Ready or Not (The Ready Series Book 4)(60)

“We could meet over pizza,” he added. “Chuck E. Cheese would be fine.”

Shaking my head, I grabbed my purse, and then I walked up to him and straightened his tie. “First thing, Chuck E. Cheese? Gross. That pizza is horrible. Secondly, Clare is pregnant, so we do whatever she says, including ridiculous dinners that require a new dress and shoes.”

His eyes appreciatively traveled the length of my body as his hand slipped around my waist. The decision to spend a little extra on the black-and-white strapless lace dress was definitely paying off.

“On second thought, I really like this idea. I’ll be sure to thank our hostess.”

“Stop that thought right there, counselor. You’re going to make us late—again.”

His voice lowered as he said, “Come on, Liv. Just give me five minutes.”

My insides tightened. Biting my lip, I looked over to check the time on the microwave.

He dropped to his knees and lifted my skirt before I even had a chance to say yes.



“We’re so late,” I said, trying to smooth down my hair for the tenth time since we’d left the house.

“You didn’t seem to mind at the time.” He chuckled, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Besides, isn’t it good to be fashionably late to these sorts of things?”

“This is going to be a disaster,” I huffed, shaking my head.

He stopped me in the middle of the walkway in front of Clare’s house, and he cupped my chin. “Hey,” he said in a soothing voice. “Why the sudden stress? I thought I took care of that.”

A smug grin tugged at the corner of his lips as he looked down at me.

“I’ve never done this before.”

“What?”

“Introduced a guy I’m dating to my friends.”

His grin widened. “Really? Never?”

“No. You’re the first.”

“Well then, I’d better use my best Southern manners,” he said, playing up his accent. “I’m going to be the last, too.”

I laughed as he held out his arm in a ridiculously formal gesture. I took it, and we walked the rest of the way to the front steps. Just as I was about to press the doorbell, the door opened, and Clare, Leah, and Mia, greeted us.

“Took you long enough,” Leah said, her black-and-white sequins dress shimmering under the lights. “We had a bet on whether or not you were going to run back to the car.”

“Oh, yeah? Who won?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at my best friends.

“Clare,” they all said.

“Figures.”

Jackson and I followed everyone in, making our way toward the formal dining room. Clare had gone all out, decorating the entire house to create a look that was thematic yet not overdone. Black and white pearls hung from the chandelier. Black and white candles floated in tiny glass bowls, and hot pink roses were set in vases throughout the house for a pop of color.

I looked around the room and watched as everyone mingled and greeted Jackson.

Damn, I had good-looking friends.

Leah and Declan looked like Hollywood royalty. His black-on-black suit fit his body like a glove as he held his wife tightly by his side.

Clare was just beginning to show, her black dress rounding slightly where her third child was growing safely in her womb. Logan dressed in a pinstripe suite entered the room, carrying a glass of water for his wife.

Then, there was Mia and Garrett. Mia, always understated and demure, was wearing a black-and-white A-line dress and red Mary Jane heels.

Little rebel.

Everyone introduced themselves to Jackson. Each female gave me a little thumbs-up behind his back.

I’d spent years on my own until I found this group of friends. Their approval of Jackson meant more to me than I could put into words. I never thought I’d care for anyone enough to take this step. Seeing them meet was like watching two parts of myself intertwine and meld together.

“Clare, where are Colin and Ella?” Leah asked, taking a sip of wine as she nuzzled into Declan.

“They aren’t ready to detach themselves from the new baby just yet,” Clare answered.

“How old is she now?” I asked, trying to remember the last time I’d seen Logan’s best friend Colin and his wife.

“Four months,” she replied. “Their parents were busy and they didn’t feel right asking my mom to watch a newborn on top of all the other kids she had tonight.”

“Your mom probably could have handled it,” I laughed.

“Garrett and Clare, you really must thank your mother for me. I can’t believe she volunteered to watch all the kids tonight. Should we have someone deliver a bottle of wine later?” Jackson asked jokingly.

Clare waved her hand dismissively. “She loves having a houseful of children. Ever since our father passed away, it seems to be her favorite thing to do. I keep telling her that she can take them one at a time, but she insists on having all of them at once. And Noah was a welcome addition.”

“Plus, my dad is there to help,” Mia added.

Logan reappeared from the kitchen where he’d vanished to minutes earlier to uncork a bottle of wine, and he began giving out filled glasses. Jackson took two and handed one to me.

“So, I’ve been avoiding this for a while, but I can’t any longer,” I said before taking a sip of my merlot. “What the heck is going on between your parents?”