158 - The chapter with the drunken marriage proposal

Christian

I sat down, taking the bottle of beer from my sister, taking a sip before she grabbed the bottle from my hand and slapped me upside the head.

"Your father-in-law has guaranteed that you'll beat Bobby and Otto at pool, they've never lost at the bar "My father pointed to the table where Rose and Jack were getting ready to start the game.

"My father-in-law is... a bit competitive. Rose got that from him," I commented.

"A bit? That's a joke, right? Last time the two of them ended up in a snow race just to break a tie in a series of board games "Cam rolled his eyes.

"Snow race? "My mother raised both eyebrows.

"While they were taking off their clothes," Theo added.

"Taking their clothes off? "Amber choked next to me.

"They had a series of target games in the middle of the course, and every time they missed they had to take off a piece. At the end of the race, he was only wearing shorts and boots and she was wearing a gym top, shorts and boots "I explained, taking the bottle of beer from my father, knowing that this would be the maximum I could consume before drinking it "Addison organizes this, and she does her best to make it as difficult as possible for both of them.

"Wow, they've really managed to win the craziest family competition we've ever seen "Vihn scoffed.

""You can tell them that, as long as there's the word 'win' in the sentence, they'll be happy," Theo winked.

Everyone laughed at that sentence, and were about to retort, when Skyller approached, and his expression wasn't the best.

"Cam, give me my bag, I'm leaving "she muttered.

"Sky, what happened?

"I give up, it's impossible to talk to him, especially in this state. He keeps repeating the same thing as always, and that just shows that...

"When you find out what he said, you'll feel like an idiot for reacting like that "I shrugged, interrupting the girl before taking another sip of my beer.

The girl stared at me, looking surprised by my answer, but that was the truth. Liam may have had his reasons for acting like that, reasons I don't really understand, but Skyller wasn't making it easy.

"Give me the bag "she ignored me, pointing at Cam.

"Sky... I think you should "Camille pointed towards the stage.

We all looked in that direction, our eyes widening as we saw Liam staggering towards the band's lead singer, who was finishing another song.

"Excuse me, I have to say something, it'll be quick "he asked, grabbing the microphone stand, dragging it away from the boy who seemed lost by the situation.

"What the fuck is he doing now? "Sky stammered.

"I'm no expert, but I think he's trying to get your attention," Vihn pointed out.

"Skyller, where are you? "he asked, narrowing his eyes as he passed through the hall "Skyller Baker, where... Ahhh there she is... Look, it's that blonde over there. She's pretty, isn't she?

He pointed at the girl, showing her to the band members who stood with their arms crossed, watching the boy.

"Can you come closer, Baker? I have something important to tell you," he asked.

"But not even dead," she muttered.

"Fine, I'll talk to you from a distance. You just told me that I don't care about you, all because I tried to keep a part of my life to myself. Not because I didn't think it was important to tell you, but because it's too big to talk about anyway "he started to ramble.

Skyller looked like she was about to run, but I grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her to sit down in the vacant seat next to me.

"There's no point in trying to run away, girl. He's too drunk to understand when to stop," my mother scoffed.

"I wonder how he can be so eloquent when he's drunk. If he wasn't tumbling sideways, no one would notice "Theo complained.

"But if you're so keen to know what I said to her to cause all this, then come on. To begin with, I told her everything I hope for the future, you know, in a few years' time after we've all graduated and settled down in New Orleans.

We exchanged a puzzled look, as this was the first time he had mentioned the city to everyone.

"Rose and I will have a studio in the historic center of the city, I'll always pick you up from the architecture firm where you and Peterson work, and we can visit Davis and the little beauty in the super-secret lab where they'll be working "the singer approached him, but the boy murmured, pushing him away "calm down, man, it's quick.

"If the lab is secret, how is he going to visit us? "Cam whispered to me.

"It's probably his father's lab," I said back.

"Let the boy speak once and for all "My father raised his voice "The girl wants to hear what he has to say.

"No, I...

"Quiet, miss, I want to hear it "my mother interrupted.

"Thank you Mr. Davis, you're much nicer than your son "Liam thanked her "And do you know what really upset her? Knowing that I intend to marry you, I intend to exchange my Porsche for one of those tacky minivans that will be spacious enough to fit all the brats we'll have together, and I hope they all look like you.

Sky put his hand to his mouth, his face turning red as his boyfriend continued his speech.

"You completed what was missing in my life and when I saw you turning your back on me and saying that you were tired of this situation, I realized that I was wrong to think that it was still too soon.

"What? "Shock took over the girl's face as Camille covered her mouth with her hands to hold back a laugh.

"So I decided to do here and now what I should have done already, and... can you come here for a while?

"No!

"How can I not? I have to get down on my knees for this and...

"Liam, shouldn't you have a ring? "Rose tried to help her friend.

Liam's eyes widened as he remembered that detail, while the reactions in the bar ranged from laughter to bewilderment.

"Well remembered, my future successor to Edvard Munch, I'll... "he looked around, seemingly searching for a magical solution to the situation.

"You'd better leave it for a time when you're less...

"Hey man, you've got a lot of rings, can I have one? "he asked the band's lead singer, who at that moment seemed torn between finding it funny and getting angry at the drunk who had invaded his concert.

"What?

