Page 63 of Uxpectedly Ever After

Eventually, Kasen peels off, meandering suspiciously close to where Wren’s standing alone, studying his vintage tap display.

“Twenty bucks says he’s talking to her again within five minutes,” Reed says, following my gaze.

“You’re on.” I shake his hand. “He’ll hold out for ten. Clover’s stubbornness runs in the family.”

“Given how many times he’s looked her way in the last two minutes, plus the amount of beer he’s had? Bad bet.” He glances at his watch with a smirk. “I don’t need a medical degree needed to diagnose a serious case of‘can’t-stay-away-from-her.’”

"You're such a nerd," I laugh, but keep an eye on Kasen’s slow orbit around Wren. Then I slip away to join Clover, sliding an arm around her waist as she chats with Brenna.

I excuse myself from Reed and make my way to Clover, sliding an arm around her waist as I join her conversation with Brenna.

"Banks was just telling us how he knew it was a boy all along," Brenna says with a shit-eating grin.

“Oh, really?” Clover gives me a look of pure skepticism. “That’s odd, because last week you were sure it was a girl.”

"I was just preparing you for the possibility," I say smoothly. "Deep down, I always knew."

"Uh-huh." She doesn't believe me for a second, but her eyes are filled with all the love and tolerance for my bullshit in the world. "Whatever you say, Priestly."

“Ladies and gentlemen!” Navy’s voice cracks through the noise like a whip. “If I could have your attention for one more second!”

We all turn to see her standing on a chair, mic in hand.

“What’s she doing?” Clover whispers.

“No clue,” I admit, just as lost.

"As you all know, we're celebrating two amazing things tonight," Navy continues. "The return of Timber, bigger andbetter than ever, and the news that baby Priestly is officially a boy!"

Cheers erupt around us again.

"But there's one more thing we should celebrate," she says, her eyes finding us in the crowd. "Banks and Clover, could you come up here, please?"

Clover looks up at me, confusion clear on her face. "Did you know about this?"

"Not a clue," I admit, guiding her toward Navy. "But you know how she gets when she has an idea."

We push toward the front, and Navy hops down from the chair, handing me the mic.

"You two want to tell everyone your other news?" she prompts.

Ah. That news.

I glance at Clover, silently asking permission. She gives me a small nod, her cheeks flushing that pretty pink I love so much.

"Well," I say into the mic, "since Navy's decided to put us on the spot..."

The crowd laughs, and I pull Clover closer to my side.

“Some of you know Clover and I are engaged,” I begin. “And until this week, we were thinking we’d wait ‘til after Noble arrives to tie the knot—”

Murmurs ripple through the crowd at the baby-name reveal, and Clover jabs me lightly in the ribs.

“Spoiler alert,” I add with a grin, earning more laughter. “But we changed our minds. So three weeks from today, this amazing woman is going to make me the luckiest bastard in Portland by becoming my wife.”

The cheers erupt again, and I pass the mic back to Navy, turning to Clover.

“Sorry,” I murmur in her ear. “I had no idea she was gonna do that.”

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