Page 190 of Fighting Chance

Grayson’s laughing, his eyes darting around the parking lot. “Shh, people know who we are, dipshit. I’d like to propose to Bella before the world knows.” He shoves me off him good-naturedly before letting his megawatt smile shine. “Good to know you’re excited though.”

“Excited? More like ecstatic. Dude, I’m…fuck, I feel like crying.”

Grayson deadpans. “I’m not proposing toyou. Reel it in, Ashford.”

“No, seriously, this has made my whole day. I think I’m going to cry.”

Grayson shakes with laughter. “Let it out before we leave the parking lot, then. I seriously don’t need someone snapping a picture of me entering the jeweler.”

I try to reel it in but the second I feel a tear roll down my cheek, Grayson leans over and shuts my door, muttering under his breath, “Fucking hell.”

“You’re getting married, dude. Let me have my moment.”

“You meanmymoment?”

“I’m losing my best friend,” I cry dramatically, teasingly. I’m so goddamn happy for him.

“Oh for fuck’s sake, Kieran, you’re not losing anyone.”

I point an accusatory finger at him. “I better be the first fucking person you told, fucker.”

“Why are we swearing so much?”

I shrug. “This is a huge moment. Swearing is called for.” Narrowing my eyes, I ask again, “Am I?”

He sighs. “Yes, Kieran, you’re the only one who knows.”

I punch the air. “Fuck yes! I’m the best secret keeper, I swear.”

“You won’t be if you keep yelling. People are looking,” he says, glancing back to the parking lot.

“We need disguises. There’s no way we can go in there without being seen.”

He chews on his bottom lip. “Fuck, you think so?”

“I know so.” Grinning, I waggle my brows. “Leave it to me, Cap. I got this.”

Before he can say anything else I jump out of the truck and head inside, but I swear I hear him mumble something about being scared for his life.

Grayson is shaking his head dramatically. “Hell to the fucking no. I amnotwearing that.”

“Oh stop being such a pussy and put the damn mask on.”

“Are you kidding? This is going to draw more attention!”

“Yeah, but no one can see our faces so they’ll never know.”

Grayson looks from me to the monkey head and back. “No, absolutely not. I’m not buying”—he looks around the parking lot, lowering his voice—“Bella’s ring wearing a monkey head.”

I roll my eyes. “We’ll take it off inside the store, idiot. It’s just until we’re securely inside.”

With his hands on his hips, he purses his lips, looking like he sucked on a lemon. “You seriously couldn’t come up with a better idea?”

Scoffing, I point to the matching monkey heads. “Better idea? This is a genius one. Nothing could ever top this.”

“You’re an idiot,” he says pointedly.

“Nah, I think this is pure geniusness, should go get my IQ tested after this.”