An (Almost) Perfect Love Story (Love Story Book Three) by Rachel Schurig Page A

other’s company in relative privacy.
    “Just last week,” she said, leaning back against the pillows of the couch. “He told me he wanted to bring you up here as a surprise ages ago, though. Said he wanted Elliot and me to come, too. I think he’d been planning to do it this weekend ever since then.”
    “What about Ryan?” I asked softly, looking up to see our friend head into the kitchen, probably in search of more Bailey’s for his drink.
    Emily shook her head. “I felt so bad about that, last weekend. Chris didn’t invite him because he knew he wouldn’t have anyone to bring with him. You know how weird he gets when we’re all paired up and he isn’t.” She had a point. At first, Ryan had been dead set against Chris and me even dating. He thought it would ruin the group dynamic. I think he was really just worried that Chris wouldn’t be able to spend as much time with him. Once Emily and Elliot had gotten together, he got even weirder about being around the four of us. I hated to think about him feeling left out.
    “So why’d he decide to ask him after all?”
    “I think he just realized it would be really sad to have this great news and not have Ry here to share it.”
    “I’m glad he asked him,” I said firmly as Ryan came back into the room. He caught sight of us from across the doorway and began to make his way over. I imagined telling Ryan about the engagement when we got back to town, pictured his face falling as he realized we had all celebrated it together without him. Thank God Chris changed his mind , I thought.
    “Are the two of you still gaga over the ring?” he asked, squeezing himself between us on the couch.
    I laughed. “Pretty much.” He took my hand and smiled.
    “The boy did good,” he said, looking down at the diamond. “So, Ash, do I get to be your maid of honor?”
    “I think my fiancé might have a problem with that,” I said. “Considering he’ll probably need you to be the best man.”
    “I do look pretty fantastic in a black tux,” he said. I watched his face carefully for any sign of worry or sadness, but he seemed genuinely happy. Maybe he had finally realized that Chris and I would never ditch him, no matter what happened.
    “Did you call your folks yet?” he asked.
    I shook my head. “I want to tell them in person.” I felt a shiver of excitement. “I can’t wait to see my mom’s face.”
    “She’ll be over the moon,” Emily agreed. “She’ll have the entire thing planned within a month.”
    I laughed. “I miss your mom,” Ryan said wistfully, pulling his feet up on the coffee table in front of us. “I haven’t had food half as good as hers in months.”
    My mom and Ryan had gotten along perfectly from the first time they’d met. They were very similar in a lot of ways; both stylish, put together, and appreciative of the finer things in life. My parents lived in a big old rambling house on the Detroit River. The house was my mom’s pride and joy. She spent most of her life taking care of it, decorating, and searching for the perfect pieces to keep it just modern enough and up to her standard of traditional chic. Ryan had always loved coming to stay at their house; he spent most of our school breaks there since he wasn’t on the best terms with his own family.
    “I bet you’ll be seeing a lot of her now,” I said. “She’ll want your opinion on everything.”
    “She knows good taste when she sees it,” he said airily, and Emily snorted. Ryan turned to her. “Well, she’ll need some help from someone . God knows she won’t be able to get any style advice from you—the girl who doesn’t know the difference between lilies and roses.”
    Emily punched him. “Hey, hey, no violence,” Chris said, coming over to join us with Elliot at his side. Chris sprawled out on the floor at my feet, and I immediately reached down to take his hand. Our few minutes apart while we talked in different groups were the first we’d spent all