Tryst - Forbidden Hearts Series

31| Mama Bear

How the hell did I get wrapped up into this? I mean, I know how I got wrapped up into this. . . but why? Why did Harper choose me to plan her engagement party? Me -- Jamie. The last single member of their group. Was she trying to rub my face in it? But I already knew the answer to that. Harper would never do that. She was just asking me as a best friend to help her out. So, here we were. The whole lot of us gathered at Lanie's house as we tried to get a location picked.

"Wait a minute," Ryan interrupted, "what if he says no."

I rolled my eyes as Danielle popped her husband on the back of the head. "He's not going to say no."

"Seriously, Ry," Danielle added, "What kind of best man are you?"

Ryan held his hands up defensively. "Whoa. First, he hasn't asked me to be his best man, yet. And second, I'm his brother, and I know how he's always felt about marriage."

Lanie snickered. "Yeah, and we all know how he feels about Harper. Believe me, he's going to say yes." She shrugged a shoulder before she added, "And if he doesn't, then I'll kick his ass."

"Me too." Ayden chimed in.

Nate walked up to stand beside me and crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you guys hearing yourselves? All this negativity. Let's have some optimism." He wrapped an arm around my shoulder, "Now, Harper asked Jamie here to plan a surprise engagement party for when they come back. So that's what we're going to do."

"Thank you, Nate." He left me along to go and stand back beside a smiling Karma. The two of them were just adorable. I'd gotten closer to her over the past few weeks. "Okay, guys. Let's start with where we should have the engagement party. Any ideas?"

"Let's do it at Down the Rabbit Hole," Ayden suggested. "That's where they first met. I think it's fitting."

Lanie agreed. "I like that idea. We can probably close the bar down for a few hours. Keep it just us. I know Harper will be cool with it."

I couldn't help but chuckle when Nate raised his hand. "Nate, you don't need to raise your hand. What's your question."

"What about gifts? Do we get them engagement presents?"

Karma rolled her eyes. "Wow, really? Of course we do!"

"How should I know? I've never been to an engagement party."

"You've never been to an engagement party? How is that possible, Nathan?"

Nate smiled wide. Completely clueless of the trap laid out before him. "Because the guy I hung out with were more of the one night stand types. Not really the marrying kind, you know what I mean?"

Ryan groaned as he covered his face, and Ayden made a 'cut off' motion with his hand in a clear attempt to help his friend. Too late. Poor Nate already opened his mouth.

"Why is everyone looking at me like that?" He asked before looking at Karma. She had her arms cross over her chest, foot tapping, and eyebrow arched. His face paled when he realized what an idiot he was. "Come on, gorgeous. You know I'm not like that now. Please stop looking at me like that. I'll make it up to you tonight."

When she remained silent, Nate reached out to stroke her cheek with his thumb. "You know what I'll do?" He leaned forward so no one would hear what he whispered in her ear.

By the redness of her cheeks and the softening in her gaze, she liked whatever he said. My chest ached at the scene in front of me. I hadn't been with anyone since I broke up with Adam -- and that was back when Jackson and Harper was still a secret. That was almost two years ago. With everything that happened with my mom, dating just seemed impossible. Taking care of my mom was my top priority -- no matter how many times she tried to set me up with random men.