Lost in Time (Forever and Always #20) by E. L. Todd Read Free Book Online

showed her fondness for the ring. “I love it.”
    “I can tell.”
    She cupped my face and kissed me. “I’ll never
take it off.”
    “Good. That’s what I was hoping for.”
    “Let’s get married,” she said impatiently.
“I’m tired of waiting.”
    I smiled. “Are you sure you don’t want to
have a big wedding? We can do whatever you want.”
    She shook her head. “Weddings are overrated,
expensive, and cliché. Cortland, I just want you to be my husband.
I want our closest friends and family to be there, but that’s it.
Then I want to start our lives together.”
    “That’s exactly what I want.”
    She hopped up and down. “Let’s invite
everyone to dinner and tell them the news.”
    “Like, now?”
    “Yes, now.” She gave me a firm look. “I want
to show this off.”
    I smirked. “It makes Scarlet and Cassandra’s
rings look tiny.”
    “It’s not the size I love,” she said. “It’s
the fact you picked it out for me.”
    That warmed my heart. “I knew it was the
right one the moment I saw it.”
    She got out of bed then looked through her
closet. “God, what am I going to wear?”
    “How about we invite everyone first?” I said
with a laugh.
    She threw a shirt at me. “Then call
them.”
    “Okay, I’m on it.” I texted everyone and told
them to meet us in the city for dinner. Luckily, everyone could
make it. But it wasn’t that surprising. If we weren’t hanging out
together, they obviously weren’t doing anything. Very few of us had
friends outside the group. “Everyone can make it.”
    “Yay.” She walked out of the closet wearing a
black dress and nude pumps. Her hair was pulled back slightly and
there was no back to the dress. She looked sexy as hell. “Get
ready,” she hissed at me.
    “Nah.” I pulled her back to bed then lifted
up her dress. “I want another round before we go.”
    “Cortland, we—”
    I thrust inside her and that shut her up.
     
    Even though it was our party, we showed up
late. Everyone was already sitting at a table, laughing while
downing their drinks. It was nice to hang out with my friends and
not be the only single one in the group. It was a nice change.
    “Dude, you’re an hour late.” Ryan’s arm was
over the back of Janice’s chair.
    “I had to take care of something,” I
lied.
    As my best friend, he could read my mood
better than anyone. “You were fucking Monnique, weren’t you? Next
time, invite us when you’re done, not between sessions.” He
swallowed his whiskey and put the empty glass on the table.
    “Don’t mind him,” Janice said. “He’s already
drunk.”
    “Drunk on you.” He leaned toward her, his
lips near hers.
    She waved away his breath. “He reeks of
scotch and brandy.”
    “Monnique and I will steer clear.” I pulled
out the chair for her and allowed her to sit down. As soon as she
rested her hands on the table, all the girls gasped and their eyes
widened.
    Monnique smiled then held up her hand. “We’re
engaged.”
    “Oh my god!” Janice jumped out of her chair
first then hopped in place.
    Ryan stared at me like a bolt of lightning
struck him—twice.
    Scarlet stood up then came over to Monnique’s
side of the table to hug her.
    Cassandra tried to get up, but her stomach
made it difficult. She sighed in annoyance then Mike helped her
up.
    The girls huddled around her and looked at
the ring.
    “It’s beautiful,” Scarlet said.
    “That sucker is huge,” Janice said. “Man, I
went for the wrong one.”
    “I can hear you,” Ryan snapped from his
seat.
    Janice smiled then ignored him.
    I moved to the guys, who were happy but
calm.
    “Congrats, man.” Mike gave me a high
five.
    “Thanks.”
    Flynn winked at me. “I guess I was wrong
about before.”
    I never told anyone his assumption. That was
between us. “I’m glad you finally believe me.”
    “Only a man desperately in love could go
through that roller coaster,” Flynn said.
    “You’re one to talk,” Sean said. “You guys
had