Page 12 of Grasp The Moment

Derek raises a brow in anticipation, but I shake my head.

“She doesn’t have a tag, only this coll—Is this my diamondchoker from last night?” I gasp, quickly unclasping it from the dog's neck.

This could’ve been so dangerous for her…

“Shit… I do vaguely remember you wearing it, so how’d the dog get…” Derek stops talking, his body frozen as he eyes something on the coffee table.

“Fuck,” he curses, running a hand through his hair, putting me on ten immediately.

“What?! What happened?!” I exclaim, rushing over and stopping dead in my tracks when I see his face. I clutch the puppy tighter to my chest.

“This isn’t good, Blondie.”

There are two sheets of paper on the table, a small Polaroid picture, and a tiny gold-encrusted box.

I gulp, squinting at the biggest paper in Derek’s hands.

“Read it out loud.”

Of course, now, of all times, I can’t understand what I’m seeing…

“ToGerek, congratulations on your nuptials! I’m so happy that you cool cats invited me to the ceremony. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get you a real gift. I’ll do it soon, but please have this puppy as a small gift! When I saw how excited G-baby got seeing the puppy, I had to buy it for you two! Love… LukaEspinosa.”

My jaw drops.

“Wait—”

“Luka…” I gasp, my heart racing as I eye the dog, then the letter. “The lead singer of Twisted Vipers knows me?!” I squeal, jumping up and down with the yipping dog, coming to a stop when I catch the look on Derek's face.

“Georgia, do you have selective hearing? Is that really all you got from that letter?”

First off, rude, and yes, that is in fact all that I heard…

Grimacing and partially smiling, I hold up a finger.

“Refresh me…What did you say?”

“The first line of the letter says,‘Congratulations on your nuptials!’”he exclaims, looking distraught.

The words stick out like a sore thumb as lead pools in my belly.

Nuptials?! As in married?

“Maybe it’s a prank… Jace, this isn’t funny!” I yell, trying to laugh, but only stop when my eyes snag on the Polaroid on the table. “Oh my God…”

My hand shakes, heart racing as I reach out to grab the small photo on the table.

“Holy shit…”

The picture looks like something out of a 70s-themed rom-com with vibrant neon signs, red velvet floors, obscene curtains, and flowers all around us. But that’s not what has my heart racing. It’s Derek and me, dressed in our current outfits, entangled in a passionate kiss. An Elvis impersonator stands behind us, grinning.

“Shit.”

“Georgia… What is that?” he asks, but he already knows the answer. Derek takes a step toward the last note and the gold box.

Gulping, I close my eyes. The headache from my hangover has the room spinning.

“To Derek, I was so thrilled that you invited me to your ceremony! You almost forgot this at the chapel. Can’t believe you almost left a twenty-thousand-dollar ring in my purse LOL. Congrats again, you two. XOXO, Zola.” He breathes a sharp exhale before slowly opening the box in his hand.