Page 33 of One Pucking Surprise
“Oh my gosh!” Cora cuts in, her voice high with excitement as she claps her hands together. “Tell us all about how you two met!”
“Yes, please,” Whitney chimes in, practically bouncing on her toes. “We need all the details.”
I glance up at Zach, who’s looking at me with a soft, almost adoring expression. “You want to tell them, baby?” he asks, his voice warm and inviting.
The collective sigh that escapes his sisters is almost comical.
“Zach,” Blair teases, shaking her head. “I never thought I’d see the day when you got all lovey-dovey.”
I feel my cheeks heat up as Zach smirks at me, clearly enjoying this far more than he should. “Okay,” I say, rolling my eyes but smiling.
Before I can begin, Clarissa interjects, her voice dripping with forced sweetness. “Oh, he was like that with me when we were together.”
Whitney immediately rolls her eyes, crossing her arms. “Yeah, right. You wish.”
Ignoring her entirely, I clear my throat and dive in. “We met at a coffee shop.” I begin, trying to focus on the family members hanging on my every word rather than Zach’s teasing smirk. “I was in a rush, not paying attention, and I accidentally spilled my drink on him.”
The room erupts inlaughter, Whitney clutching her sides. “Oh my gosh, you spilled something on Zach?” she gasps. “That’s perfect.”
“It wasn’t funny at the time,” Zach cuts in, his tone mock serious. “Do you know how much my dry cleaning costs?”
I roll my eyes, but a smile plays on my lips as I continue. “I offered to pay for it, but instead, he demanded my number… so he could send me the bill.”
“That sounds about right,” Blair says, grinning. “Classic Zach.”
“But here’s where it gets good,” Zach interjects, draping his arm casually around my shoulders. “We reconnected months later when Wyatt introduced us. Suddenly, Lainey and I are paired up as maid of honor and best man.”
“Fate,” Cora says with a dreamy sigh, her hands clasped together.
“Exactly,” Zach agrees, his tone almost too serious. “It was fate. Sparks flew. She couldn’t resist me.”
I snort. “Right. Or you couldn’t resist inserting yourself into my life at every turn.”
“That too,” he admits, grinning. “But let’s be honest—it was instant. You were hooked.”
“Obviously,” I deadpan, though there’s humor in my tone. I glance at his sisters, who are hanging on every word. “Truthfully, I thought he was obnoxious at first.”
The room bursts into laughter again, the sound loud and unanimous.
“Sounds like Zach,” Blair says, wiping a tear of laughter from her eye.
“I can’t believe you’d say that about me,” Zach retorts, feigning offense. “My own family siding against me?”
Whitney waves him off. “Zach, you should be grateful you met someone as beautiful, smart, and kind as Lainey.”
He nods, leaning down to press a quick kiss to my cheek. “Couldn’t agree more.”
The sudden warmth in my chest takes me by surprise, and I swat at his arm playfully. “Zach, not in front of everyone.”
As the laughter subsides, his father clears his throat, drawing the attention back to him. His sharp gaze lands on me, and his tone shifts to something more formal. “So, Lainey, tell us about your family.”
I pause, the weight of the question settling heavily in the air. My fingers twitch slightly, and for a moment, I consider staying silent. The buzz of conversation around us fades into thebackground, leaving only the expectant looks of Zach’s family.
From the corner of my eye, I see Zach shift beside me. His arm tightens slightly around my waist, and he leans in, his voice low and reassuring. “You don’t have to answer that,” he murmurs, his tone protective.
I glance up at him, meeting his eyes. It’s a brief exchange, but the softness in his gaze makes something in me settle. I give him a small, reassuring look. It’s okay.
Straightening, I take a deep breath and find my voice.
