Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

her. “No! There is no engagement ring on my finger.”

“There will besoon,” Bryce confidently stated. Oh shit! Is that the present heis talking about? I hope not. But...I do want him to propose, it’sjust a bit too soon. Shit!

Carls smiledmischievously then continued on to Bryce, wrapping her arms aroundhim. “Thank you.” She hugged him tight and squeezed hisbiceps...then squeezed them again.

He playfullygrinned over her shoulder at me. “You’re welcome, Carly.”

Pouting, shereluctantly let him go and made her way back to me. “So, Lexi, thesoon-to-be-bigamist.”

“I am not afucking soon-to-be-bigamist.”

“Mum!”Charlotte waltzed into the room. “You just F-Bombed. You know therules, now I get to bomb you.”

Ah crap!Who made up this stupid game? Oh...that’s right, me. Stupid me.“Um, I know, Charlotte, but you can’t bomb me. Not now.”

Without theslightest inclination as to why I was not about to let her play‘Stacks On’, she diplomatically replied. “A rule is a rule,Mum.”

“Charli.” Isubtly tried to raise my eyebrow at her. “You can’t.” I exaggeratedthe can’t bit. “You could hurt me. You don’t want tohurt me, do you?”

She looked atme strangely with her hands on her hips, suggesting she had beencheated or swindled. Then, she caught on. “Ohhh, I could hurt thebaby,” she blurted out and slapped her hand to her head. “Okay,Mum, I’ll let you off this time.” She walked up to Carly. “Hi,Aunty Carls.” Charlotte and Nate had always referred to Carly astheir Aunty; Carls was like a sister to me anyway.

Staring at mewith her mouth wide open, a smile tugging at its corners, Carlylooked wonderfully stunned. She nonchalantly gave Charlotte a quickhug, while keeping her amused expression fixed on me. “You’repregnant?”

“Yes, I am.” Ishot her a hold-on-a-minute look. “Charlotte, please don’t tellanyone else. Bryce and I want to make it a surprise and telleveryone later tonight.” Stupid me, I didn’t even think to tellmotor-mouth Charli to keep our baby news a secret.

“Oh, sorryMum.”

“It’s okay,Sweetheart. But don’t tell anyone else, alright?”

She skippedoff. “Okay.”

I turned backto Carly and smiled, while placing my nurturing hand on itsfavourite spot—my stomach. “Yes, Bryce planted his seed.” Ismirked.

He came upbehind me and placed his hands on my shoulders. “What can I say, Ilike gardening,” he explained.

I leaned backinto him and laughed.

“Wow...that’s...wow! I’m assuming it wasn’t planned.” Carly lookedat me hesitantly.

“No. Itdefinitely wasn’t planned,” I answered.

She looked upat Bryce then her expression changed. Curious, I tilted my head toglance at Bryce too. However, whatever had prompted her strangeform was lost on me, because he peered down into my eyes displayingnothing but love and happiness, filling me with butterflies.

“So you’reboth happy?”

We bothanswered her simultaneously, without removing our eyes from oneanother. “Of course we are.”

“Well, in thatcase, congratulations.”

Withimpeccable timing, a waiter appeared next to us with glasses ofchampagne on a tray. Carly grabbed two glasses and went to hand meone. She paused at the same moment Bryce opened his mouth andobjected.

“Uh uh.” Hegrabbed the slightly pink coloured glass that was still sitting onthe tray. “You, my love, get this one.” He handed me the drink.“The pink glasses are yours. All waiting staff have been briefedand know only to give you these ones.

“You’ve got tobe kidding.” I furrowed my brow at him “What is it?”

The buzzer tothe apartment sounded again, and the door was opened to allow themembers of Live Trepidation in. Bryce began to make his way over tothem when he answered my question. “No. I’m not kidding. I neverkid where you are concerned. You, my love, are drinkingnon-alcoholic rose wine tonight.” Ah. Shit. Crap. Balls.

Carly shruggedher shoulders, and rather than put one of the two glasses she hadpicked up back down, she happily took sips from them both.

“Suffer,” shesaid, with a childish grin.

I squinted myeyes at her then smiled over to my newly arrived guests. Carlyquickly tilted her head down and lowered her voice, speaking intothe glass. “Who the fuck is that sex-on-a-stick?” She took aninconspicuous sip.

I followed herline of sight. “That is Derek, Bryce’s best mate. He’s also thelead singer of the band. He was at the pub in Shepparton, remember?When the band played “November Rain” and Bryce performed the guitarsolos for me.”

“Is that him?Oh my God, he looks different.”

“Well you wereslightly occupied with the barman. Plus Derek has shaved his headsince then, maybe that’s why you don’t recognise him.”

“Fuck, Lexi.He is beyond hot. His hotness factor is through the bloodyroof.”

I laughed ather choice of words. “It’s funny you should say that, because he isa firefighter.”

She grabbed ahold of my arm and pretended to go weak at the knees. “Please tellme he’s single, Alexis, because I have a fucking ferocious fire inbetween my legs that he needs to put out.”

I cracked uplaughing. “Yes, Carls. He is single...as far as I know.”

Derek wasextremely good looking. He was the same height as Bryce,approximately six foot five. He had tanned skin and clearly definedbiceps which by memory were artfully decorated with a few tattoos.His eyes were a bright blue and his once upon a time caramelcoloured hair was now closely shaved to his head.

Bryce and therest of his band, which consisted of Derek, the lead singer andguitarist; Matt, the bass guitarist; and Will, the drummer, allmade their way over to where Carls and I were standing. As they gotcloser, she squeezed my arm tighter and dramatically said under herbreath. “Quick! Quick! My vagina in burning, please come tomy rescue.”

I laughedagain and murmured back, “Mr. Firefighter Derek, please douse myfriend’s fiery hole with your fire hose. Nobody likes a burntburger.”

Carly nearlyspat her champagne—she was good at that. With great difficulty, weboth managed to subdue ourselves and act like the adults that wewere by the time the men reached our position in the room.

Bryce placedhis arm around my waist securing me to him. “Alexis, you rememberDerek, Will, and Matt.”

“Yes, ofcourse I do. It’s nice to see you all again. Thanks forcoming.”

Carly giggledat my choice of word, forcing a childish giggle from me too.Carly Josephine Henkley, stop that.

“Happybirthday, Alexis.” Derek handed me a small package. Oh God, apresent. How embarrassing. I really don’t need presents.

I sheepishlytook it from him. “You really shouldn’t have.”

He smiled andshrugged his