Avoiding Temptation (Avoiding #3)(28)

“Sure,” she said, looking up into his green eyes.

He smiled proudly and kissed her lips. It was a chaste gesture, but the contact in public made her heart flutter. Not that Ramsey was against public displays of affection, but he usually kept everything discreet at the country club. It was the rules of the game.

They followed Ramsey’s parents out of the country club and into the parking lot.

“I’ll see y’all there,” Parker said with a wave.

“Oh! Can I go with you?” Bekah asked. “You can swing me back by here on your way out.”

“Sure, Bek.”

“See y’all in a minute,” Bekah said. She fluttered her hands at them and walked off after Parker.

Lexi caught Parker staring at Ramsey, her eyes distant. It was a familiar look. Lexi wasn’t sure she would ever get used to the way Parker looked at him.

“Come on,” Ramsey said, wrapping his arm around Lexi’s waist and pulling her away from the girls.

Lexi opened the car door and sank down into her seat with a sigh. This was going to be fun. Now, they didn’t just get to tell Ramsey’s parents. They would have a full audience that included Bekah and Parker. She wished they could have just told everyone at brunch instead of waiting. It made her stomach twist.

What was Ramsey waiting for? Surely, the right time wouldn’t materialize out of thin air. It never did with things she was involved in. It was better just to get it over with than to wait for the moment. Then again…Ramsey was a planner. He had found the perfect time to propose just like everything else in his life, and he would only move forward with this when he knew it was right. The tension at brunch had been so palpable that Lexi was sure it would never be the right time around Bekah or Parker. They both put her too much on edge.

The Bridges’ estate was only a few minutes drive, deeper into the depths of the country club–gated community. Ramsey pulled around to the side of the house and into an open space in the massive garage. Parker drove her Range Rover into the space next to his, which Lexi knew was Bekah’s normal spot.

Lexi had been surprised to find out that their parents had left garage space for their two children even though they had both moved out years ago. It led her to believe they had attachment issues, and that slightly terrified her.

They piled out of the car and took the short route through the Bridges’ mansion, out the back doors, and down the stairs that led to the backyard. Their parents were already set up at the pavilion with the afternoon drinks and cigars, as promised. Some lemonade, sweet tea, and finger foods were also on display. Only one other couple from brunch had arrived. Likely, the others would go home and freshen up before returning.

Ramsey picked up lemonade for Lexi while he poured himself a whiskey drink to match his father. She wasn’t sure how he had known that she wasn’t in the mood to drink…or maybe he had just known how much of a lightweight she was, and he hadn’t wanted her to get drunk in front of his parents. Ramsey’s tolerance was through the roof though, so she knew that whiskey wouldn’t do much to him.

“Excuse me,” Ramsey said to the group as soon as everyone had a drink in hand. “I have an announcement to make.”

Lexi’s stomach twisted as everyone turned to face him. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in closer. The silence before he spoke was like a hundred-pound weight on her shoulders. Bekah suspiciously looked at Ramsey, her eyes darting between Ramsey and Lexi, like she was trying to piece together the puzzle. Parker only had eyes for Ramsey. She didn’t glance at Lexi once.

Lexi took a deep breath and waited.

“I wanted y’all to know that I asked Lexi to marry me,” he said softly. His eyes found hers, and he smiled. “And she said yes.”

She only saw him in that moment, and the emotions that had crashed down all around her the night he had asked her to marry him ripped through her again. She was very, very lucky to have found someone who loved her unconditionally, who put up with all of her indecision, and believed in her despite her own fears. She beamed up at him, lost in the moment, lost to this man.

And then, the moment was broken.

But not from the commotion she had been expecting. It was from the silence. She turned to face the small crowd they had around them. Various looks of shock crossed their faces, but no one moved or said anything at first.

“We’re getting married,” Ramsey confirmed when still no one had said anything.

“Oh, Ramsey,” his mother said, walking forward slowly, “that’s wonderful news.”

“Congratulations, son,” his father said. He was as stoic as ever.

Neither of them really sounded excited.

His mother moved to Lexi and wrapped her in a hug. “So glad to hear, dear.”

Parker opened her mouth and then closed it. She looked between them as if she didn’t even know where to begin, then she swallowed and walked up to Lexi. “Congratulations,” she said, hugging Lexi next after Ramsey’s mother. “I’m sure you’ll be very happy together.”

“Thank you,” Lexi whispered.

She hadn’t expected Parker to be so genuine, but she didn’t sound spiteful at all. Maybe Parker was a little shocked, but everyone seemed to be shocked.

The other couple that had been standing with Ramsey’s parents came forward and issued their own congratulatory hugs and handshakes. They said something to Ramsey that made him laugh, and it seemed then, for a second, as if all the tension had broken.