Page 7 of Hunt for the Roses
“Okay, hun, I’ll let you be. I’m sure you have plans other than talking to your mom on a Saturday morning. I need to run some errands anyway. Love you.”
“Love you too,” I say and hang up.
I place my phone back on my nightstand, then exhale as I run both hands down my face. Even though I was planning on sleeping in later, I guess I’m up now.
* * *
After hanging up with my mom, I knock on Kyle’s door to see if he’s still up for going to the gym this morning. We both take a lot of pride in staying physically fit, which is great because we keep each other company while working out, and it makes the time go by faster.
When we make it to the gym, Kyle and I head straight for the kickboxing floor, throw on some gloves, and start punching and kicking away.
“So Aria wants to take a trip to Montauk this summer. Are you interested?” Kyle breathes out between punches.
“Depends when,” I pant.
“Any weekend that works for everyone,” Kyle responds.
I punch and kick a few more times before standing to look at him, and then I shrug. “Shouldn’t be a problem. Just let me know specific details so I can take off if I need to.”
Kyle finishes a punch and kick before standing to face me. “Cool. I’ll ask Trent and Kate too.”
I nod, then go back to my assault on the body bag. Between punches and kicks, I ask, “Do you and Ari have any big summer vacation plans?”
“Not this year. We’re trying to save money right now, so I think we’re stalling on big trips for the time being.”
“Better not be because you’re buying a new house. I’ll kick your ass,” I respond.
Kyle stops with his hands on his hips as he breathes out his response. “First off, we’re not moving. Secondly, you couldn’t kick my ass.”
I stop what I’m doing to look at him. “So, what are you saving up for?”
Kyle pauses, then responds with a smile. “I want to ask Aria to marry me.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
I run a glove through my hair. “Holy shit, man, that’s awesome.”
“I don’t have the ring yet, but I’m going to start looking within the next week or so.” Kyle just shakes his head with his hands on his hips as if he’s mesmerized by something I can’t see. “She’s the one. I can just feel it.”
My hands are also at my hips as I stand facing Kyle. “I’m really happy for you. Aria’s great.”
“Yeah, it’s incredible. I mean, I know you’re enjoying your single life, but when you find that person, it just makes everything make so much more sense.”
I vaguely hold out a hand. “Okay, let’s pump the sensitive brakes. I said Aria’s great. We can leave it at that.”
Kyle chuckles. “Well, it’s helpful you approve, because I actually wanted to ask you something else.”
“I already had strippers planned before you told me this,” I joke.
Kyle just throws me a wide smile. “I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have as my best man.”
I pause for a split second, and my facial expression becomes more serious once I fully register what he’s asking me. I take a glove off and go in for a handshake-hug as Kyle does the same. “You know you don’t have to ask me twice.” When we step back, I continue on. “Of course, my only request is that you introduce me to the hot single bridesmaids. Aria better come through on that.”
Kyle laughs at my joke. “Will do.”
I start slipping my other glove off as I narrow my eyes at him. “Now, what was that you were saying about kicking my ass?”
