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“We brought watermelon,” Matt announced as they walked up.
“Good thing we just made lots of room.” Alicia patted the table. “Where’s your watermelon?”
Wes lofted the platter overhead. “He’s just the announcer. I’m the pack horse.”
“You’re the muscle, my friend. Put it right here.”
Grace walked out of the house. “Who wants to see Pickles’s new trick?”
Matt bounced on his toes. “I do! Me!”
Alicia shook her head. “I don’t know if I love this one, or it’s a travesty.”
Dean, Decker, and Eli arrived with beers and bags of chips. The champagne and beers were put into the cooler as Grace lined Alicia’s dogs, Argos and Toto, side by side, lying down with their legs tucked under them.
“Are you ready?” Grace asked.
“Ready for what?” Vivian called as she walked onto the deck.
Pickles semi-sat on his haunches and wriggled with nervous energy as if he realized his dog mama was about to trot him out like a circus animal.
“Fly,” Grace commanded.
Pickles launched over Argos and Toto. Everyone cheered. Then Pickles took off with the zoomies.
“Pickles. Pickles! Come here!” Grace clapped. “Ugh. Okay, well it’s still a work in progress.”
“Hold on.” Alicia put her hands on her hips. “I’m sorry. Did I miss something?” She leveled a pointed glance at Wes and Bailey just as Eli called out, “Now what the hell we got bubbly for?”
Eli held up a bottle of champagne in each hand. All eyes turned to Wes and Bailey. He could feel the grin stretching from ear to ear.
“We’re under contract for a house and…” She leaned into his side. “We’re getting married!”
Hoots and cheers mixed with well-meaning back-slapping and fun.
Eli handed a bottle to Decker. They each popped them open.
“I’ve got the plastic cups,” Scarlett announced.
“You know this means you’re kicked out of the group chat,” Decker said.
Wes lifted an eyebrow. “Doesn’t that just mean you two are messaging each other?”
“What group chat?” Callum asked.
Scar couldn’t stop laughing as she passed out cups. “The single bros.”
“Wait?” Dean held out his hands. “Wait? Why aren’t I in it?”
Decker and Eli exchanged looks, and Wes agreed but said nothing. “Gage isn’t in that group chat either.”
“And I don’t want to be,” he grumbled.
Decker and Eli filled cups with champagne, moving from person to person as they poured.
“No thanks,” Grace said.
“I’m having fruit punch. Want some?” Matt offered.
