Chapter 2

Our heads lift at the sound of Gabi groaning loudly as she devours her French toast.

“Are you having fun over there?” Leila asks with a chuckle, amused at the noises she’s making. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume you were pregnant or something by the way you’re looking at that French toast.” She gestures to her own round belly, and sighs. “Trust me, I would know.”

“I’m amazing,” Gabi slurs with a mouthful of French toast. “I’m incredible. I’m fucking fantastic.” She shakes her head. “How did I not know how good French toast is?” she asks, groaning again. “I’m going to have to ask Chris to make these every day instead of pancakes from now on.”

“Kinda feel bad for the guy,” Madeline says, letting out a laugh as she glances at Gabi.

Leila lets out a scoff. “You’re acting as if the guy wouldn’t build a bakery if she wanted,” she replies.

Gabi swallows down her food, before reaching for her orange juice, not mimosa—shocking I know—and takes a sip before a grin spreads across her face. “I love hearing you guys talk about my soon to be husband,” she says, before taking another bite of her food.

“Are you excited?” I ask her, picking up some scrambled eggs on my fork before I swallow them down. “About finally being Mrs. Hudson? ”

“I think she’s more excited about the French toast right now,” Madi pipes in with a chuckle.

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Leila replies, sipping on her lemon water. “She’s practically jumping out of her chair.”

“It’s the sugar,” Madi replies with a chuckle as she glances at Gabi who’s bouncing in her seat. “She’s like a kid, I swear. Too much sugar and she’s jumping off the walls.”

Gabi chuckles, swallowing her food before she winks at us, holding up her orange juice. “I’ll be jumping on other things later,” she says with a mischievous grin.

Madeline sighs, a smile curving her lips. “Our best friend, ladies and gentlemen,” she says, raising her glass as she arches a brow at Gabi. “Never change.” Tipping her glass back, she swallows a sip of her mimosa.

“I never will,” Gabi replies, taking a sip of her drink.

“Hmmm.” Leila presses her lips together in a hum. “Not all change is bad,” she says, pointedly. “Especially for the bachelorette tomorrow night.”

Gabi lets out a loud gasp, placing a hand dramatically on her chest. “You want me to change ?”

A laugh bubbles out of me as Leila rolls her eyes. “I don’t mean to dye your hair and quit dancing. I just meant you may want to remember you’re getting married this weekend, so getting trashed probably won’t be the best decision.”

“You don’t have to worry,” she reassures us with a wave of her hand. “I won’t get trashed.”

“Are you sure about that?” I ask with a chuckle. I’ve known Gabi for a long time, and knowing her means knowing she loves a good party, as much as she loves to get absolutely wasted.

“I’m very sure,” she says with a grin as she picks up her orange juice. “I can promise you guys I’ll be on my best behavior, and will be perfectly fine for the wedding.”

Leila lets out a groan, dropping her hand to her belly. “I think the baby had too many croissants.”

“How much longer until you’re screaming in pain?” Gabi asks.

Leila pins her with a glare. “Not a huge fan of the way you put it,” she says. “But there’s still three weeks left.” She lets out a sigh. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

Gabi freezes, her eyes widening. “Wait, it’s a boy? I have a bet going with the guys that it’s going to be a girl. Don’t tell me I just lost.”

Leila rolls her eyes. “Yeah, I know about that bet. But no, we don’t know yet. Aiden wanted it to be a surprise this time, but I kind of think it’s a boy,” she admits, with a smile.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a boy,” Madi pipes in, shaking her head. “Aiden screams ‘girl dad’.”

This whole talk of weddings and babies has my head spinning, and I tug on my bottom lip with my teeth, feeling every emotion under the sun. I’ve kept it bottled inside the whole morning, and I can’t wait a second longer.

“I found a ring,” I blurt out, letting out a heavy sigh once I finally let it out. My shoulders drop as the girls turn to face me, their jaws dropped.

“A… a ring?” Madeline asks, furrowing her brows.

“Like a cock ring?” Gabi asks, with an arched brow .

“Obviously she didn’t mean that,” Leila says dryly, turning her attention back to me. “You found an engagement ring?”

“It could still be a cock ring,” Gabi pipes in with a shrug.

I press my lips together, and shake my head. “No. It’s not… that,” I affirm, feeling my cheeks heat up. “When Gabi knocked on our door and um… interrupted us,” I begin, seeing Gabi smirk. “I was getting ready to take a shower, and I saw a small, black box in the drawer when I was trying to find my hairbrush. I wasn’t going to open it but… it was right there, and I could tell it was a ring box, and so I opened it,” I say, letting out a breath. “It was an engagement ring. A three-carat, oval diamond, excellent cut, D color, VS1 clarity engagement ring.”

Madi’s brows shoot up. “That’s…”

“The exact one I want,” I confirm with a nod. “Down to the gold band, encrusted with smaller diamonds.”

