“I love you,” I murmured against Nate’s mouth, savoring his smile.
“Is it fucked of me if I demand no take backs?” he whispered, pulling away slightly. His eyes were damp and filled with emotion.
“If you don’t say it, I will.”
Nate’s laughter was everything. It warmed my soul and freed my heart. “No take backs,” he said breathily before he pressed his mouth firmly against mine.
When we eased out of the kiss, I was absolutely aware of the stunned silence. A quick peek showed six shell-shocked faces. I did a cursory glance for cells and was relieved when I didn’t spot one.
A quick glance over my shoulder confirmed the almost empty bar seemed to be minding their own business. Aware I could have heard a mouse’s fart, I cleared my throat, stood by Nate’s side, and held his hand. “So, yeah.”
Dean was the first to lose the gobsmacked expression. “Holy shit, are you engaged? Was that a proposal? Did that just really happen?” He shot a look at Kieran, whose eyes were as round as saucers. “Kieran, did that just freakin’ happen?”
Wordlessly, Kieran nodded while my brain went into an all-out panic. “The what? No. Shit.” Alarmed, I also got whiplash at the speed of rotating so I could see Nate. The bastard wore a huge-ass grin, amusement dancing in his gaze.
“No, it wasn’t a proposal,” he said, rolling his eyes at me.
“Fuck me.” I legit held my hand to my chest, hoping to stop my heart from bursting free.
“Hey, who’s to say I’d even have said yes?”
“What?” Okay, so that wasn’t what I was expecting to hear, especially since a marriage apparently was something I wanted, according to my declaration. I was so not yet ready. But still. “What do you mean? You’d have turned me down?” Hurt rumbled ridiculously to life. Sure, I didn’t want a proposal to happen today, but yeah, that was definitely disappointment pouting in my chest. When Nate shot a dangerously high eyebrow my way, I sensed the need to keep my mouth shut. He was wondering what the fuck I was talking about and why I was even debating this.
As if taking pity on me, he leaned in, only hesitating for a moment before brushing his lips against my own. “When we’re ready, we’ll know.” His words made me feel marginally better, but the shifting of a beer bottle across from me reminded me we weren’t alone.
And that I’d just come out to strangers.
Andthat I needed to get a jump on this before someone else did.
Dean, honest to God, lifted his hand, saying, “I’ve got questions.”
I snorted, and Nate squeezed my hand. “You get two, then I need to go and call my agent.”
Understanding registered in Dean’s eyes, and his whole intensity shifted slightly, softening a little. “I know this can’t be public knowledge, ’cause of course we’d know. I promise none of us will breathe a word.” He stared pointedly around the table.
I watched as each person offered me a genuine smile and a solemn nod.
“But youarecoming out?” The question was gentle and kind, perhaps more than I deserved considering I’d been such a selfish prick to the man I professed to love. Thinking about Nate, I peered over at him. He remained at my side, smiling, a steady, confident reminder that he had my back, just as he had my heart.
“Yeah. It’s more than time for me to live…” I hesitated, considering the right word. “…authentically.” I turned my attention to Kieran, who still hadn’t said anything. “Truth is, Nate and I have been best friends since we were kids, but when I moved to America, I was too chickenshit to admit I’d left behind more than my home and family. I’d left my heart behind too.”
I returned Nate’s tight squeeze to my palm.
“Officially we’ve been together since May, just this year”—fuck, had it only been four months? I could barely remember my life before he was mine—“but Nate’s been the only man for me.” This time I glanced at Nate, taking in the emotion directed my way. “Taking you for granted, not being true to either of us was not okay.”
He shook his head. “Don’t you dare. We decided this together. We had a plan.”
While that was true, we both knew it was fucked-up.
“Next question.” Dean cut through the onslaught of emotions threatening to bulldoze me. This kid was a force of nature. I wished I could have been more like him growing up. Hell, now… with his sass and fearlessness.
“Shoot,” I said.
“Can we get a group selfie, and are you on WhatsApp?”
“You’re talking to the app challenged here, Dean,” Nate said. “But you can have my details. I’d just appreciate it if you’d keep them to yourself.”
An earnest promise later, we grouped together and smiled ridiculously at the phone attached to a selfie stick.
