"James wants to get married, like rings and all. He even asked about kids."

She continues to smile, and it’s similar to the one James gives me when he finds my manic moments adorable.

"What's wrong with you and your father and that stupid matching fucking smirk on your face? I tell you your dad wants to marry me, your fucking best friend, he wants to make an honest woman out of me, and you just sit there and smile?"

She full-on belly laughs and it totally changes my mood—in a good way.

"I'm gonna punch you," I threaten her.

Natalie's eyes are positively bursting with laughter. "You are so dumb."

"Can you elaborate before I have a fucking heart attack?"

Seventeen

Natalie moves her legs off the lounge chair and sits up.

She gestures for me to take a seat. I hesitate and inhale a heavy breath before sitting down in front of her. Leaning toward me, she makes sure she's looking in my eyes. I roll my lip between my teeth and bite down, unsure how this night will end.

"Were you honestly worried to tell me my dad wants to marry you?" she asks, then breaks out in a chuckle. "Okay, now that I say that out loud, I guess I can see where you're coming from."

I nod. "It brought me back to the past—"

"Nope. Hush. We're not going there—"

"I know, but I don't want to do anything to ruin us, you know? That was awful, Nat, and I'd do anything to prevent that from happening again."

She offers me a sweet smile. "Glad to know you're all about that chicks before dicks life, but this is different. Listen, that day in the restaurant, when I gave you guys my blessing, it didn't come with terms. That wouldn't have been fair of me. In fact, it’d be kinda fucked up. Am I the reason you won't marry him?"

My brows fall. "How did you know I won't marry him?"

Natalie gives me a droll stare. "Why do you think I'm here? Daddy called about his princess. Thanks for taking my spot, bitch."

I clench my eyes shut and cringe. "Please don't call him Daddy."

"Ew. No. I don’t want to know." She covers her ears as my meaning sinks in.

We both laugh for a moment until I sober up, and say, "He called you about this?"

"He did. It was pretty cute. He was just as nervous to talk about it as you. When he told me he asked you to marry him—not once, but like three times—and you said no each time, my jaw dropped. I can't believe you said no."

My eyes widen. I'm going to get wrinkles from how much I'm lifting and dropping my brows. "He told you that?"

"Oh yeah, when my dad's motivated over something, there's no stone he won't turn over to find a positive outcome. He has no shame in his game when it comes to something he loves. Can't fault him for it. It's admirable."