'Serina, if you've already made your choice... Then the outcome is inevitable. You will lose everything.'
Not far away, the group had started barbecuing and drinking again. The more they drank, the looser their tongues became.
Beckett lifted his bottle with a wistful grin.
"You know, the day Serina got married, I was so heartbroken I went drinking alone by the river. I even posted about it online."
He laughed and leaned forward. "Guess what happened? She showed up in her wedding dress! We sat there like idiots, watching the stars all night."
My throat tightened.
I remembered our wedding night—how she claimed there was an urgent matter and left me waiting on the marriage bed until dawn.
"And later," Beckett went on, "I told her I'd never get married, but I wanted a kid. You know what she said?"
He paused deliberately, milking the suspense, before bursting into laughter.
"She looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘Fine. You give me the sperm, and I'll carry the child for you!'"
The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers.
"What a loyal friend!" someone hollered.
Beckett nudged Serina.
"Hey, with that kind of loyalty, what about Marvin then?"
Serina lowered her eyes, her voice casual, almost bored.