Page 121 of #Bossholes

“He’s not wrong.” I flit away with a laugh. “Out of the five of us, we are the only two whose age doesn’t start with a four.” Brantley growls. Wyatt glares at the two of us. And Colin and I cackle. “Speaking of, where’s Maverick?”

Brantley grunts, recrossing his arms, and attempts to glare at me, but the smile working across his face gives him away. “He’s loitering by the cake.”

“Ohmygodthere’scake.” I give the twins a quick kiss and dive into the crowd, set on finding Maverick and the cake. But I don’t make it five feet before I’m swarmed by my best friends.

“Congratulations! You’re so close to becoming another one of those bloodsucking lawyers. Sorry, Ellis and Ellis.” June waves a hand in the air. “Both of my parents are lawyers, so I’m allowed to say that.”

Holly laughs, pushes June’s shoulder, and shoves a mini quiche in her mouth. Where the hell did she get food? “I’m not sure it works that way.”

“To-ma-to. To-mah-to.”

“I hate to interrupt, but where did you get that delicious looking quiche?” I eyeball her hands, making sure she doesn’t have anything else. Sad to report that she doesn’t. It’s a real shame; I’m so hungry I’d have eaten it right out of her hand. “I haven’t had any real food all day.”

“You didn’t eat before the graduation ceremony?” Daisy’s eyes widen as she takes me in. “Kins, it’s almost dinnertime.”

I groan and throw my head back, and my stomach takes this opportunity to chime in its agreement. “I was nervous. I didn’t want to trip across the stage and throw up on the Dean’s shoes.”

Instead, I came home and tripped in front of all my friends and family. So much better.

“Sorry, ladies.” Maverick walks up behind me and slides his hands around my waist. “I need to steal my girl for one quick minute. I think Brantley is ready for everyone in the backyard.”

“Ohhhh.” I lean back into him, loving the way his fingers bite into my skin. “What’s going on back there?”

“You’ll see,” he whispers in my ear. He links our fingers and pulls me toward the back of the house.

As soon as we step outside, my jaw drops and the breath catches in my throat. The entire backyard is lit up with twinkle lights, and there’s a small stage off to the side covered in candles, and damn... This place looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale. It’s beautiful.

Maverick leads me toward the platform where Brantley and Wyatt are waiting.

Oh. My. God.

What’s happening? And why is it happening in front of so many people?

My heart races, the pace increasing with every step. Holy shit.Holy shit. Sweat trickles down my back, and my pulse is hammering in my ears.

Wyatt grabs my other hand, giving it a squeeze, and Brantley steps in front of us, clearing his throat and addresses the crowd. “I want to thank you all for coming tonight. First, I’d love everyone to give a round of applause to Colin Rhodes who graduated from high school last week at the top of his class. He’s breaking our hearts, going to Kentucky for college, but we couldn’t be prouder of him.”

Colin, who is now trying to get out of the front row, turns beet red as everyone, including us, claps their asses off for him.

“Love ya, little bro.” Brantley adjusts his tie and glances back at me, his lips tugging up in a smirk. “I’d also like to recognize my favorite girl, Kinsley Rhodes, who graduated from Belmont Law School today.” There’s more, applause and my stomach flips, heat spreading across my cheeks. “I do have a little gift for you, but be warned. It’s a little small.”

“That’s what she said,” someone shouts from the back of the yard while someone else yells, “Big things come in small packages.”

“Thank you, Jeff.” Brantley reaches into his pants pocket and oh, God. Is it a ring? Is he going to ask me to marry him? And Wyatt? Maverick?

They're standing steady on either side of me but aren’t looking my way; they’re just staring out into the crowd. This is happening.

I’m really trying to hold it together, take shallow breaths, not have a full-fledged panic attack.

Brantley’s hand is coming out of his pocket, but instead of a ring box, he’s holding a small white card.

The hell?

My brows draw together, but my insides don’t stop twisting. Maverick and Wyatt let me go, and I reach out and grab the card, my hands shaking.

It’s a business card. Their business card. Oh, but it’s not. Ellis, Ellis, Wallace and Rhodes.

They want me to be a partner?

---