Thirty-Nine
Icouldn’t believe the sight before my eyes. Staring back at me were Nevaeh with her happy self, Lamont with his star-studded looks, and Chris with his charismatic yet laid-back persona.
“I’m speechless.”
“I was kind of hoping for happy tears,” Tuck commented.
I shook my head. “It would take something amazing for those.”
“Ouch,” Lamont, Nevaeh, and Chris chorused.
“Sorry.” I covered my face.
“Girl, don’t worry about us. We just wanted to come and support you.”
“What she said.” Chris pointed toward Nevaeh.
“Thank you.” After a round of hugs, I sat and put my hands in my lap. “It really means a lot that y’all came out here. It couldn’t have been a quick flight.”
Nevaeh waved a hand. “I listened to a podcast while Lamont slept.”
“Hey, it’s not my fault my new schedule is exhausting.”
“You’re the one who wanted to play a pilot,” Nevaeh shot back.
I looked at Lamont in confusion. “What does playing a pilot have to do with an exhausting schedule?”
“They wanted some realism, so instead of just using a green screen, they’ve got me in the air with a real pilot. It’s twelve-hour days.”
“Not counting the commute,” Nevaeh added.
“Say”—I looked at my friend expectantly—“you never told me your decision. Did you take the Marvel job?”
A sly grin curved across her face and made her dimples pop. “I sure did. It’s been a whirlwind, so I haven’t had time to call and talk.”
“Who did you promote to manage the shop?”
“Charmaine. She has amazing leadership skills, which made it a no-brainer.”
“Congrats,” Chris added.
“What about you, Chris?” Tuck asked. “Catch us up on anything new with you.”
“Let’s see.” Chris took a sip of ice water. “The board of the nonprofit I work for really wants to target Gen Zers in hopes that getting them to care about the planet will spiral upward and affect the older generations.”
“How are you supposed to do that?” I asked. “Make more YouTube videos?”
“Naturally, but they actually want something more sensationalized. They’re thinking of doing a documentary series for YouTube that would have me out in the wild showing the current state of the environment.”
“Are you going to say yes?” Lamont asked.
“I’m praying about it. As much as I love being outdoors, I don’t love the idea of cameras on me twenty-four-seven like I’m on some reality show.”
“But could you survive?” Nevaeh asked.
“You know it.” Chris grinned.
I laughed. “Then I say go for it. A lot of documentaries are making a difference. Zac Efron’s docuseries seems to be a hit on Netflix. Surely your documentary could show us what we could do to help the planet and maintain the circle of life.” Did that make sense, or was I merely babbling at this point?
“Wait, sorry.” I still couldn’t believe they were really here. My brain was running slowly. “Are y’all here this whole week?”
They all nodded. “But what about y’all’s work?” If Nevaeh was so busy she couldn’t find time to tell me she’d taken the Marvel job, how could she take a vacation?
“This is a trial run for Charmaine. If she can handle the shop while I’m on vacay in Kentucky, then she can handle it when I start my position as key stylist.”
“I was fortunate to have a break in between locations,” Lamont said. “I’ll fly to Nevada after I leave here to start another part of filming.”
“And you?” I looked at Chris.
“When I come back, I have to give the board my decision.”
“We’ll be praying for you,” Tuck and I said simultaneously.
I faced him. “Was this why you were so quiet in the car? Were you worried you’d blurt out the surprise?”
He chuckled. “No. I don’t know why I was so quiet. Nervous maybe? Afraid you wouldn’t like that I kept it a secret.”
Considering the whole fiasco about his dad, I could understand that. Only this was different. “You should know I love surprises.” I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“Aww,” Nevaeh said with a hand over her heart. “You two are absolute perfection. I’m so glad you stopped pretending to be just friends.” She rolled her eyes. “Biggest pile of poo I’ve ever heard.”
“We were just friends then,” Tuck insisted.
“Right,” Chris drawled. “I have to agree with Nevaeh. There was no friend-zone vibe anywhere. Nothing but sparks.”
I could feel my face heating and fought the urge to look down and bunch my cheeks. According to Tuck, I just had to look normal and no one could tell I was blushing.
“You’re doing it again,” Tuck murmured.
“Hush.” I met his gaze. “How can you tell?”
“I just can.”
Now my cheeks were on fire, but my heart said, Who cares? Who wouldn’t blush at his dreamy gaze? I was so head over heels for this man. I wanted to shout that he was mine to the world and let my heart rejoice in that fact. “I can’t believe I once thought he’d reject me. How had I missed the signs?”
“I don’t know, girl. They’re brighter than the Big Dipper any day.”
I looked at Nevaeh. “I said that out loud?” You have to stop doing that.
She nodded, and Lamont laughed. I simply shook my head.
Our food arrived with pomp and a server who was robotically polite yet always appeared when someone’s drink was low as well as when Tuck signaled for the dessert menu.
“Since when do you want dessert?” I could count on one hand the times I saw him eat it.
“I don’t, but you will.”
I grinned. “Want to split with me?”
