What If (If Only.... #2)(52)

“I’m Maggie,” she says, beating me to the introduction, her words coming out with a laugh.

“Maggie,” Jordan says, “this is Noah, and the bossy one is Elaina.”

Elaina’s brows shoot up, but then she says, “It is true. I am the bossy one.” Elaina glances pointedly at Duncan, then back at us. “Why does no one look surprised to see me?” But she doesn’t wait for an answer.

She wraps Maggie in a hug and kisses her on the cheek.

“He is a good one,” Elaina says, nodding her head at me. “He drank my coffee, the first time I offered.” She crosses her arm and huffs out a breath. “Jordan never drank my coffee. Where I come from, it is a great dishonor to refuse food or drink offered to you.”

“What?” Jordan interrupts. “You never said…dishonor?” Her expression looks crestfallen.

Elaina smiles. “I am f*cking with you, * lightweight. Let’s see how you can hold your alcohol after two years of practice, yes?”

Jordan pouts, but a smile hides underneath the expression.

“No snakebites here,” I say. “You have to have one of their specialty drinks even though they cost, like, a hundred dollars.”

“Or…” Duncan says, resting his head on Elaina’s shoulder from behind. “We could all share the bottle of expensive champagne I ordered. Because Elaina has something she wants to tell everyone.”

Elaina pats his cheek lovingly, and I do my best to forget what she’s about to say so I can act surprised.

Her smile takes over her entire face. “I am going to wear a dress to my wedding…and the groom is going to wear a skirt.”

Maggie nudges my leg with her knee, reminding me this is where I’m supposed to say something, to react, but I already know I won’t get anything past Elaina’s radar. When I do open my mouth to finally speak, Maggie beats me to the punch.

“You’re getting married?”

The question is tinged with sweetness, with joy, and I know Maggie means it, despite her already knowing the news. While I want to hug her for rescuing me, I realize that no one is any match for Elaina.

Her eyes narrow on Maggie, who flinches at her stare. When Elaina’s gaze shifts to me, I’m positive she reads the word guilty stamped on my forehead. It’s when she cranes her neck to look at her fiancé that I want to run for cover. Nobody should watch what’s about to happen to Duncan.

“You told them?” Elaina’s voice is a low tremble. Then she does the strangest thing. She…smiles. “Who the f*ck cares? I am getting married, and I am happy, and I want to share it with all of you. Let us drink the champagne and then decide if Jordan is still a * lightweight!”

“She is,” Noah assures us.

“I am,” Jordan adds.

At that, all of us burst into laughter as a server brings over a bottle and champagne flutes.

“Let me take your picture!” Maggie says, attempting to line us up in front of the unbelievable floor-to-ceiling windows.

“No f*cking way,” I tell her, grabbing the camera from her hands and then tapping our server on the shoulder as he’s about to head back to the bar.

“Hey, man. Can you take our picture?”

“Sure,” he says, taking the camera and backing up while we get resituated.

I wrap my arms around Maggie, her back against my chest. When I lean down, intending to say something in her ear, she’s the one who speaks first.

“This isn’t my place, Griffin. I don’t belong here, as part of this special moment.”

Her voice strains, and it’s more than a need to keep the conversation private. She believes what she’s saying.

I start to answer, and she cuts me off again.

“These are your friends, from this amazing year that I wasn’t a part of, and…”

“Pippi,” I interrupt when she pauses for breath. “Can I say something now?”

She exhales and nods against me while we face the server, who waits while Elaina decides which angle best shows off her ring.

“You are here with me tonight because it’s exactly where I want you to be…and where I hope you want to be, too. That means every part of tonight includes you—with me. Every part. Because this is where you belong.”

She stills against me, which means she’s not running away, at least from the picture.

Our server clears his throat. “I’m really sorry. I have another table’s order I was about to pick up. I can come right back…”

Duncan stills Elaina against him in an embrace, placing her left hand, ringed finger and all, on his right shoulder facing the camera. Jordan and Noah stand, arms locked around one another, and I straighten, my hands clasped around Maggie’s middle, enjoying the rise and fall of her slowly steadying breaths.

“Aye,” Duncan says. “We’re ready, mate. Sorry for that.”

“Take three pictures, if that’s okay,” I tell him. “We’re all going home to different places tomorrow. I think each couple would like a copy.”

I don’t realize the implication of the word couple until it comes out of my mouth. For years it has scared the shit out of me. But here I am, saying it and not wanting to swallow the word back up before anyone registers any meaning.