Chapter Twenty-eight
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
NATALIE
“I’m pretty sure if you can’t find a way to keep your hands to yourself, everyone is going to know we’re more than friends before we get a chance to tell them.”
Tobias kisses my neck one more time before he unlocks his arms from around me and steps back. He’d been hugging me from behind while I cut up more limes for the margaritas we’re planning to serve.
“I didn’t mean you had to stop; I was just stating the obvious.”
He spins me around and pins me against the counter.
“Maybe we don’t tell them. Maybe we just keep being us and that’s how they find out. They just see it.”
He presses his lips to mine, his hand at my right hip gripping tight. The moment I feel his other hand touch my left hip; I push him back.
He was about to lift me onto the counter, and as much as I’d love to let him take me right here, right now, sex four times before noon is more than enough. Not to mention our friends will be here soon.
“You’re going to have to save that for later, Casanova.”
He chuckles, backing away and opening the fridge. He pulls out the premade mix from earlier and sets it on the counter next to me.
“We should cancel.”
I let out a laugh.
“We are not canceling. As much as I would love to let you strip me down to nothing right now, everyone loves your annual BBQ as much as you do.”
He huffs.
“I’m serious, Tobias. Although I personally enjoyed them when they were earlier in the year. Like June or July. Why is this year so late?”
He shrugs.
“I guess because even though I never admitted it, I hated seeing you and Griffin together. I would never not invite you, so the longer I waited, the longer I didn’t have to see you with him.”
It’s still mind-blowing how different our lives were just a month ago. I hate that he felt that way.
“Well, that’s not something to worry about anymore.”
“No?” he asks teasingly.
“No. All we have to worry about now is getting bored.”
I sneak a glance his way, but he doesn’t have a chance to reply before his front door opens and Zane and Willa walk in.
“Finally,” Zane says right from the start.
Willa sets a couple of bags of goodies down and gives me a hug.
“He’s been waiting for this night for months.”
Tobias slugs Zane’s arm.
“Miss me?”
“No, but I’m ready for some games and to name someone’s book this year.”
Last year, I was the reason Tobias lost. He’s yet to have a book release since then, but when he does have one ready, the guys get to name it.
They started this tradition around the same time I met Tobias.
The BBQ has a set number of games, and whoever loses the most has to let the other guys name their next book.
Oh no, what if Tobias’s next book is the book we wrote together?
Figures. That’s karma for being the reason he lost last year.
Quickly, the rest of the group shows up and we get on with the night. It starts to rain, so we have to move the last couple of games inside the house. There are disagreements, a treasure hunt that lasts way too long, and more stolen kisses than I can count.
When all is said and done and Tobias and I have redeemed our reputation from last summer, everyone gathers in the living room and kitchen area for one last drink and dessert.
“Now, before everyone leaves, we have an announcement,” Tobias says and looks at me.
Gosh, this seems so silly to have to tell them this way, but they’ve all been rooting for us, so it seems fitting that we make it a full-blown announcement.
“Did you finish your book?” Hero asks.
“Did you already get a publishing deal? Or are you publishing independently?” Zane asks next.
“Are we supposed to guess, or are you just going to tell us?” Simon adds.
Tobias is about to share the news, but I do him one better. I push to my toes, grab his face, and kiss him.
Right there in front of all our closest friends, I kiss the man whom I should have been kissing back when we were dreaming of nights like these.
“Yes!” Beck shouts, and when I break the kiss, Tobias wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in close.
From the corner of my eye, I spy Beck doing the same to Calla, kissing her head before he says, “All is right in the world, and our group is complete.”
I try not to laugh at Beck’s dramatics, but honestly, I love it. I can see why Calla fell for him even when she couldn’t stand him, then married him. His heart is always in the right place.
“We should celebrate with dinner and drinks next weekend,” Hero adds.
“We’re having dinner and drinks right now,” Graham says.
“Without kids is what he means,” Nora adds.
Quickly, a plan falls into place for next weekend.
My face hurts from smiling so much in the last half hour, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Where are we having these drinks?” I ask once we’ve picked a night and time.
“At the Black Alcove bar,” Zane says.
The smile that was hurting moments ago begins to falter.
The Black Alcove Bar is the best bar in Wind Valley. The food is good, drinks are great, the music sets a laidback vibe, and the people who work there are what keep you coming back.
The only problem is, I haven’t been back for one specific reason.
Griffin’s sister started working there a couple of weeks before the engagement party.