Page 79 of GR8VITY

"I didn't even know that you guys were that serious," I tell her.

Covering her face, she admits, "It's been two years, but I honestly didn't see it coming either."

"Let me see it," I tell her as I lean into the camera. The grin hasn’t left my face since the call started.

Holding her hand out towards the camera, she keeps it still so I can see the massive diamond on her ring finger. I let out a short whistle. "Girl, you better not go swimming in that thing or you're going to sink straight to the bottom."

She giggles, pulling her hand back. "I know, right? Happy dance?"

We both start wiggling our bodies in a weird little dance like we used to all the while I'm trying to ignore the quiet chuckles and grins around me.

Laughing again, she asks, "Want to see the video?"

"Is that even a real question?" I ask, taking another drink of my juice.

She taps her phone a few times before mine dings. I close her face temporarily and open my texts to watch the video. It's absolutely gorgeous. They're on a body of water somewhere, I'm assuming a lake or river since there's grass and no sand, and I can see the land on the other side. Her now-fiancé, Edward, is down on one knee before Bear walks into the frame with the tiny jewelry box tied to his harness. Tears roll down my face before he even pops the question.

When I finish the video and close it, going back to her, my eyes still aren't dry. "He included Bear."

"I know," she whines, tearing up with me. "It was perfect, Lizzy. He's perfect. And, it doesn't matter, but it turns out that his family is like stupid rich and have offered to pay for the wedding."

"That's amazing," I tell her, relieved that his family approves of her. "I could always help too, you know?"

She's already shaking her head before she replies, "They literally said everything. I have another huge favor to ask of you."

"Anything," I tell her without hesitation. She's the closest thing that I have left to family other than these men sitting around me right now. I'd do anything at all for any of them, no matter what it costs me.

"I need a maid of honor," she says, grinning again.

"Oh my god, Hannah!" I exclaim. "Yes! You already know I'm so there. Wait, can I do my duties from here, or do I need to come back to help?"

More than one set of shoulders around me stiffens just as my heart cries out in rejection of the thought, but it wouldn't be forever.

She relieves us all as she says, "Oh, you can do it all from there. I just need you here for the week of the wedding. Probably the whole week because of rehearsals and dinners and such."

"Okay," I tell her. "But, if you need me there for anything else, tell me and we will make it happen, okay? I'll legit even fly in for cake testing or dress fitting or whatever."

"Oh my god," she states, breathing out heavily. "I haven't even thought about my dress. His mom wears designer clothes, I bet she's going to try to get me connected with some big-name designer."

Dav En walks into the kitchen as she's speaking, but I don't pay attention to where he's going. Not until his body comes into frame as he squeezes me into a hug. My brain processes everything at once. Dav En's face on my screen next to mine. Hannah's shocked expression. Arms waving across the bar at us trying to get Dav En's attention.

I drop my hand across the camera of my phone, but not quickly enough. Hannah starts to call my name. I gaze up at Dav En with wide eyes before looking over to Seong Su. All the while, Hannah has not stopped calling my name in different versions and they're getting more and more ridiculous every time one leaves her mouth.

It's only been about thirty seconds or so, but it feels like so much longer. Seong Su, whose eyes have been locked with mine, finally gives me a short nod with a sweet half smile. I look to Dav En and then Kyung. He's already wearing his own version of Seong Su's sweet smile. It's all I need for reassurance. I will never ever be ashamed of being with all of them. My panic was more for someone finding out for their sake. Not mine. I don't want to be any kind of trouble.

I move my hand, letting the camera focus on me again. "Sorry, technical difficulties."

"Elizabeth-Lying-My-Pants-Off-Tierney," she states quieter than she was before. "I either just saw a cute Korean man next to you, or you have a ghost. Blink twice if you need to be rescued either way."

Making my eyes as wide as possible, it makes us both laugh, breaking the tension, just as Dav En slides back into frame.

"Hannah, this is Dav En," I tell her, introducing them.

She gives him a once-over as they exchange a polite hello in English. Then, swallowing, I pick up my phone and turn slowly, introducing the rest of them in the room as I do. Everyone says nice to meet you or hello in English to her as she returns them. When the camera is back to facing only me and I've set the phone back down, she motions with her hand for me to come closer.

As I comply, leaning on the counter, she whispers, "Are you dating one of them?"

Of course, as with any video call, the sound is on speaker, so they can still hear her. Again, I will not be ashamed of dating all of them. It's exactly why I can't stop the smile from forming on my lips as I pull away so she can see my face.