Gabe holds his hands up in a simple “what the fuck” gesture. “Hey, I’m standing right here.”
“But you’re leaving, right?”
Gabe shakes his head and leans in to kiss me. “I’ll see you soon, wifey.”
I grin and kiss his lips, lingering a little longer than I probably should with my best friend standing beside us.
“Okay, out, out, out.” She grabs Gabe’s arm and tugs him toward the door. “This is a groom-free spot.”
“Don’t let her leave this room.” He points to Clem and then smiles at me. “I want it to be a surprise.”
Clem shoos him out and closes the door, and then she catapults herself onto the mattress beside me and catches me up in a huge hug. “You’re getting married!”
“I’m getting married!” I screech and then add. “To my best friend.”
“Hey,” she protests. “I’m the one who bought the dresses. If it were left up to Gabe, you’d probably be wearing a potato sack.”
“You’re right. I’m marrying mysecond-bestfriend.”
“Thank you.”
“Ahem.” Judah bursts into the room with a rolling beauty case. “Bitch, tell me I didn’t just hear that.”
I squeal and jump off the bed. “Okay, this many ‘best friends’ may just be total anarchy, but oh my god what are you doing here? Arturo’s going to fire us both.”
“Are you kidding? Boss Man shut the restaurant. First time since our doors opened.”
Tears well in my eyes and I shake my head. “Why would he do that?”
“Come on, Lo. He loves you; we all do. Eres familia.”
“Thank you.” I throw my arms around Judah and they stroke my hair.
“Oh, honey. You should be thanking Boss Man. Not me.”
“I definitely will ... later.” I make grabby hands at the garment bags. “Now, gimme, gimme.”
Two hours after being plucked and primed and poured into a stunning champagne maternity gown complete with boho ruffles, an off-the-shoulder neckline, and yards of flowy beachy fabric, I take the bouquet of fresh cut daisies from our garden that Clem hands me and step outside ourroom. Our kitchen is bustling with more bodies than I’ve ever seen occupy it at one time. Chef from the restaurant is ordering everyone around, but he stops to glance up at me.
“There she is.” He leans in and kisses my cheek. “You look beautiful.”
I grin up at him. “Thanks, Chef.”
“Harlow Maven, you had better not be ruining my makeup job,” Judah’s arms are folded over their chest, and they look at me like I’m a kindergartner painting the walls in poop.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Okay, can we get on with this before Gabe has kittens, please?” Clem hitches her thumb at me. “Or old preggo here might just drop that baby from standing too long.”
“Ha ha. You do know I go to work every day, right?”
“Bitch, please,” Judah says, dramatically swiping a dreadlock out of their eyes. “Boss Man put you on light duties months ago.”
“Don’t remind me. I hate that everyone’s been wrapping me in cotton since I got pregnant.”
“It’s because we love you, sis,” Judah says.