Page 129 of Manhattan Kiss

“Deacon and I resolved things in…in a big way.” Will she think I’m crazy when I tell her that Deacon and I are engaged? I don’t feel crazy, and it’s not going to change my mind if she does, but I’d really like her support. She’s family to me.

“Okay,” she says, narrowing her eyes. “I feel like there’s more.”

“I love him, Darcy.”

She presses her lips together, but doesn’t say anything.

“And he asked me to marry him, and I said yes.” My eyes start to water, and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m so happy that I’m finally about to live my happily ever after, or whether it’s because I’m going to miss Darcy. A little bit of both, maybe.

“Oh my god,” Darcy says, her eyes glassy. “I’m so…” She shakes her head, and I brace myself for her disappointment. “I don’t know what to say. I’m so happy for you!”

My tears spill over—it’s partly relief at her words and partly because I’m still in shock that I’ve finally found the love of my life. “You are?” I ask, dabbing my eyes with the sleeve of my jumper.

“Of course I am.” She’s in bed, and she shifts around. “I mean…it’s bittersweet. But, oh god, I wish I was there to give you a hug.”

“I know. Me too.” But I can feel her love from here. It’s not that I expected her to be angry, but I was worried that she’d be a little disappointed.

“But it’s fine. Hang on a minute,” she says to me. “Logan, can you give me your phone? I need to call Ryder. Or can you call Ryder for me?”

I hear Logan’s muffled voice.

“Aurora got engaged,” Darcy says. “I need to speak to Ryder.”

“Why do you need to speak to Ryder?” I ask. I was planning to send engagement announcements. She doesn’t need to tell him this minute.

Logan’s face appears on the screen, and Aurora disappears, but I can hear her talking in the background. “Congratulations, Aurora,” Logan says. “Is he a good guy?”

I nod. “He is. He really is.” The best guy.

“Good. Because you deserve a really good guy.”

Warmth blooms in my chest. “Thanks, Logan.”

There’s a kerfuffle on the screen and the phone gets dropped and then Darcy reappears. “Okay, so we’re all coming over at the weekend. The kids are still off school, so they can come too.”

“You’re coming over?” I ask. “Over where?”

“To New York, of course! Ryder’s over here this week, so we’re all going to come back together on his plane. I want to properly meet this guy who’s going to be my brother-in-law. And anyway, we’re going to have to get used to the journey. Are you free?”

My entire body fills with love and gratitude and relief. I haven’t lost her.

I nod. “It would be good to see you.”

“You’ve been my best friend my entire life. I’m not going to let the Atlantic Ocean get between us. You’ll be my best friend for the rest of my life too.”

“We’ll just find a new rhythm,” I say.

Darcy nods, and I know she’s only not talking because she doesn’t want to show me she’s trying not to cry.

“I really am so happy for you,” she finally says. “I’m just…happy tears.”

“I know,” I say. “I’m really happy for me too. But I’m still going to miss you.”

She shakes her head. “Nope. I’m not going to give you a chance to miss me. You’re going to be sick of me before long.”

“Never,” I say.

She grins, and we both try to blink away our tears.