I placed my glass down on the table. “Just as long as those friends don’t change too much.”
“What do you mean?”
I shrugged. “Sometimes money changes people.” It was hard for me to not think of Rachel. If Parker didn’t have his money, I doubted she would be interested in him at all.
“How have I changed?”
I laughed. “I’m not saying you did. I’m only here to keep your ego in check.”
He scoffed dramatically. “Well, you let me know if that happens and I’ll be sure to downgrade my Porsche to a Honda Accord.”
I pulled a face. “Well if you do decide to get rid of that car, I think I know a girl who would easily take it off your hands.”
The server returned with the antipasto plate. My mouth watered at the platter of food. I dug right in.
Even though we were stuffed from the appetizer, both Parker and I ordered pasta dishes. My simple shrimp scampi was to die for, and his cavatelli with sausage was equally delicious.
We’d ordered after-dinner drinks and a tiramisu before Parker dropped a bomb on me.
“So, the reason that I wanted to take you to dinner tonight,” he started.
My stomach flip-flopped. “You mean this wasn’t just a casual get together among friends?”
“Of course it was,” he said, “but I did have something I wanted to talk to you about.”
Please don’t let him say he is proposing to Rachel. Anything but that!
“Tomorrow, I want to propose to Rachel out on the pier.”
My mouth went dry and I took a breath, my mind whirling. All I could muster was, “Wow.”
Chapter Three
Parker
Even though Sienna and I polished off two bottles of wine the night before, I woke bright and early with a spring in my step. Today was the day I’d propose to Rachel. It was about time for us to go to the next level, and I was sure Rachel was as ready as I was. Yesterday was the first time I was happy when Rachel said she wanted to stay at her place for the night. If she’d stayed with me, I feared I wouldn’t have enough preparation for the proposal. Besides, I’d risk her finding out the surprise before I even got to say the words. And I wanted this to be perfect.
And I needed my best friend’s help.
I was almost six-thirty when I arrived at Sienna’s place. There was a chill in the air, but it was predicted to be a sunny and warm day. It was the perfect weather for a proposal. Rachel and I would have an early dinner, just like she preferred, and I’d propose before the sun went down on the pier. It would be picturesque and everything that Rachel deserved.
I couldn’t help smiling as I jogged up to Sienna’s door and rang the bell.
After a few seconds, I rang it again. I looked over my shoulder and saw her car tucked into the garage. I knew she was here.
My finger hovered over the doorbell, ready to press it once more, but the door swung open in front of me.
“What?” Sienna said with a scowl.
Her hair was a tangled mess on one side, and she wore a tight black tank top and black lace panties. The majority of her tattoo scaled down her thigh.
I cleared my throat and tried to keep my eyes above her neck.
“Good morning?”
She groaned and turned around, walking into the house. “You know today is my day off, right?”
“Yes, but I need help with prepping for the proposal. You said you’d help in any way you could.”