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I turned away and met Duke’s eyes.
“Well, give me that bottle,” Doc teased. “I’m marrying Boxer. I’m gonna need some liquid courage.”
“Hey, you’re stuck with me now, woman.” Boxer wrapped his arm around Doc and pulled her into his side.
“Happy to be stuck,” Doc said, looking up at him. “Promise.”
Boxer brushed his lips against Doc’s temple and hugged her tighter.
“What are you doing about a dress?” Darcy asked her.
“Oh man, they’re about to talk wedding semantics,” Zip said. “Come on, men. Let’s char some animal flesh over a fire.”
“You’re vile,” Joni threw out. “But I’ll take two burgers when they’re done.”
Zip leaned down and whispered something in her ear and then pressed a kiss to her cheek.
The Blue Angels were overtly affectionate with their women and loved their children like mini-van driving suburban fathers. It was an unusual sight; one I found I enjoyed a lot.
I wondered how they’d react if Duke and I announced we were together.
No doubt they’d laugh and tease and say they knew something was between us all along.
The men wandered away, not at all interested in listening to wedding details. Colt slapped Boxer on the back and the others congratulated him. Boxer looked happy about the news. Doc, on the other hand…
“Are you okay?” I asked her.
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
“Then why don’t you look happier? I thought weddings were happy occasions,” I teased.
She smiled, but it slipped. “I am happy. It’s just strange knowing both my parents won’t be at my wedding. Not that I want them there,” she hastened to add. “They’re not the best people in the world and my mother especially doesn’t understand what I have with Boxer. But...”
“But?” Darcy prodded.
“But if I don’t invite them, then this is the line in the sand. There’s no coming back from that. So, I kind of have to choose, you know? Do I want my wedding day to be easy and fun without the baggage of my parents, knowing that it’s going to be the nail in the coffin of our relationship? Or do I invite them, even though they haven’t been in the same room as each other since they divorced?”
“Your wedding should be about you and Boxer. No one else,” Mia said. “Not even us.”
“Well, if I had it my way, we’d go away for the weekend and come back married,” she said. “I don’t want the fuss. But this is a nice compromise. Small party, just close friends. Nothing too fancy.”
“Hence two weeks from today without time for it to spin out of control,” Darcy said. “Got it.”
“You and I need to have a discussion about your cake,” Brooklyn said. “So, then I can talk to Brielle about decorating it.”
“Speaking of Brielle,” Mia said. “Weren’t she and Jazz supposed to come tonight?”
“Yeah, they were. But they were literally on their way here and they found a stray dog on the side of the road and brought it back to Brielle’s. They’re trying to find the owner,” Brooklyn explained.
“Are we going wedding dress shopping?” Mia asked Doc.
“Hmm, I don’t think so. The idea gives me hives,” Doc said. “I love Boxer. I love all of you. I don’t need a big wedding, or a dress with a long train to make the day special.”
Joni and Mia looked at each other and then Mia asked, “Can we throw you an engagement brunch?”
“Do we have to have champagne?” Doc asked. “I’m kind of anti-champagne.”
“No,” Mia snorted.
