Page 8 of The Wedding Engagement

A smile tugged at Liv’s mouth. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good,” Maya replied. “Because your last big relationship was with Dean when we were eighteen, and even then, it ended before six months.”

Liv stiffened. “Ihavedated since then. You’re making it sound like I’ve been celibate for the last nine years.”

Maya waved a hand. “Casual dating doesn’t count.” She sighed. “I don’t get it. You’re such a catch. And the only one of us who has their shit together.”

Liv bit her tongue. Why did people always assume that a woman who didn’t have long-lasting relationships craved anything other than that? No one ever seemed to consider that it might beheravoiding anything serious.Herpushing the guy away, not vice versa. But at least it created a convenient distraction.

Playing the reluctant, terminally single woman was a good front and meant she could keep up her pretense of being “the only one who has their shit together.” Little did her friends know that she didn’t really feel that way.

The front door opened and shut, signaling Sam’s arrival. “Sorry I’m late!” he called.

His footsteps sounded up the hallway, and as he entered the kitchen, Liv stood to give him a hug.

“All right, twinny?” she asked as he leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

“Yep,” he said, releasing her with a grin as he went on to kissElise’s cheek. He then gave Maya a full-on kiss on the lips with borderline tongue, which made Liv feel as if she and Elise should depart the vicinity, posthaste.

Liv sat, clearing her throat. “Iwouldtell you two to get a room, but we’re in your house.”

Maya broke off, blowing her fringe out of her eyes. “Sorry. Got overexcited.”

Liv took in the blush on Maya’s cheeks and the manner in which Sam was shifting his weight from one foot to the other. She narrowed her eyes. “Spill it.”

Sam shot Maya a look. She grabbed his hand to tug him into the seat next to her. “You can tell them,” she said.

He shook his head. “I got to tell Arran and Nico. Your shot now.”

The smile threatening Liv’s mouth broke into a full-blown grin.Oh my God. I know where this is going.

Maya swallowed. “We’re getting married.”

A starburst of joy erupted in Liv’s chest, driving her to her feet with a scream. She grabbed hold of Sam tightly before he could get fully to his feet, eliciting a laugh from him. Then she dropped him like a hot potato to grab hold of Maya. Even that wasn’t enough, so she took one under each arm in a three-way hug, with Elise joining in, circling Maya and Sam, with Liv in the middle.

“Ahh.” Liv sighed, closing her eyes. “Four-way hugs are awesome.”

Another voice sounded from behind her, one that gave her goose bumps and sent her heart rate up a notch. “Five-way hugs are where it’s at.”

She turned her head, looking up to meet Arran’s eyes as he took hold of her from behind, pressing into her back to circle the group with his arms and eliciting laughter from everyone. The memory of lifting her gaze from his David Tennant badge up to his eyes the previous evening surfaced, causing her cheeks to grow red-hot. Her face nestled in his neck as he leaned in, and she breathed thedelicious scent of him—sandalwood infused with orange blossom. The hard pressure of his chest against her shoulders sent her nerve endings zinging into a frenzy.

Sam stretched a hand over everyone’s head to ruffle Arran’s loose, coily hair. “What’re you doing here? I only just left. Miss me?”

Arran grinned. “I wasn’t ready to finish celebrating and Nico had to get on with his babysitting duties. There was a major incident involving his little niece Aurora and a projectile vomit, so I hotfooted it out of there.”

Liv laughed. “Some friend you are.”

He shrugged. “Not everyone can be as amazing a mate as you.”

Heat rose in her face. Deciding to extricate herself before he noticed her blushing, she broke up the hug from the inside, dispersing everyone back to their seats, with Arran taking up residence in the chair next to her. She poured him and Sam some tea.

Arran raised an eyebrow as she passed him his cup. “Hey.”

Liv glanced down and clocked that he was holding out his hand. She gave him a side five, then flexed her fingers in an attempt to dispel the tingling sensation left by his touch.

Sam lifted his cup, took a sip, then set it back down again. “Enough of this tea,” he declared, getting to his feet and rummaging in the fridge. He lifted out a bottle of champagne and proceeded to pop the cork, resulting in a cheer from the group.

He brought the bottle over with some champagne flutes and filled everyone’s glass for a toast. As they clinked them together, Arran slid his hand over the back of Liv’s chair and brushed her shoulders with his arm. “Cheers.”

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