“Wow,” she says, surprised etched on her features. “How did Grayson know that’s the one you wanted?” she asks.

I shake my head, a smile curling my lips. “I don’t remember telling him what ring I wanted, and even if I did let it slip, I don’t see how Grayson would have remem—”

“He said he saw it saved on your laptop,” Gabi chimes in, her eyes fixed on her French toast as she takes another bite.

I blink down at her. “He… what?” I ask, my heart thumping in my chest.

She lifts her head, and her eyes widen as soon as she sees my expression, and presses her lips together. “I mean… Grayson’s going to propose? Whaaaat? That’s crazy. Brand new information. I had nooo idea. ”

I can’t help but laugh at her poor attempt and pin her with a confused look. “You’re really bad at lying,” I say with a shake of my head.

Her lips part on a sigh and she slumps into her seat. “Fuck. I told him I could keep it a secret until he had the balls to propose.”

“Oh my god,” Leila says, swallowing hard as she locks eyes with me. “Grayson’s really going to propose?”

“I guess so,” I reply, my belly heating up, swarming with butterflies, feeling like the first time I ever kissed him. I still remember that day vividly. I still remember his smile, and his hands on me, and the noises he made.

It was the start of everything between us, and nine years later we’re here, and he’s going to propose. “Grayson is going to propose,” I murmur to myself, still dumbfounded that this is really going to happen.

I’ve wanted to marry Grayson for years now. He makes me so happy, and I can’t imagine my life without him. But being the CEO of my own fashion company has kept me busy, so I put the idea of marriage on the backburner. Our life was hectic and we didn’t really have time, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed that he never asked me to marry him. But now he’s about to.

“How the hell did you know Grayson’s going to propose?” Leila asks Gabi.

“He told me this morning,” she admits, her gaze sliding to me. “I’m almost shocked you didn’t hear my scream when I found out. ”

“I heard that,” Madeline chimes in with an arched brow. “I thought it was a child.”

“Close,” Leila adds with a chuckle. “So… how are you feeling about this?” she asks, turning her green eyes on me.

“I’m good,” I confirm with a happy sigh, my cheeks aching from smiling. “I’m really good. I’m so ready to be his wife.”

“It’s about time he popped the question, don’t you think?” Madi lets out a laugh. “I mean, you guys were the first to get together, and the last to get married.”

I shake my head, a smile spreading across my face. “I love him so much. I would have waited a lifetime for him.”

Gabi drops her fork, and her face fills with an uneasy look and before we know it, she runs toward the bathroom.

“Who would have thought?” Leila says with a chuckle. “You actually made Gabi throw up with your talk of being in love.”

“Got to give it to her, she really committed to the bit.” Madi raises her glass and cheers with Leila. “Sometimes I think she might be a better actress than me.”

“Hell no,” Leila says with a scoff. “She’s dramatic, for sure, and loves to cause a scene, and be the center of attention.”

“Is there a but coming or…”

Leila smirks. “But she doesn’t have three amazing movies and two TV shows under her belt like you do.”

Madi smiles, tilting her head at Leila. “Fine. I’ll give it to you. That is true. ”

I turn my head when I see Gabi back in her seat, reaching for a glass of water instead of the orange juice as she takes a sip. “Back already?” I ask her. “I kind of thought you’d stick to the bit a little longer,” I say with a chuckle. “Did you really need to make a scene just because I said I loved Grayson?”

Gabi’s lips twitch into a smile and she shrugs. “Couldn’t help it,” she says. “Love makes me barf.”

Madi scoffs, shaking her head. “I can’t wait to see how lovey-dovey you and Chris get at the wedding.”

“That’s different,” Gabi says with a grin. “That’s about me.”

“Thanks,” I say dryly, knowing she’s joking.

A laugh bubbles out of her, but it settles when she meets my eyes. “I really am happy for you, Rosie. I can see how happy he makes you and how much you two love each other.” My eyes start to tear up. “And I can’t wait to be the maid of honor at your wedding.”

“Excuse me?” Leila asks with narrowed eyes. “If anyone’s going to be maid of honor, it’ll be me.”

“I’m the first who knew about the engagement,” Gabi replies.

“And I was her best friend first.”

A scoff leaves Gabi’s lips. “You’ll probably be pregnant again by the time she gets married. You won’t have time to do everything a maid of honor needs to do.”

“Guys,” I interject with a laugh. “I love how passionate you guys are about being my maid of honor, but nothing’s happened yet. ”

“I can be your maid of honor,” Madi whispers, flashing me a smile. “I’m organized, planned an amazing wedding for Leila in just under three months, and I won’t get drunk at the bachelorette party.”

I chuckle, bringing the drink to my lips.

Nine years ago, I was lost and lonely and didn’t know how my life would turn out.

And now I have these three amazing people, plus an amazing boyfriend who I can’t wait to marry.

I just need to wait for him to propose first.