Yes, we’d skipped to engaged quickly, but it felt right. It was right. I’d been praying about our relationship. I believed that Sunshine had been as well. Had I planned on proposing during her trip up here? Not really. I wouldn’t have been opposed, but I definitely hadn’t thought it would come from a conversation with the pastor.
I smiled slightly at that memory and waved over the server.
“Yes?”
“I’ll take the check, no need to split it.”
“Okay.” The server drifted off to another table.
“Wes.” Whitney must have overheard me. “You don’t need to do that.”
I shrugged. “We’ll call it an engagement party.”
“That’s for your friends to throw, not you.” Whitney frowned. “Let me—”
“Stop. It’s fine. I want to do this.”
“Well. Thank you.” Whitney smiled.
“Mama? Can we go home yet?” Beckett tugged on Whitney’s sleeve.
She glanced at Scott. “What do you say, hon?”
Scott nodded. “I’ll just get the check.”
“I’ve got it.” I waved him off. “Go home. We’ll catch up later.”
Scott studied me a moment. “Okay. Thanks.”
“You bet.” A couple of minutes later, the server brought the check. I handed her my card after a quick glance at the total. The other couples made their excuses, thanked me for paying, and left. When the server returned with my card and the slip, I added on the tip, signed it, and put my card away.
Only Tristan was left. He stood at my elbow with his hands in his pockets. “I apologize.”
It didn’t sound as though he meant it. His voice was stiffer than his posture. I wasn’t sure how to respond.
“You don’t need to.” Sunshine scooted her chair back and stood. “You’re looking out for your friend. And it seems reasonable that there might be something sketchy in a woman so much older, a widow at that, who’s getting her hooks into your friend.”
Tristan winced. “No. It’s not reasonable. And no one else has a prenup, I know this. I don’t have an excuse. Again, I’m sorry. Maybe Kayla wasn’t the only one who was hangry.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You’re pregnant too? Congrats, man. Didn’t know that was possible.”
Tristan snorted and shoved my shoulder. “You’re such a jerk sometimes.”
“It’s why we’re friends. We’re a lot alike.”
“Yeah, yeah. I said I was sorry.”
I nodded. “I think the second time you even meant it.”
“Harsh. Also true. I’m gonna head home. Maybe hit the gym.”
“Probably a good plan. Maybe it’ll help your mood some.”
Tristan shrugged. “Can’t hurt, right?”
Sunshine stepped over to Tristan, arms out. “In the islands, we hug.”
Tristan glanced at me. I nodded. He let Sunshine wrap her arms around him and he patted her shoulders awkwardly.