Down and Dirty (Hot Jocks #5)(59)
“Shh, guys,” I hiss through my teeth, motioning for everyone to bring it down a few notches. “I don’t need a big party or anything. Landon and I are already planning on going on a delayed honeymoon next summer. That’s all the celebration I need.”
“Okay, but we don’t get to go on the honeymoon,” Becca says in a hushed, yet sassy voice. “We want to celebrate you too. Plus, it’s an excuse for everyone to get together before you leave.”
I mull it over, chewing my lower lip in thought. She makes a good point. “How about I ask Landon and see what he thinks?”
“He’ll say yes as long as it’s something you want to do,” Elise says, her tone pleading.
“Come on, let us do this. We’ll keep it casual, I promise.” Ana blinks at me with big puppy-dog eyes.
God, these girls make it impossible to say no.
“Fine. Go for it,” I say, raising my palms in surrender. “But nothing fancy. Let’s keep it low-key and casual, okay?”
Soft, soothing music starts to play, which is our cue to quit talking and get our meditation on. Something my party-planning friends make it nearly impossible to achieve. Throughout the whole class, I can hear Ana and Bailey whispering to each other, discussing dates and locations.
The second class is over, Bailey scrambles to her locker to grab her phone, texting Landon to confirm the details. Next Friday, seven p.m., Landon’s apartment. They’ll all come over at five to decorate, meaning it looks like the hubby and I are going out to dinner beforehand.
I roll my eyes, sliding my shoes back on before heading for the door. “You guys are insane, you know that?”
“Nope,” Ana says with an enormous grin. “We just love you, that’s all.”
? ? ?
It’s just past seven when Landon and I step out of the elevator and toward his apartment, where we can already hear the party underway. It’s Friday night, and we’re fresh off a sushi dinner and a mini make-out sesh in the parking garage, ready to celebrate the crazy past few months the two of us have had with a low-key gathering of our friends.
At least, that’s what I told my friends I wanted. But by the sounds of clinking glasses and ambient music spilling out from behind Landon’s apartment door, I somehow get the feeling tonight’s party isn’t going to be as chill as I anticipated.
“Do you think I have to knock at my own apartment?” Landon asks, his dark brows knitting together as he digs in his pocket for his keys.
I lift a shoulder, weaving my fingers into the spaces between his. “They probably wouldn’t even hear you over the music.”
We decide to just walk in, finding the door unlocked. Inside, we’re greeted by a dozen friendly faces, a few of them unexpected. I knew we’d have all the regulars, but it looks like Ana’s hot-tempered boyfriend, Jason, turned up for the party, along with Grant and Jordie, who I haven’t seen since the wedding. When Becca said that this party would be a good way to get everyone together, she really meant everyone. As much as I put up a fight about it, I really am grateful to have all my favorite people together one last time before we leave.
“Hey, hey! Right on time,” Owen calls from the kitchen, lifting two beer bottles in the air so as not to spill them as he weaves through the crowd.
Landon’s apartment is spacious, but it’s still a one-bedroom, not really designed to hold two dozen people. Becca follows a few steps behind Owen, and pulls me in for a big hug.
“Welcome to the first, and therefore best, engagement slash wedding slash going-away party you’ve ever been to.” She gestures to the sparkly silver banner above the couch that reads CONGRATULATIONS! and another right below it that reads BON VOYAGE.
“For some reason, the party store didn’t sell any combination wedding and going-away party banners.” Bailey emerges from the crowded kitchen and hands me a flute of champagne.
“This is too much,” I say, gasping as I take in the black and silver balloons dotting the corners of the room, along with the twinkle lights draped along the granite countertops. It feels like New Year’s Eve in September, in the best possible way.
“Just wait till you see the games!” Ana pulls me into the living room, showing off the trivia game she’s made out of a poster board. She’s written MARRIAGE BOOT CAMP 101 in big bold letters across the top, and each colorful square has a different question written on it, meant to test how well couples know each other.
Apparently, when I said tonight should be low-key and casual, what Ana heard was annoying party games, the kind you play at a baby shower or bridal party. Yes, because I’m sure my new husband is going to love answering trivia questions and diapering a baby doll. Except Landon’s smile hasn’t faded once, and his rich laughter floats across the room to me even now.
God, I’m so lucky to have him.
Once everyone has a drink and a plate of appetizers, we congregate in the living room, pairing off into couples to play the game. Jordie and Grant, the only single guys here, are good sports about being a “Bro Power Couple,” insisting that they’ll beat all the actual couples, which gets a good laugh.
“Come here, Jason.” Ana waves over her boyfriend, who has been sitting on the couch scrolling through his phone since we got here. “We’re starting the game.”
Reluctantly, Jason pockets his phone and stalks over to where Ana’s seated on the carpet, divvying out poker chips to use as game pieces and explaining the rules—roll the dice, move your poker chip that many spaces, and answer the question you land on about your significant other. Clearly, she put a lot of work into this. Honestly, my heart could burst, no matter how cheesy it is.