Elouise
“Beckett!”his mom calls out across the lawn for the second time, and I snicker.
He heaves out a sigh, “Laugh it up Smoky, she’ll be your mother soon, too.”
“Compared to mine, your mom is a walk in the park.”
Beckett snorts but doesn’t deny my claim. And as if on cue, my mom’s laughter cuts across the party making us both roll our eyes.
Watching him walk away, I lift my beer bottle, pressing the cold glass against my temple.
“Cooling yourself off from the view or the weather?” Maddie teases but does the same thing with her can of hard cider.
“Both,” I laugh, then groan, “it really is hot as hell today. Whose idea was it to have an outdoor engagement party in June?”
School ended last week, and our summer is already packed with plans. Not to mention a continuous series of remodel projects that Beckett’s been chipping away at since he officially moved in the day we got engaged.
True to his word, the first thing Beckett changed was the en suite bathroom. Not only did he encase the shower in clear glass, he also managed to rearrange all the fixtures so the shower is now big enough to easily accommodate two.
And even though he’s also updated the guest bathrooms, my parents surprised the crap out of me when they said they’d no longer park their RV in our driveway. Claiming that since I no longer live alone, I needed the privacy. As though privacy for a single person is unnecessary. So now when my parents come to town, they park in Beckett’s parent’s driveway.
I don’t bother looking towards the front of the house. I know it’s there.
It really shouldn’t be a shock that our moms rekindled their friendship. Nor should it be a shock that the two of them insisted on hosting an engagement party for us.
They really did do a good job coordinating guests and food, even if the heat didn’t cooperate. James has gotten over his attitude about Beckett and I being together. And with Tony, Beckett’s brother, back in town for the party, there’s no telling what sort of trouble those two will get into before the day is done. There are also some teachers from my school, some of Beckett’s employees, and of course a whole slew of our moms’ friends in attendance.
From across the yard, Beckett waves to catch my attention and I head over to join him.
With his arm around my shoulders, he holds up his drink, and the crowd quiets. “First off, thank you all for coming. It’s so nice to have our friends and family in one place.” People lift their drinks up in agreement. “And thank you to our parents for putting this all together.” A small round of applause sounds and the moms both give little curtsies. Beckett gives me a quick grin before continuing, “And we can’t wait to see you all again next month.”
There’s a beat of silence before my mom asks, “Next month? What’s next month?”
I copy Beckett’s grin, “Our wedding.”
Beckett and I clink out bottles together then take long drinks as our mother’s lose their shit.
Score one for Team Stoleman.