even worry about it. We're going to catch up. We're going to have so much fun. And after this coffee, I'm taking you to get your nails done.”
“Olivia, that's too much.”
“Don't argue with me. You're getting your nails done. We're going to get you a fancy little outfit because you are in desperate need. Then we're going to head out to dinner and hit the town, except only one of us is still single.”
I try to argue with her, but there's no winning this one, so I just force myself to relax and enjoy the iced coffee that’s keeping me cool on this blisteringly warm summer day.
All through our conversation, though, Liv is a little bit off. It's not that she's being rude or potentially keeping something from me. She's just more bubbly than usual, more excitable.
And that's saying something, considering Olivia is one of the most energetic people on the planet. But she seems a little bit on edge, like she's trying to keep our conversation moving, keep me happy, keep me… pliable .
I have to imagine that she's just trying to make sure I am thoroughly distracted from everything that's going on around us.
News reports are going on about the situation with Neil, and he'll be heading to the first of many court sessions soon. I think she's trying to distract me from thinking about it so I don't don't get upset.
The truth is, though, I'm not that upset about everything because I have a support system in place this time around. I have Olivia, and I also have Easton and Jade.
They’re both doing an incredible job of making sure I feel loved and safe, just as Olivia does.
So, I have to assume that Liv is simply glad I'm okay, and I go with the flow.
We talk about Easton and moving into the house officially. I confess my relief that I don't have to pretend to be in this relationship anymore, and I tell her how damn happy I am.
The happiest I've ever been, in fact.
“That's so amazing, Hazel. All I want for you in the world is for you to be happy.”
I reach across the coffee table and take her hand, squeezing it gently, the wood beneath my arm cool and refreshing.
“I am so happy, and I'm really glad that you're my friend and that you've stuck with me through all of this.
There are absolutely no hard feelings about how hard you've been on Easton.
I completely get it. But I promise you, these two weeks have been some of the best in my life.
I belong to that little family. They're mine, and I'm theirs.”
Liv’s bottom lip trembles, and she sniffles as she wipes under her nose. “You’re going to make me cry. Please stop it. I am not wearing waterproof mascara.”
Again, I'm laughing. There's something about this girl that can always make me giggle. She is beyond funny and she really does deserve to have someone in her life, too.
But I'm not about to push it. I want Olivia to make her own choices in her own time.
“All right, missy, we’re finished with our coffee, so you know what that means? It means nail time. Let's go.”
She leads me out of the coffee shop arm in arm, and we head to the nail salon that just so happens to be a few businesses down. She was prepared for this, and we have an appointment for two.
“Hi, welcome. Have a seat ladies.”
The attendant helps us into pedicure seats near the left side of the building, offering us a little bit of champagne or juice or wine. And, of course, Liv says to go for the champagne.
Go big or go home, right?
I have no choice but to accept it, sipping away on the bubbly liquid happily as someone paints my toes and makes my feet so damn soft.
When they're all finished, we walk over to the other side of this very brightly lit building and sit down to get our nails done.
Liv chooses something wild and fun for summer because that's exactly who she is. I go for something a little bit more neutral, a pretty gray with some silver flecks at the tip.
By the time dinner rolls around, Olivia has me utterly decked out. I have beautiful nails, and the dress shopping was a total success, with a flowy silver dress perfect for a fancy night out in the heat.
She even helped me do my hair, which, of course, means something is up.
“Hmm…we’re a little early for our reservation. Why don’t we take a little walk through the park?”
“You are as subtle as a freight train, Liv. What’s going on?”
She just grins at me, gesturing toward the park path in front of me. “Shh. Just go with it.”
Rolling my eyes, I do, in fact, go with it. What else am I supposed to do? Still, nerves and confusion bubble through me, each step driving the anticipation higher.
Soft lighting in the distance catches my eye. As we get closer, Liv hanging back a few feet, I spot Easton standing in front of a beautiful oak tree with what has to be at least a hundred tea-light candles surrounding him, interspersed with rose petals.
The shock hits me, and my hands fly up to cover my mouth. Tears prickle immediately, and I’m trembling. When I turn over my shoulder to make a face at Liv, she walks to where Jade is watching from the side, a sweet pink dress making her look all grown up.
They both wave and smile at me and with little else to do, I approach Easton, who’s dressed in a gorgeous suit.
I shake my head, smiling and overwhelmed. “What’s going on?”
“Sorry for the mystery. I wanted it to be a surprise.”
Easton gets down on one knee, and, if possible, my jaw drops even further.
“I know this is soon, but I’ve known that I wanted to marry you since the first night we met. We’ve lost too many years because of everything that held me back, and I just can’t wait a moment longer.”
Taking out a ring box from his pocket, Easton grins up at me, opening it wide to reveal a stunning diamond ring.
“I promise you, Hazel, I want to spend the rest of eternity showing you that you’re it for me. I love you, and I want the entire world to know…to know we’re a family. Will you marry me?”
With tears filling my eyes so completely, I nod my head like a loon, offering my hand. “Yes!”
Easton slides on the ring, and I throw myself into his arms, kissing him until I’m dizzy. Jade and Olivia clap from the sidelines, and I laugh again.
“You are one sneaky man, Easton Hawke.”
“Olivia helped a ton. I owe her big.” He smiles, running his thumb down the side of my cheek.
I raise my brows, waving over at her. “Oh, she’ll never let you forget that, trust me.”
Easton turns down the corners of his mouth. “I think I can live with that.”
Before I can say anything, Jade runs over and smashes into us for a hug. We get on her level, embracing each other in a tight squeeze.
“We did it,” I whisper, smiling so damn big my cheeks ache. “We finally found the family we’ve been looking for.”