Him and I

Chapter Two

"I'm sorry what?" I choked on my own words, not knowing what to say. Landon, who never had a serious girlfriend in his life, who was scared of commitment, was getting married? "Who even are you?"

"I am bringing out some champagne. I never thought I would live to see the day." Marie stood up and hugged Landon before walking into the back room. We all just stared open mouthed at him. How can he marry someone without even telling his best friends he had a girlfriend? And who was this mysterious woman that was able to put a leash on this wild animal of a man.

"Okay, I know this is a shock, and I should have told you guys about her, but I wanted to do it in person. I am really sorry for throwing this on all of you like this." He said, sitting back down in between Angie and Eli. "Please say something." He pleaded, looking at each one of us, finally landing on me. I stood up from Oliver's lap and walked over to him, slapping him on the chest.

"How dare you keep this from us? Not to mention springing it on us like this. Do you not trust us? Are you ashamed of us? What the hell was going through your mind? We are your friends!" I exclaimed, pacing back and forth. "I want to meet her! That poor girl probably thinks you're ashamed of her!"

"What the hell, Landon! Don't get me wrong, I am so beyond happy for you, but why did you feel you needed to hide this from us for so long?" Angie asked, staying calm and placing her hand on his arm.

"Obviously, I am going to be your best man, so does she have any hot sisters or friends that are going to be at the wedding? You know it's the best man's duty to sleep with the maid of honor." Oliver said, sliding forward in his seat with a sly smile on his face. I whipped my head towards him and smacked the back of his head. "Ow! What was that for, woman?"

"Don't be disgusting!" I glared, crossing my arms over my chest and sticking my hip out. Just then Marie came back out with a trey containing six flutes of champagne and a wide smile on her face. I smiled graciously at her and helped her pass them out, taking my own by the stem. "Marie, you don't sell alcohol, why did you have this?"

"I am always prepared, darling." She smiled, "Though, I only thought I'd be bringing this out for when you two finally announced you were engaged." I made a face of disgust at the thought of marrying Landon. She laughed at my facial expression and then held her flute in the air. "To Landon and his future wife! May you have all the happiness in the world, and god bless that girl's soul for taking pity on this young man." We all laughed while Landon looked completely offended, but non the less we all raised our glasses and downed the gold liquid. "So, when do you plan to bring her by to meet us?"

"Soon, I promise!" Landon swore, being happy with his answer, Marie kissed his cheek and went back to work. We all sat there in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, taking in all the information that we just learned. I was genuinely happy for my friend; my little buddy was finally growing up! I never thought I would live to see the day that Landon would become a one-woman man, to get married. Yet, here he was, the first of us to be tied down! "Are you guys busy today?" Landon asked us this while he was looking down at his phone, a huge cheesy smile on his face. I had never seen him look so happy, how had I not noticed the difference in him? We all looked at each other and agreed that we were free. It was a Sunday after all, none of us worked weekends, and we had cleared any plans we may have had, knowing that Landon would be in town. "Would you guys like to meet Tess? She wants to know if we want to have lunch at her townhouse?"

I looked down at my phone and saw that it was already noon. I nodded my head in anticipation. The others had the same reaction, Angie bouncing in her seat a little, making me giggle. We cleaned our mess up off the table and went to the counter to pay our bill with the cashier, saying a quick goodbye to Marie. We all walked out of the Café into the warm spring air. Oliver leaned over and put his arm around Angie, leading her to his car. They lived in the same building so they must have ridden together, Eli following behind. Landon and I had walked here so we followed and squeezed into Angie's backseat with Eli. I was squished in the middle.