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I’m not going to start anything.
Nope. Just going to make a point.
People turn as I cut around them. I nod and keep moving until I’m nearly there. Lara sees me first. Her head tilts, and she gives me a curious look that only gets more confused as I sweep her up into my arms for a hug that pulls her off her feet, and then set her down… leaving my arm around her back in a blatantly possessive hold.
Like a total douche.
But instead of Gulls giving me some contrite look and backing away with his hands up, the guy grins wide and sticks his fist out for a bump. Huh.
My eyes cut back to Static, who’s pointing off to the side. But I can’t see past this guy I don’t recognize walking by.
Except then, instead of walking past, the guy stops beside Gulls, who hands him a beer and slides an arm around his waist… just like mine is around Lara’s.
Oh hell, yes.
“Boomer, you meet my boyfriend Cam yet?” Gulls asks as I shake his man’s hand with a big grin.
“Good to meet you, Cam.” So good. Because not only is Trevor in a relationship, the way he’s looking at his boyfriend says it’s the real deal.
Aww. Love.
It’s everywhere today, and I’m kinda digging it.
Catching the bartender’s eye, I signal for a round— “Tequila.” —and then I snug Lara into my side, because, yeah, I’m not letting her go.
* * *
Lara
I can’t stop laughing.
No idea how long we’ve been at this bar, but there have been shots. Then water. Then more shots.
And instead of winding down, the party only seems to be getting started. Enough people have arrived that the owner brought in another bartender.
We’re sitting with Piper and Bowie, who’s detailing the strategic planning that went into telling Ben about his intention to propose.
“It was practical,” Bowie announces, tipping back his beer with an uncharacteristic grin. “I figured there was a chance greater than zero that if Boomer, here, decided he really didn’t like what I was saying… there might be an ‘incident,’ and at least it would happen in a bar we wouldn’t miss if we weren’t allowed back.”
Ben’s nodding, like this makes perfect sense. No denial. Just the tip of his bottle toward his buddy before looking around the table. “Turns out, the Hidden Bridge slays.”
Piper climbs out of Bowie’s lap and rounds to her brother, ruffling his hair in a way I wish I could get away with. “So, good thing you didn’t start flipping tables, huh?”
“What? Me? Nah. Not when Bowie was stand-up enough to ask my permission to marry you.”
Bowie rolls his eyes, muttering, “Wasn't actually asking.”
My beer almost comes out of my nose, but Ben rolls right on.
“Now if you were telling me you got her pregnant…” He makes a face like he doesn’t even want to think about it. “Things might’ve ended differently.”
“He’s not joking.” Piper slips into the space beside me, a knowing smirk on her face. “I'm not even sure Bowie will be safe once we are married.”
I don’t want to be the one to say it. But, “Probably not.”
We dissolve into laughter as Ben slaps the table, announcing he’s getting another round. Bowie goes with him, and I watch, hating myself a little for lingering on how good he looks from behind. For thinking that the right girl at the right time?—
I cut myself off from a train of thought no good will come from.
