“You know we appreciate free babysitting anytime.” Melissa grins.

“Schedule me for a night next week. I mean it. She’s getting too big, too fast already. I don’t want to miss this.” I kiss her head once more and begrudgingly hand her over to Drew. He grabs the diaper bag and heads out the back door.

“Make sure my wife is drunk and horny when I return!” he calls out.

“You got it, big guy!” I laugh. Never a problem. Stay at home mom with baby, no convincing necessary with a bottle of wine. And I’d bet the time away from mommy mode is what gets her in the mood. She’s already assessing my wine choices as I grab glasses from the cabinet.

“How was California?”

“Oh, it was a blast. We spent every evening on the little patio with a glass of wine and baby monitor in hand.” She laughs, opens the Shiraz and fills the two glasses I hold. “How things have changed. Never in a million years would I think that’d be a dream vacation but it was just what we needed. Days at the beach with Claire. Nights on the deck with my Drew. Nothing better. I’m sorry we missed your show, though. I want to hear all about it!”

“It was good. A little overwhelming and over in a blur. But good.”

“You said good twice.” She narrows her eyes.

“So?” I twist the glass stem between my fingers.

“Cut the crap, Kate. You forget I’ve known you half your life. Sit.” She pulls a chair from the kitchen table. I take the one beside hers. “Okay. Dish. Fill me in.”

“Will you put it in the vault?” Now it’s my turn to narrow my gaze. She places her right hand over her heart.

“Get me a Bible. I’ll swear on it now.” Good enough. I take a big gulp from my glass.

“Jon and I slept together.” I blurt.

“The night of the gala?” She gasps, eyes wide.

“Yes.” I nod, tip my glass and finish the contents. Melissa scrambles from the table, brings the bottle back to fill both our glasses. “And once before. A few weeks ago.”

“Kate Bryant, you little slut! Tell me he’s good in bed. I’m sure he is, but blink if he’s great.” I tilt my head and allow a smile to pull at my lips. “Ha! You blinked. I knew it! So, what does this mean? Are you guys just fucking or is this the start of something beautiful?” Her eyes dance and she waggles her brows.

“Yes. No. I’m still trying to figure that part out.” I sigh. “He really is talented in bed and out of it, too.” I grin and Melissa guffaws, clapping her hands wildly. She sobers, and drops her glass to the table. Wine sloshes and splashes over the rim.

“Wait. Didn’t he take Carly to the gala? And you went with rocker dude?”

“Yeah, well my rock star bailed mid gala. Then Jon and Carly insisted I ride home with them.” I roll my eyes.

“So, you what? Dropped Carly off and then got busy with Jon? Does she know you poached her date?”

“Kinda. No. It wasn’t like that. They went as friends sort of. I don’t know. Why are you asking that?”

“It just might be awkward…”

“We’re here!” The kitchen door swings open and Evie and Carly waltz through with takeout. Wait, Carly’s here?

I glare at Melissa, my back to the new arrivals as I attempt to relay telepathically: What the fuck? Why is she here? Why didn’t you warn me?

Melissa meets my stare and I can only imagine she’s trying to relay a message back, though I can’t read her mind.

“Hey, I’m so glad you made it!” She pops up from the table and hugs her sister. “I’m glad you could join us tonight, Carly.” I turn and stand from my chair. Evie pulls Chinese food containers from a bag and arranges them on the table. Melissa pulls out a pile of plates and utensils.

“Thanks for having me. I don’t get out much and it’s nice to be included in your girls’ night.” Carly smiles, her hands rubbing together. She catches my gaze. “Hi, Kate.”

“Hey, Carly.”

“Nothing formal here. Make a plate and have a seat. I’ll grab a few more glasses. Wine okay with you, Carly?” Melissa pulls out a few more glasses and I sit back in my chair. Evie joins me, a giant grin on her face.

“I’ll just have water for now.” Carly answers. Evie waves her over and pats the open chair to her right. Melissa comes back with two glasses.

“You better be drinking.” I glare at my bestie and her grin grows wider. She’s freaking me out with all the smiles.

“Of course I am. So… sorry we were a little late. I was a little busy.” She reaches out to open a container with one hand. Strange. A glint at her finger catches my full attention. I scream. And point at the giant rock on her hand.

“Oh my god! You’re not pregnant are you?” Melissa accuses, eyes wild, mouth falling open. Carly’s quiet and grinning. Evie’s tearing up, her smile faltering.

“No! Why would you say that, Mel?”

“Well, that is an engagement ring, is it not?”

“Yes. But I’m not pregnant! Tate asked me to marry him.” The shock has worn off and I jump up from my chair. I pull Evie into an embrace.

“But it’s so soon,” I hear Melissa murmur.

“So fucking happy for you right now,” I whisper in her ear. “It’s what you wanted.” I pull back, happy to see her wide smile is back in place. “I better be your maid of honor.” I smirk, and catch Melissa’s expression before I add, “None of this sister crap taking precedence.”

“Of course you are.” Evie laughs. “Sorry, Mel, you had to know that was coming.” Melissa waves a hand at us both.

“You two weirdos can have each other. I’ll just be here with my wine trying to figure out when my little sister went and grew up.” Making her point, Melissa fills her glass.

“I can’t believe you’re engaged!” I scream, holding Evie’s hand to jump up and down. She joins in with squeals of her own. “Okay. Let’s eat before this food gets cold—and your sister gets drunk—I want to hear all about how he asked you.”

The table becomes a flurry of activity as each woman fills her plate with beef, chicken, rice and noodles. Melissa joins in, the shock, I think, beginning to wear off.

“It was a total surprise! And of course he had Carly and the boys in on it.” Evie smiles and swallows a bite of her food.

Carly winks. “Oh yes, they felt very important. They’re so excited to have an aunt.”

“Bold move, getting the kids in on it.” Evie shoots her sister a strange look. “If you hadn’t said yes, he would have some explaining to do.” Melissa adds.

“So, we had already planned to spend the day together. He didn’t work, and I told Jon I needed Friday off. We started off the morning with breakfast burritos at Fernando’s…”

“No date complete without food for you two,” I tease, and Evie laughs.

“True. Then we volunteered at Happy Helping Hands. Of course, afterward I was starving and he promised he had a special lunch planned at the house.” Evie pauses to shovel in a few bites and Carly takes over the story.

“The boys had arranged the living room to look like a little café. Even closed the curtains and lit candles for the table. They each dressed up in button down shirts and bow ties. They thought they were hot stuff.”

“It was beautiful. Soft music playing. Flowers on the table and the best servers in town,” Evie gushes. Her eyes study her left hand. “We ate our lunch and Tate asked if I wanted dessert. Honestly, I was taken aback, you know. We’ve been together for five months and hello! I always want dessert.”

“Oh, did he put the ring inside your dessert?” Melissa grins.

“No.” Evie shakes her head. “Though he said he considered it.”

“Yeah. Ezra and Eli wanted him to put it in the cheesecake but he wouldn’t do it. He was worried you would eat it or choke on it!” Carly laughs.

“He knows me well.” Evie sighs. “So, when the boys delivered our dessert to the table, Tate moved his chair so we could sit side by side. He said the sweetest things between trading bites of cheesecake. Super romantic and then when he dropped down to one knee.” She dabs her napkin at the moisture gathering at her eyes. “Having the man I love, on his knees, asking me to be his partner for life… Words can’t express how that made me feel. I’ll treasure that moment forever.”