Page 66 of To Go
“However, the biggest game changer was the Home Brewed subscription service. It was unexpected, and brought in the business we needed to not only stay afloat, but to grow. That decision came with a miracle of its own—Hazel.” He turns to look at her, his eyes misty as she turns beet red, smiling at her shoes and letting her long wavy hair hide her face. Beck reaches out his hand, bringing her to stand next to him. “Hazel, you are my best miracle, and the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. We have been through so much together, and accomplished amazing things. You are the reason I wake with a smile on my face and why I can’t work late anymore. This shop was my dream, but you are my entire world.”
The entire room gasps as he gets down on one knee.
“Hazel Nucci, it would make me the happiest man in the world if you would marry me. What do you say, sugar, will you let me keep you?”
Stella
I barely register the tears as they pour down my cheeks, which are strained from smiling. None of us saw this coming, I can tell. Nessa’s jaw is on the floor. Mel, Jeff, and Kyle look stunned, and Hazel’s shoulders are shaking. Beck looks at her like she’s the only thing he’s ever seen and will ever look at again, pure love emanating from his face. Something ugly snags in my chest as I watch them. I’m not an envious person, but how could I not be when I look at them? Two people who were so convinced that they needed to do things alone to prove something found each other and made something beautiful.
They’re a true story about love at first sight, and without them, I don’t know that I would have ever believed in that.
The room erupts into cheers as Hazel nods her head. Beck leaps to his feet, taking her into his arms. The joy coming off of them is palpable as he spins her around, his own face wet with happy tears, planting the biggest, fattest kiss on her. He puts enough space between them to put a gorgeous emerald cut solitaire set in a gold band on her finger.
Nessa hurtles across the room. I barely make it out of the way before she’s throwing her arms around both of them, squealing her delight, and I follow her. I carefully dab under my eyes, trying not to smear the makeup Hazel did for me. She really is the best. They both deserve everything good in life.
I hug Hazel, squeezing her for a good minute, squealing with her in excitement before giving other people some space tocongratulate them, enjoying the festive music that comes back on at full blast.
“You look like you could use a refill,” a voice says to my left. I turn to see a blue head of hair carrying another glass of champagne. I’ve never been formally introduced to the bassist for Heartbreak Tuesdays, but I’ve seen enough to know how he operates around the ladies.
“You are very observant,” I say, taking the drink from him and downing half. “Thank you.”
He’s not unattractive. He’s got a sharp chin, wide eyes, and an easy smile. He’s only a few inches taller than me so it’s easy to meet his blasé expression.
“I’m Stella,” I introduce myself, holding out a hand.
He wraps both his hands around mine, bringing me slightly closer. “I’m Nick.” We chat for a while, he tells me about himself, he’s a Gemini, his favourite drink is a good old fashioned beer—not the frilly champagne we’re drinking, which he says tastes like carbonated lemon water—and he’s relatively subtle in the way he keeps checking out my boobs. All in all a decently nice guy.
“So,” Nick says, crushing his drink, “you and James?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I reply primly, smoothing my hands down the poofy, blood-red skirt of my dress.
“He’s been staring at you since I walked up here, gorgeous.”
“He stares at everyone. I don’t think he’s capable of subtlety.”
“Nah, big guy only has eyes for you.” He flashes me a wicked, knowing grin.
“It’s probably the dress. It’s very bright. Attracts attention.”
“You could be wearing a trash bag and he’d still look like he wants to throttle me for even speaking to you.”
I turn to him. “I highly doubt that. Besides, he’s not my keeper.”
“You sure about that? Cause he’s coming this way.” He waggles his brows with mischief before turning to me. “So,” he says, leaning in to be heard over the music, “I was wondering if you wanted to get out of here—”
I barely have time to spin around before James is standing directly behind me, glaring down at Nick.
“No.” He says, his tone flat.
“Heard.” Nick raises his hands in mock surrender with the most bewildered smile on his face. “Have fun kids.” He saunters over to Nessa and Mel who are still freaking out over Hazel.
“What are you doing?” I whirl to glare at James. His face holds no emotion as he looks back at me.
“You don’t wanna hang around him. He’s a player.”
I scoff. “He seemed perfectly nice. Besides, isn’t that up to me to decide?” I wait to see if he’ll call my bluff.
James doesn’t miss a beat. “It is. We both know he’s not going to be able to give you what you want, though.”
