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Later that evening, while Tori soaked in the tub with a glass of wine, Xander took his phone and his vodka out onto the deck. He’d made a mess of things earlier, but at least he’d done it; his conversation with Ria about asking Tori to marry him had been much more rushed than he would have liked, but it didn’t matter. He couldn’t help smiling when he remembered the way that Ria had hugged him. She was thrilled; there was no doubt about it.
He leaned on the railing of the deck and looked out into the darkness. There was no moon, he could barely make out the lake, but he could hear the waves lapping the shore. It occurred to him that he might miss that sound when they moved into their new house, but that was a small price to pay.
He took a slug of his vodka and dialed Bentley’s number.
His old friend answered on the second ring. “Hey, bud. It’s good to hear from you. How are things going?”
“Things are going great. I just wanted to check in with you – you and Alyssa are coming with the others next weekend, aren’t you?”
“You bet we are! We wouldn’t miss it. I have to tell you that I’m kind of surprised…” Xander’s heart sank. He didn’t want to hear Bentley say that he hadn’t expected him to end up with Tori. He needn’t have worried.
“… Of all the things I might have imagined you doing when you got out of the Navy, opening a sports bar wasn’t one of them. And as for Tori…” He laughed. “Then again, when it comes to Tori, nothing surprises me. Are things going well with the two of you?”
“They’re going great.”
“I’m glad. I can’t say that I saw it coming, but the two of you getting together… It makes me happy.”
“Thanks. It makes me happy, too. In fact, that’s the real reason I’m calling you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean… I’m going to ask her to marry me. I wanted to run it…”
“That’s awesome! Happy for you, man! Oh, and if you mean that you’re asking for my blessing, then you have it – in spades.”
Xander chuckled. “Thanks.”
“It’s funny,” said Bentley. “Growing up the way we did – all of us hanging out together right from being small, you guys have always felt like family to me. Now, with the way things are going, we’re actually becoming family.”
Xander nodded to himself. “You’re right. We are.”
“Between Willow and Tori, I get Slade and you as brothers-in-law. And if you’re my brother-in-law, then Jacob and Hannah will be family to me, too. Although, I don’t know how any of that works – just that they’ll be my in-laws of some description.”
Xander laughed. “Yeah, I have no idea what the names are for the brother and sister of your brother-in-law, but I know what you mean.”
“Wait, are you asking me first?” Bentley asked.
“What do you mean?”
He laughed. “I mean, have you spoken to Mom yet?”
Xander laughed. “I have. She’s good with it.”
“I’ll bet she’s more than good with it. She’s always thought that the sun shone out of you.”
“I know. I’m just lucky, I guess.”
Bentley laughed. “I believe we make our own luck in his life. And what about Dad? Have you talked to him?”
“No. I wanted to ask you for his number.”
After Bentley gave him the number, they chatted for a little while before they hung up.
Xander was looking forward to talking to Matthew; he’d always liked Tori’s dad. He dialed the number and waited.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is this Matthew?”
