Totally and Completely Fine(87)

Well. Last night. After I’d gotten thoroughly fucked against them.

Ben had helped, both of us sweaty and laughing.

“That’s a shame,” Gabe said. “I kind of liked it back there.”

“Eww,” Lena said.

“You’re just going to have to find other places to make out,” I said. “Like your apartment.”

Gabe had his arm around Chani, and they were exchanging glances like two people with a secret. And then…

“Before you go,” he said, “I have an announcement.”

We all gathered, my mother joining us in a semicircle around Gabe and Chani. I had a pretty good feeling what the announcement would be, but I kept my mouth shut.

Gabe held up Chani’s hand, displaying the lizard-looking ring.

“We’re engaged!” he said.

Congrats came from all corners, and my mom was the first to hug Gabe, tears in her eyes.

“I’m so happy for you two,” she said, before turning to Chani and giving her a hug.

“Thank you.” Chani was beaming.

“Mazel tov,” Ollie said. “You’re not the only one learning Yiddish.”

Gabe shook his head and pulled the other man in for a hug.

“Happy for you,” I heard Ollie say.

“Cheers, you two,” Ben said, giving Chani a kiss on the cheek and Gabe a firm handshake.

Then it was my turn. I gave my brother a hug, squeezing him as tightly as I could.

“This is so exciting,” I said.

“Thanks,” he said, but his eyes were focused on Lena. “What do you think?” he asked her, tentatively approaching.

Lena looked at Eve. Eve nodded and gave her a little push.

“It’s cool,” Lena said, and then gave Gabe a hug.

He closed his eyes as he squeezed her tight, and I could see years of tension lift from his shoulders.

“Really happy for you, Mr. P!” Eve said.

“For the love of god, call me Gabe,” he said.

Chani came up alongside him, nervously looking at Lena. It got a little hushed.

“I’m really excited to be part of the family,” Chani said.

There was a long pause.

“Yeah, okay,” Lena said, and gave her a nod.

Chani beamed like she’d won a Pulitzer.

I was about to head back to work when Gabe pulled me aside.

“We want to get married at the store,” he said. “Would that be okay?”

“You own the place,” I reminded him. “Of course it’s okay.”

He grinned. He was so happy.

“I was also thinking we’d do an engagement party or something in a few weeks,” he said.

“Sounds great. Do you want to do it at the store as well?”

“I think we’ll do it at Mom’s,” he said. “But I was wondering…”

He paused. He looked nervous.

“What?” I asked.

“Would you speak at the party?”

I hadn’t expected that.

“You want me to speak?” I asked. “I’m not a very good public speaker. Why not Ollie?”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Gabe said. “Ollie will definitely be speaking. Chani’s sister as well. But I’d like you to say something. If you’re comfortable with that.”

I had never been good in front of a crowd. I didn’t want to ruin the party by saying something stupid, or worse, boring.

“Just think about it,” he said, sensing my hesitation. “It’s just friends and family. And…I’d really like you to.”

“Of course I will.”

He gave me a hug.

“Can I also do a PowerPoint with all your baby pictures?” I asked into his shoulder. “And some of those awkward preteen ones?”

“Ha,” he said.

“That’s a yes,” I said.

Chapter 47

Now

I was stopped once more before I could leave.

“Would it be okay if Mr. Walsh came over for dinner too?” Lena asked, looking at her feet.

It was the last thing I would have expected her to ask.

Ben and Eve were behind her.

“He said he can help me with my audition,” Eve said.

I didn’t know anything about auditions—I wondered if Lena was going to do the same. Probably not.

“And I might have mentioned that I hadn’t tried any of your baking,” he said.

“Which is crazy!” Eve said. “Mrs. P is the best baker in Cooper!”

“My publicist,” I said, gesturing at her.

“She makes good cookies,” Lena added.

“Publicists,” I corrected.

“I don’t want to be an imposition,” Ben said.

Lena was now giving me her “please, Mom” eyes. Like I’d ever been able to resist those. Not that I had any objections to spending more time with Ben.

“I can take them back to the house,” Ben said.

My eyes widened.

“Not on Lillian,” he quickly corrected. “I can borrow Gabe’s truck.”

“Lillian?” Lena asked.

“My bike,” Ben said.

“You have a motorcycle?” Eve asked, eyes huge.