“No, thanks.” He grimaced.
“Chris, Lamont, do y’all eat dessert?” I asked.
“All the time,” Chris said.
“Only when I’m not working on a film.”
Which might as well be all the time.” Nevaeh smirked. “I’ll share with you if you don’t want a whole one, or we can get two different desserts and share.”
“Oh, let’s do that. They’ve got bourbon chocolate cake and peanut butter pie.” Complete opposites but no less good.
“What about the bourbon bread pudding,” Nevaeh said, suggesting a third option. “That sounds divine too.”
“Hmm. It does. How about all three?”
Her eyes lit. “Let’s do this.”
Tuck laughed, and when the server came, he ordered them all, then stood. “I’ll be back.”
As soon as he was out of earshot, Nevaeh leaned forward. “Okay, you have however long it takes that man to use the restroom to give us the scoop. Are you thinking forever? Is dating him all you imagined?”
Lamont shook his head. “No, we really want to know how he slid out of the friend zone.”
“Right?” Chris laughed. “And whether you plan on putting him back now that you’ve tried dating him.”
“Y’all are speaking nonsense.” I smiled. “I love everything about being with Tuck. I didn’t think going from friends to this would be a huge difference, but...” I thought about the picnic, the way he cared for me, and even the grocery shopping. “It’s so much better.”
Nevaeh sighed. “I love you guys as a couple. Seriously the best thing ever.”
“You’re not bad,” Lamont said.
Chris shrugged. “I’m not sure how I feel since it makes me the official fifth wheel.”
“We’ll just have to find you a girlfriend,” I said.
He faked horror, eyes wide and hands waving back and forth in front of him. “Been there. Have the scars and memory branded in my mind. I’m good.”
“The right woman makes all the difference,” Lamont said. He smiled down at Nevaeh, who beamed up at him.
“I’m so glad your fake romance worked out,” I said.
“Me too. The fans have been much calmer since Lamont told the truth,” Nevaeh said.
I still couldn’t believe he went on social media—live for goodness’ sake—and told the world he’d lied to prevent being canceled. Somehow, his sincerity had shown through, and people cheered them on.
“The engagement ring also helps.” She wiggled her left hand.
“It’s gorgeous.” I’d seen a photo, but seeing it in person made such a difference. They were obviously happy, and I couldn’t be more pleased for them. “Praying many blessings over y’all’s future.”
“Thanks, Piper,” they said simultaneously.
“Have y’all been shipped yet?”
“Yep,” Lamont said.
“What in the world does that mean?” Chris asked.
“You cannot be that old.” Nevaeh placed a hand on her hip. “You know, when two people get in a relationship—celebrities, mind you—the world gives them a relationship name. They get shipped.”
“Like Bennifer,” I supplied.
At Chris’s blank look, Nevaeh chimed in. “Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez.”
“Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were Brangelina,” I added.
Chris groaned, then looked toward Lamont and Nevaeh. “I’m afraid to ask what your shipped name is.”
Before they could answer, the waiter walked up. My mouth watered as I looked at the trio of desserts. “This looks amazing. Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Suddenly the lights in our booth dimmed, and the LED candles sitting on the border lit up. I frowned. Why the sudden ambiance for a group of five? Clearly, whoever just lowered our lighting did so by mistake. But then a song came over the speakers that had my heart speeding up. One that had good memories associated with it. Maren Morris’s “Good Friends.” It was Tuck’s and my song.
I gasped at the realization. We had a song!
I turned to my right, and there he was. My best friend. My boyfriend. My heart on bended knee, holding a ring. My breath caught in my throat.
“Piper Imani McKinney, you’ve been my best friend for as long as I’ve had memories.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “You’ve been it for me for as long as I could grasp the concept of love. Nothing would make me happier than you becoming my wife. Would you please marry me?”
“Yes!” Tears streamed down my face as he stood and wrapped me in his arms. The kiss he placed on my lips set me on fire as I wound my own arms around his neck, careful to avoid his healing shoulder.
We kissed for an amount of time appropriate in a restaurant, but which left me whimpering when we broke apart.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you so much, Tuck.”
He held up the ring. “You forgot this. Your yes prize.”
I chuckled through tears and held up my left hand. After he slid the ring on my finger, I wiped at the tears to get a good look at it.
“Oh my word. This is fantastic.” A horseshoe of diamonds cradled a heart-shaped diamond. “Where in the world did you find something like this?”
Tuck simply grinned.
“Let me see!” Nevaeh said.
I laughed and sat back down in the booth, then held my hand across the table.
“Look at you, Tucker Hale. I knew you’d find the right one.”
“You knew about this?” I studied my friend.
She nodded. “He asked for advice, and I gave him unhelpful advice. But it looks like he didn’t need my help anyway.”
“It’s perfect.” I stared at the ring, my heart rate slowing from the gallop it had been. Then I stared at my friends, at Tuck—my fiancé—and sighed. This was the best night of my life.
Thank You so much, Lord, for abundant blessings.