Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 492: Friends

The moment they all got out of their cars, Mari hurried over to meet Jax and Emily.

“What did you both talk about?” she asked, taking Jax’s arm.

Jax chuckled. “I don’t think it’s your business.”

“Babe!” Mari hissed before turning to Emily.

Emily smiled. “What did you and Cal talk about?”

Mari shrugged. “Random stuff.”

“So did we,” Emily said with a shrug.

Jax chuckled, while Mari glared at them both as the others joined them.

When they reached the lounge, they were shown into a private room which Dawn had booked in advance as Jamal drove the car.

The room was warm and quiet.

A large sofa ran around three sides of the room, with small tables in front of it. Soft lights glowed from the walls, and music played low enough for them to hear one another.

Emily dropped onto the sofa. “This is perfect.”

Mari sat across from her. “I knew you would say that.”

Dawn sat beside Jamal while the other couples sat beside each other too.

A waiter came in and took their orders.

Once he left, Mari looked around. “So what are we doing?”

Emily smiled. “Talking.”

Mari frowned. “About what? That sounds boring.”

“What do you want to do?” Dawn asked Mari.

She looked around the room. “Games.”

Emily rolled her eyes. “I knew you would say that.”

Mari picked up a small box from the table. “Look. Cards.”

She opened it. “Questions.”

Callan laughed. “Of course.”

Mari shuffled the cards. “Everybody has to answer. No escaping.”

Jax leaned back. “I suddenly regret coming.”

Mari smiled sweetly. “You are sitting beside me. You are not escaping.”

“Can we just relax a little and converse before we go into games?” Jamal asked, looking at everyone.

“Yeah. Let’s do that. It’s been a while since we all came together this way. And it’s the first time all four of us are meeting with our partners this way,” Callan pointed out.

“Yeah. Because Mari and Jamal decided to have a double date without us,” Emily muttered.

Mari giggled. “It’s not our fault that you both are in Husla making romantic headlines.”

Everyone laughed at that.

“So, what do you want us to talk about?” Emily asked, looking at Jamal.

Jamal shrugged. “Random stuff. The wedding. Work. The future.”

“The wedding was beautiful,” Dawn said with a wide smile.

“Yeah. It was. I’ve never felt that emotional at a wedding,” Emily murmured.

“Me too,” Mari said, smiling. “I’m happy for those two.”

“They are a perfect match,” Dawn said with a nod.

The guys exchanged a look as they listened to the ladies go on and on about the wedding.

“I always thought Jamal was going to be the first to get married in our circle though. At this rate, I guess I just might get married before you all,” Mari joked.

“How about we play as a couple? The couple that wins the games will be the next to get married? Every other one of you will wait for them to get married?” Jamal suggested.

Everyone laughed.

“That’s crazy,” Jax said with a shake of his head.

“Absolutely crazy,” Callan agreed.

“I am. Why? Are you all scared we might win?” Jamal asked, challenging the others.

“You can’t be serious,” Dawn told Jamal, laughing too.

“I am. Don’t you believe in us?” Jamal asked, looking at her.

“I honestly don’t care one way or the other whether we win or not. I’m counting on the fact that everyone here plans to settle down soon. It doesn’t matter who goes first,” Dawn said easily.

“It doesn’t matter to us either,” Emily said with a shrug.

Mari shook her head at Jamal, “You are the one who suggested the game, so don’t complain when we beat you.”

Jamal leaned back against the sofa. “I never complain when I lose.”

Mari looked at him. “You complain when you lose at everything.”

“That is not true.”

“It is,” Mari insisted.

Emily raised her hand. “I can confirm that.”

Jamal glared at her. “Nobody asked you.”

Emily grinned. “And now you’re mad that you lost this argument to Mari. You just proved her right.”

Everyone laughed.

“Thank you, baby,” Mari said, blowing Emily a kiss.

Jax laughed and pulled Mari closer to him.

Callan looked at Emily. “Are we actually doing this?”

Emily smiled. “Why not?”

“What if Mari and Jax win and they refuse to get married in the next five years?”

“I heard that,” Mari said with a giggle.

“You were supposed to.”

She threw a cushion at him.

Callan caught it easily and placed it beside him.

“Amongst everyone here, we’ve known each other the longest. Don’t you think we can win?” Emily asked Callan.

“Fine,” Callan said. “We will do it.”

“We are in too,” Mari declared.

Jamal smiled. “Deal.”

Dawn shook her head in amusement. She couldn’t believe they were playing such a game.

Mari sat up straight. “This is going to be exciting. We need rules.”

Emily nodded. “Of course we do. Otherwise, Jam will change the rules when he starts losing.”

Jamal laughed. “We haven’t even started playing, and you’re already accusing me.”

“Because we know you.”

Dawn reached for the box of cards. “What game are we playing?”

“Questions. We can ask each other questions,” Emily suggested. “Each couple gets a point when both people give the same answer.”

“Like we did at Genny’s bridal shower?” Dawn asked, and Mari nodded.

Jax looked at Mari. “That sounds dangerous.”

“Why?”

“What if we lose? They’ve been together longer than we have.”

Mari smiled, and she turned towards the waiter who had just entered with their drinks.

“We noticed you have game cards. Do you have monikers?” Mari asked.

The waiter placed the drinks on the table before responding. “Yes, we do.”

“Please, can we have it?” She asked, and he gave her a nod before leaving.

“Monikers?” Emily asked.

“I figured it would be more fun than asking personal questions,” Mari said, and Emily snorted.

“Or you were afraid you’d both lose,” she teased.

“I prefer the monikers,” Callan said.

“I don’t mind. I’m up for any games,” Jamal said.

“I can’t say I know what that is though,” Jax said, and Mari laughed.

“You’re so lucky to have me in your life. I’m going to make your life so much fun,” she said, making Jax and the others laugh.

The waiter returned with their game, and they each picked up their glasses as they settled down to play.

“Who is going first?” Emily asked after Mari had explained the rules of the game.

“It’s only fair that Jamal and Dawn should go first,” Callan said, and the others all agreed.