Resolution (Saviour #2)(81)
Josh turns, looks at the tray, then down at Ava’s legs, then up at Ava’s face, then down at Ava’s chest and they stay there, staring right at Ava’s chest. Gabe moves slightly, I squeeze his hand tighter, suddenly Louie smacks Josh around the head.
“Dude, stop staring at my cousins tits, that’s so not cool, I will beat you man, don’t do that, Gabe will kill you, I’m serious.”
Josh looks from Ava’s chest to Lou, back to Ava’s face, he’s blushing the same colour as Ava’s lips and although she now has her back to me, I’m sure she is beet red too, poor thing. Josh takes a pie, mumbles a sorry and a thank you and turns back to his game; Ava turns and starts making her way over to us. “Tell her how nice she looks” I whisper into Gabe’s ear. By the time she gets to us, Ava has only a couple of pies left on the tray, I’m starving but leave the last two for Zac and Gabe, he looks at me. “You sure you don’t want it?”
I shake my head. “You’ve not eaten much all day babe; I don’t want you pas…”
“I’m fine Gabe, honestly.” I interrupt him. Zac is watching us with a little too much interest and I watch his eyes wander from Gabe to my boobs, to my belly. Keeping this pregnancy secret for another four or five weeks is not going to be as easy as I thought.
“I love the dress, you look beautiful Ava” I say, to change the subject.
“Thanks Lauren, I love your outfit too.”
“Both my girls look beautiful tonight, you look gorgeous Ava.” He kisses her on the cheek and as embarrassed as she is, I know she’s also relieved that he hasn’t caused a scene and made her go and change.
We had decided that as soon as everyone was here and had a few drinks, we would announce our engagement to everyone so once the barbie is lit and warming up, a few trays of appetisers have been served and everyone has at least two or three drinks inside them, Gabe pulls me over to an empty spot away from everyone else and calls out for everyone to please be quiet, everyone is looking at us slightly confused as Gabe stands with his arm around me and starts to speak.
“Ten weeks ago, my world was rocked when I walked into the pub for a beer with my brothers and my eyes landed on this short, sexy red head, who at the time was singing into an empty beer bottle to the words of The Clash – Should I Stay Or Should I Go.”
He looks down at me and smiles, I can’t believe he remembers that… I don’t even remember that… It’s probably because of my outstanding vocal skills that it’s stuck in his mind…
“For any of you that have had the pleasure of hearing Lauren sing, I’m sure you are wondering why I didn’t run far, far away.”
“Coz then you noticed what a great rack she had.” Trust Zac.
“Well yeah, there was that too.” Trust Gabe. “But there was so much more; years ago a very wise woman told me that one day I would fall in love and when I did it would be like boom and I would feel like the world was falling out from under me.”
He tilts his beer bottle towards Sam in a cheers gesture. “Well that night ten weeks ago, it happened. At the time, I’ve got to say, I actually thought I was suffering from indigestion, heartburn or food poisoning but I realised within a few short days it was quite possibly love, it had finally happened, after so many years of me thinking that it was something that wasn’t meant to be for me, when I least expected it, that boom happened. Now, you people here are all aware of the circumstances, you all know what an unconventional start we have had to our relationship and you are all aware of what we have been through in just ten short weeks, despite all of that, we are here, now, together, to let all of you, the people we love most in the world, that what we have is forever and I am honoured, privileged and over the f*cking moon to be able to share with you all tonight, that Lauren Marie Day has agreed to become my wife.”
There are cheers and tears from all directions, Gabe pulls me into him and slides my ring back onto my finger, I had taken it off earlier because I knew my friends would spot it in an instant, as soon as it’s back on, my eyes search out Ryder but he is already at my side, not only to give me a kiss and a cuddle but also with a man hug and a handshake for Gabe.
“I couldn’t be happier for you Mum, congratulations – Gabe.” He takes a deep breath and seems to be swallowing back tears. “She is the bravest person I know. If it ever comes to my attention that you have hurt her in any way, shape or form, intentionally or otherwise mate. I will hunt you down and kill you.” He stares long and hard at Gabe, just to make a point but then just as quickly they are having a hug and shaking hands again.
The next few hours go along pleasantly, the men cook, the women set up the food and the drinks are flowing, twice I have been asked what I’m drinking and both times I have got away with saying white wine and lemonade and that I will have a drink later, once all the food is cleared away but I am acutely aware of the fact that both Jemma and Zac have been watching me more than normal but neither of them have said a word, so maybe I’m just being paranoid. Once everyone has eaten the men drift over to the pool table and to watch the footie on the big screen on the wall; Ava, Sophie, Louie and Josh are all sitting on bean bags around the fire pit and I notice Gabe has spent more time looking at them this past half hour than he has concentrating on his pool match or even on me for that matter, it’s getting cold now so I walk over to where the kids are sitting and tell the girls that I’m going in to get my hoodie on and suggest that perhaps they might be more comfortable and warmer if they went and changed into trackies and hoodies too, thankfully they agree and follow me inside to change. I am so uncomfortable in my jeans that I switch into a pair of yoga pants, a hoodie and my Uggs; as I walk back out to the pool house, Zac is grinning at me.