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“He tries though,” his sweet Destiny volunteered, causing all of them to laugh as the other men rose to their feet.
“I think we are going to head out and leave you alone. You need help painting tomorrow or are you good, buddy?”
“I’ve got it – and I appreciate you guys.”
“No problem – because you are buying dinner with everyone tomorrow night,” Alpo winked and Killian laughed, clapping him on the shoulder.
“You got it, brother. Thank you again.”
CHAPTER22
DESTINY
For her,time flew by in the blink of an eye.
Their entire group of friends, people she had seen and new members were there laughing, cutting up, and sitting together in an entire massive room, talking. Plates of food were brought around the table by servers, along with pitchers of margaritas and water like it was never-ending… and the children!
There were children everywhere.
Wiggling in their chairs, in booster seats, in baby carriers, some in slings on the women… and sometimes the men. There were so many little ones at this gathering that she realized they had brought everyone. It wasn’t just finding a sitter for the evening, but rather each couple joined them as a true and complete family – and soon they would have their own contribution.
When dinner was over, they brought out the check and Killian stood up immediately to take it as the waiters started to hand out all the bills.
“Nope, I’ll take them all,” he offered. “Put them all on one check.”
“Ricochet,” Alpo grinned. “You gotta learn to take a joke, buddy… I was teasing.”
“I’m not.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
“You all helped me, had my back, and built an entire wing – a fully functioning bathroom on my wife’s house in two days. TWO! Flyboys continued running because others stepped up to handle the company for those of you that came over. Some of you gave of your vacation time,” Killian said pointedly, grateful that Riptide had unexpectedly helped wire the room with the electrician.
“I cannot tell you how grateful and appreciative I am knowing that my bride has the best friends and people we consider family at her side, if she ever needs anything at all – and that, my friend, is no joke… and priceless,” Killian said openly, picking up his margarita glass as if to toast them all. “So, yeah – one check, and this is my treat.”
All of the men picked up their glasses, rose to their feet and stood.
“To family,” Killian said quietly, “To those present – and abroad.”
Destiny and Sophie both rose immediately holding their glasses of water, and she was truly moved – as was the other woman.
Sophie’s eyes shone as Destiny knew she was thinking of her husband, who was stationed with Killian back in Ghazni.
“To family,” Destiny said proudly, looking at her husband.
“To family,” Sophie agreed… and all the other women picked up their glasses, rising to their feet to join the men that were standing and repeated the phrase, tapping all their glasses together haphazardly around the table, smiling and leaning towards each other for good measure.
“To family!”
* * *
“I cannot believehow expensive dinner was,” Destiny uttered bluntly as she was sitting on the side of the bathtub, filling it with water. Killian was leaning against the doorway, smiling at her. “Are you sure we had the money for something like that? We never discuss money –ever– but I’ve never had a check for dinner that was four digits, Killian. Four!”
He laughed at her and shook his head.
“Bunny, we don’t discuss money because in-truth - your husband is a miser in real life,” he began, and she looked at him, shocked. “I don’t ever spend money on myself, and my paycheck’s been going into an account for years, untouched. We are basically living off what you bring in, and barely scratching the surface on mine.”
“What?”
