Page 51 of A Way Out
Sam spread his arms wide as if to say, “Come on, buddy, you know I am.”
“No, that’s not the thing I’m talking about,” Parker said into the microphone. “I know you’re sure about that. I’m talking about the other thing.”
“Oh,” Sam called out. “Hell yeah, I’m sure.”
“Holly? How about you?”
Holly, next to her fiancé, pressed her hands to her heart. “Definitely sure.”
Maria glanced at Lacey. She appeared confused.
“Okay, then here we go. Hey, Lacey, can you come here, please?”
Lacey’s eyes widened; she probably thought Parker was about to propose to her.
That only made this all the more sweet!
Lacey stumbled forward, her eyes already misty. “Parker, you aren’t really…?”
“I’m not, actually,” he assured her as he grasped her hand and tugged her into his arms.
“Oh.” Did she sound disappointed?
Even better!
“Then what’s this about?” Lacey asked.
With his arm around her waist, he turned them both so they were side by side, facing the rest of their friends and family.
“Here’s the deal,” Parker said. “I’ve been ready for six months to marry you. I’m pretty sure you have been, too, since we’ve already talked about this a few dozen times.”
“You just said?—”
“And I don’t want to wait anymore. So, what do you think about getting married—tomorrow—right next to your brother and his soon-to-be-wife?”
The crowd erupted into cheers. Lacey screamed and threw herself at Parker, clinging to him like a sloth to a tree while it slept. Parker buried his face in her hair, and Maria could tell they were having a private conversation.
Maria snapped picture after picture after picture.
When they pulled apart, Lacey brushed tears from her cheeks, then Parker lifted her hand, sliding a ring onto her left ring finger.
“I’m pretty sure she said yes,” he announced into the microphone, “although it was kind of garbled.”
Lacey laughed. “Yes, you dork. Of course I’ll marry you.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow,” she confirmed.
They were staring into each other’s eyes, oblivious to the crowd watching them. Maria captured the moment. Holly had told her how a fan had posted a snapshot much like this one that had gone viral, thus kicking Panic Station’s popularity into the stratosphere.
Maybe Maria could make the same thing happen with Demigoddess Revival.
Chapter Nineteen
Oz woke up alone on the day of the wedding, and frankly, it sucked.
It was stupid of him to feel that way. He had a king-sized bed all to himself; when was the last time he’d enjoyed that luxury?
