Read From This Day Foward: Switched at Marriage Part 4 for Free Online Page B

he sat at a table talking with Dex.
    I was happy Jus and Dex were occupied with each other. It kept them out of trouble. Dex was animatedly expounding on some point or other, gesturing for emphasis like he did when he was excited. Probably regaling Jus with some latest theory on coding or something technical that would have bored everyone else here.
    "That beard," Britt said with an unnerving awe in her voice. "That lovely, luscious beard. I think it's the beard. It's hot. Just looking at it makes me want to run my fingers through it. Though God knows, there could be a hideous, weak chin beneath it."
    "Are you crazy?" I gave her my "you're insane" look. I realized my mistake too late. "No weak chin, by the way. And keep your hands off my husband's face."
    She laughed. "I'm disappointed in you, Kayla. Beards are totally in style now. The absolute latest, hottest trend. You should know that, Mrs. Flashionista. Justin gets points on this one for being more up on men's grooming trends than you are."
    Even my best friend couldn't get away with insulting my sense of style. "Jus? Stylish?" I made a sound of disbelief. "You should have seen that thing before I got hold of it."
    Morgan and Alexis were standing with us. Their gazes had turned to Jus. They wore that critical look women have when they're evaluating men, particularly other girls' guys.
    "She's right." Morgan nodded. "That is a particularly nice, healthy, and soft-looking specimen of male virility." She winked at me.
    I tried not to roll my eyes. That would only encourage them.
    "He's almost hipster. Very Seattle." Morgan took a deep breath. "He's certainly grown into his looks. He used to be all sharp angles and bones. Awkward. Now he looks like he's totally hard planes and muscle." She paused. "I wish I could get Dak to grow a nice, full beard. But his style is frat-boy preppie and, now, clean-shaven corporate."
    I looked to Alexis for help.
    "Sorry!" She flashed an apologetic grin. "I agree with the girls. Seattle girls like beards. And I'm a Seattle girl through and through. Zach never gets farther than a few days' growth before he shaves. I'm going to convince him a beard is the way to go." She winked at Morgan.
    "When I heard about your marriage, I was as shocked as anyone." Morgan swirled her glass of champagne. "But look at the way he looks at you!"
    They all turned to stare at him. He glanced at us and looked quickly away, like we'd caught him looking and scared him off.
    "He's head over heels. That, in itself, is priceless. Eric always treated you with such indifference. As if he could take you or leave you. As if he expected you to adore him and it was his right to take you for granted." Morgan wiped the condensation from the bottom of her glass with a napkin she held.
    Morgan was a recovering alcoholic. She was drinking sparkling cider. So I couldn't even claim she was impaired.
    " I wouldn't have set you two up. But I would have been wrong. I'm big enough to admit it. Now you can invite me to your fiftieth, where I'll toast your good sense for ignoring what the rest of us used to think." Morgan laughed.
    We all laughed. Me nervously. Fifty years of marriage? Twice our current lifetimes yoked to the same person? It seemed unimaginable. But she had no idea.
    "I approve, too," Alexis said. "Not that you need my approval. But I think you've found something special."
    She nodded ever so slightly in Justin's direction. "Look at the way he looks at you when he thinks you're not looking. He's a man who's desperately in love. I hope you'll forgive me for the times I made fun of him in college. He was such a sweet, awkward, young thing." She laughed. "He's really grown into a striking guy."
    "Striking! That's it. That's the word I was looking for." Britt smiled, smug in the confirmation of her thinking. "Or maybe arresting. Something about him draws the eye."
    Lord have mercy! As my grandma used to say. I downed my entire glass of champagne and poured myself another. My