Page 32 of Spies Don’t Fall for Their Best Friend

“What made you decide?” I ask.

“Well,” she says, “I’m the one who’s been most resistant to marriage because I hadn’t been exposed to married couples much. At least marriages worth wanting. I didn’t really get how it worked, and I kind of… I don’t know. Feared it.” She says that last part like it was painful to admit. She gestures at Mackenzie. “But I’ve been around you and Jace a lot. And I’ve spent a lot of time around your whole family. I guess I finally realized I’m not afraid of it anymore. I’m afraid of not experiencing it with Ledger.”

We all hug her again.

“And since it was mostly me holding us back,” Zoe says, “I think I should be the one to propose.”

“When?” Charlie asks. Between Owen almost being in town and Zoe’s news, the girl is practically vibrating with excitement. “Do you know how you want to do it?”

“This weekend. We already have plans to go to an after-hours aerial adventure course in the woods. It has rope bridges, climbing obstacles, a free-fall drop, and a final side-by-side zip-line race.”

“So, basically,” Mackenzie says, “you’re going to propose at the most Zoe and Ledger date night spot there is.”

Zoe tilts her head. “Where else would I do it? I want to propose when we’re on the highest platform, just before the final zip-line. There are strings of lights there, and we’d be overlooking their fun lighting throughout the woods. I’ve checked the weather, and it’s supposed to be perfect that night.

“I have his ring, and I got a ring box designed to look similar to a locking carabiner. I’ll have it clipped somewhere on me or my harness. Then I’ll stop Ledger and say something related to the first time I told him I loved him and that I want to marry him. Then I’ll give him the ring, and we’ll take the final leap down the zip-line together.”

“Oh, that is so perfect,” I say.

“Do you think so?” Zoe asks. “I’ve never really been good at the whole romance thing.”

“No, you are,” I say. “It really is perfect.” So much so that the longing ache in my chest to have the same thing is strong.

Zoe lets out a huge breath. “Oh, good.”

“Does anyone else know?” Livi asks.

“I talked to Evelyn about it first. Guys are supposed to ask the girlfriend’s dad for permission, right? I mean, aren’t they? I don’t really know. But I figured since I was the one asking, I should ask the boyfriend’s mom.”

Charlie is holding back a smile. “And what did she say?”

Zoe looks down, smiling, and I think I see a glisten of a tear. “She said she would love nothing more than to have me as her daughter-in-law.”

Charlie’s expression softens. “I’m pretty sure she already claimed you as part of the family. We all have.”

Zoe blinks rapidly, and then Charlie is hugging her again. We all join in, and for a minute, I’m surrounded by people building the kinds of futures they once weren’t sure they would ever have.

Eventually, we pull ourselves together and return to Mackenzie’s registry. Once we’ve added everything she could possibly need for her baby and ten more, we head toward the front of the store. Mackenzie suddenly stops walking, and since I’m the closest person, she grabs my hand and places it on her belly just in time for me to feel the baby kick.

My eyes fly to Mackenzie. “That’s her?”

Mackenzie is beaming as she nods. “She’s a strong little girl.”

“She is,” I say, leaving my hand there a bit longer to feel the magic of this tiny human moving, even though my heart is breaking a bit as I do.

Then, we continue to head toward the exit and then out to our cars, everyone chatting about everything—babies, engagements, weddings, and futures.

I keep a smile on my face and join in on the conversation, because I’ve gotten very good at pretending that everyone else’s future doesn’t remind me of the ones I’ve quietly stopped imagining for myself.

CHAPTER 8

GENERATIONS

MILES

I’m standing in baggage claim at the Baltimore airport, Reese by my side, trying to keep my cool as I wait for my grandparents. I can feel Reese’s eyes on me, but she doesn’t say anything until I finally look over at her.

She’s grinning. “So, this is what you’re like when you’re really excited about something.”