Page 80 of Heal For Me

“Beautiful, Ashley. But you could have warned us, we had only just walked up when you got on your knee.”

“Then you didn’t miss anything.”

She slaps the back of my head while squeezing me. “Nearly, and I would have made you do it again.”

She would have, and if she didn’t, Janelle would’ve.

Dad claps me on the back, and Henry congratulates me with a bro-hug. “You’re doomed now, bro.”

“Fuck off. Some of us actually want to settle down at some point in our lives.” I ruffle his hair because I know he hates it, but I’ve been doing it since we were kids to piss him off. It’s a tradition now.

“Aye.” He swats my hands away, then straightens his suit and cufflinks. “Some of us enjoy the freedom of not being tied down.”

This is a never-ending disagreement between us. He knows I’ve had that “freedom” for a long ass time. Eventually, the freedom feels less like freedom and more like a dead end. Hookups lead you no where, but with Payson, I have a whole future to look forward to. Something Henry doesn’t understand, not anymore anyway. There was a point when I was the wild one and he was the respectable fiancé, seems like a lifetime ago now. But as he looks around the group, there’s a distant look in his eye when he lands on a certain blonde. I look I haven’t seen on his face is a long time.

I know what Payson said about keeping him away, and if I knew his intentions were to be a dickhead, I would agree, but something about it tells me maybe that’s not his intention, at least not the only one. He’s never argued with a woman like he does Janelle because he doesn’t think they are worth his time.

I shake the thoughts from my head. I have my own relationship to worry about, I can’t be in charge of Henry’s too, that is up to him.

Payson’s eyes close as she is hugged by my mum and dad, and my beating heart settles.

“You know, I’m not about all this shit, but”—a dusting of a smile relaxes his harsh features as he watches our parents hug my girl—“I think you made a good choice with that one.”

“I know I did.”

“Seems she might need this more than you.” He glances in my direction.

“You have no idea.” I’ve not told a soul about all of Payson’s history, they know some, but not everything. Not even my mum, and I plan to keep it that way. She can tell whomever she pleases, and I’ll be there to support her, but it’s not my place.

“Can’t wait for your Stag. It’s going to be wild.” He claps me on the back. “I’m thinking Zante.”

I don’t care that he is my best man, he’s not getting the opportunity to plan my Stag. I don’t know if we will do a Stag and Hen parties; the thought of Payson seeing a male stripper is not a nice one, and I can imagine she would feel the same about me and female strippers given our past and her jealous tendencies.

Marriage to Payson isn’t the end of anything I’m going to miss. I’m not celebrating my last day of freedom, I will be celebrating a future with my favorite person, and that can be done at our reception. She mentioned not having a wedding, but there’s not a chance I’m missing out on seeing her in a wedding dress and fucking in the bathroom during our reception.

“Think about it,” he says as he backs up toward our parents and Janelle.

Payson saunters my way, a huge smile on her face. “Think about what?”

I pull her against my body. “A Stag do.”

“Huh?”

Right, American. “Bachelor party.”

Her face screws up. I chuckle and kiss her forehead. “I had the same reaction. Don’t worry, he’s not planning it.”

“Good because if there are strippers—”

I slant my mouth over hers, cutting her off. This isn’t even something that needs to be chatted about.

“Come on, love birds! Time to celebrate!” Janelle shouts, and Payson pulls away. Her cheeks heat at the people around.

I tug on her hand, concealing my smirk at her embarrassment. “Come on, future Mrs. Pearson.”

“I might keep my name, you know. That’s becoming more popular.”

Over my dead body. If she wants to hyphen, fine, we will discuss it, but Pearson will be somewhere in her name.

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