"I need a ring to propose to my girl, can you give me one? I could buy it, my friends over there would pay you fifty bucks for any one of them "he approached the man, making everyone laugh even more.

Skyller decided to take advantage of her boyfriend's distraction and got up, trying to sneak away, but Theo was quicker, putting his arm around her shoulder and guiding her towards the stage.

"No, I want this skull one, it'll make this moment unforgettable "he commented, pointing to one of the rings on the man's fingers.

"Dude, believe me, your girl will never forget this moment, no matter what ring it is "he replied, taking the ring off his pinky and handing it to the drunk.

Theo forced Skyller onto the stage, even against his will, approaching the boy, who seemed hypnotized by the ring.

"Peterson, look at this. The skull's eyes are shining! "he showed the ring to his friend, forgetting for a second that his girlfriend was there.

Liam cracked his best smile when he saw the girl standing there, as red as a bell bell pepper. He knelt down with difficulty in front of her, extending the ring towards her with a smile of pure happiness on his face.

"Skyller Baker, will you marry me?

"Liam, I'm going to kill you, I can't believe you did that "she held out her hand for him to put the ring on her finger.

Everyone started applauding the moment, and a small smile appeared on Skyller's lips as he looked at the ring on her finger. But it all ended when Liam tried to stand up. He staggered a few steps to the side, falling off the stage onto some tables.

"Oh my God, Liam! "Sky put his hands to his lips, running to the edge of the stage, while Theo jumped down to help him.

I got up and ran over there myself, startled to see his face covered in blood from a cut on his forehead.

"Liam, are you all right? "Sky knelt down next to him, who seemed confused by what had happened.

A waiter appeared with a tea towel and Theo took it, trying to stop the blood on the boy's forehead. Rose's parents and my parents had already approached, and that's when my aunt knelt down next to him.

"Let me see that," she asked, looking at the cut and then letting out a sigh, "you're going to need stitches.

"Theo, take him to the car, I..." Addison began.

""There's no need to worry, Addison. We can sort it out," Theo assured her.

""Yes, I think it's my duty as his fiancée," Sky held up her hand, showing the ring.

It didn't take long for everything to get back to normal. My father helped Theo carry Liam to the car and soon my friends were on their way to the hospital to get him some care.

Rose and Jack had returned to the game, and seemed to get more excited with every ball they hit while Alex watched on, and, to my surprise, Addison had agreed to dance with Jason, a friend of Vihn's.

""Look, now I understand how beautiful Rose is," my aunt commented, standing next to me with her boyfriend after a few minutes, watching my girlfriend celebrate another successful shot with her father.

"Of course "Vihn agreed, watching my mother-in-law "I mean, neither of them look like parents.

Their attention turned to where Addison was dancing with the man, looking determined to put her motherly personality aside and just enjoy the evening.

"Will Jason do well tonight? "Vihn insinuated, making me laugh in response.

"What's the problem? I know he's not the best, but...

"The point is that from what I've heard, Addison has other interests, right, Chris? "Amber looked at me.

"And from what I've heard, you'd have a better chance of getting along than anyone else "I decided to tease my sister, who gave me a surprised look.

"What are you talking about? "Vihn frowned.

I went back to watching Rose, leaning in for another shot, wishing the game would end once and for all.

"Rose told me that Addison has a huge crush on Amber, and was now looking for a biker girlfriend so she could forget about her platonic love," I teased them both.

Their attention turned to the woman dancing and laughing a few meters away, looking like she was having more fun than ever.

"Oh my God. That's... I have no words "Amber laughed, taking a long swig from her beer bottle.

"That would be interesting," Vihn teased his girlfriend, receiving a surprised look in return.

"Interesting? "I raised both eyebrows.

"Oh my God, Vihn! Are you going to remember that just now? "she laughed, looking back at the woman.

"You told me the other day that you wanted to try. I don't have to take part," he insisted.

I widened my eyes as I realized what they were suggesting, turning my attention back to Addison. They've got to be kidding!

"Oh my God! Why would you say something like that? "I raised my voice.

"What's the problem? You've never had a problem listening to anything I've told you "Amber turned to me.

"Well, you've never involved my mother-in-law before, so what's wrong with you? "I muttered as I walked away, hearing a laugh from both of them.

I headed for the pool table, determined to end the endless game.

"Come on, we've won two already, if we win this one, there's nothing more for you to do "I heard Jack say.

"You're not going to win," Otto muttered.

"Rose, are we going home? "I called out.

Everyone turned towards us, looking surprised by that sentence.

"Wait a minute, we're going to win this one and...

I saw Amber approach Addison, who was still dancing, and without thinking too much, I approached the girl, throwing her over my shoulder before turning my back to the group.

"Davis, we're still playing "my father-in-law complained.

""We know you'll pocket all the remaining balls on the next shot, Jack," I replied without even turning around, ignoring Rose's protests on my shoulder.

"Chris, you've gone mad, put me down! "She slapped me on the back as soon as we left the bar.

I put her on the side of the bike, wasting no time in pulling her into a demanding kiss, silencing her protests that I had interrupted her departure.

"Okay, you're a bit forgiven," she murmured with her eyes closed as I pulled away from her.

"Let's go home so I can ask for forgiveness properly then "I winked at her, grabbing my helmet from the bike's handlebars.