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“Sorry.” Evie blushed, moving away from Blaze, but he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and winked at Sam.
“Are Zed and Gemma coming?” Sam asked, picking up her beer once she and Aero were settled into the booth.
“No. Levi’s two-year molars are coming in, so he’s fussy. Zed says they’re all miserable.” Blaze chuckled.
“I’ll call her tomorrow. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
“I told her to give him a frozen washcloth to chew on,” Evie said. “That helped Ashlyn.”
“My mom would tell her to rub whiskey on his gums,” Aero said, and they all looked up.
That was the first time Blaze and Evie had ever heard him mention his family.
“That’s an old wives tale.” Sam elbowed him playfully. “Nobody really does that.”
“Probably not anymore, but I remember my parents doing it with McKenzie and Bethany.” Aero shrugged.
Evie and Blaze were staring bug-eyed at Aero and Sam, who were chattering along about various old wives’ tales about kids and babies, what their parents tried, what worked, and what didn’t. Blaze and Evie turned to each other, shared a shocked moment, then grinned. The ease with which they conversed and shared, in public no less, was a testament to the change in Aero over the previous year. Silently, they agreed that it was a delight and a relief to see.
“Aero,” Sam whispered when Evie and Blaze went back to the bar for refills.
“Hmm?”
“Wanna dance?” she asked, tilting her head toward the dance floor.
“That depends. Do you wanna keep both your feet?”
She tossed her head back and laughed. “I’m no good at dancing either. I just thought we could try it.”
“Sure, Sammy. Let’s go.”
Aero couldn’t deny her when she looked at him with such tenderness and devotion. It made his heart skip as he led her to an open corner of the black and white checkered dance floor, pulling her into his arms just as the current song faded and a slower song started up.
“Good timing,” he murmured, and she giggled, wrapping her arms around him.
“All part of my master plan,” she joked, and he sighed, resting his cheek on top of her head.
Holding each other, they swayed back and forth to the music. It was a nice song, a classic rock ballad that had sappy, sweet lyrics that only felt important at a moment like the one they were sharing.
Sam rested her head on his chest. “This is nice.”
“Mhm,” Aero agreed. He hadn’t danced much before, just with Sarah at their wedding. He remembered the day clearly. It had been a small affair, just close family and friends. He’d worn his blue mess uniform, which matched the blue ribbon around the waist of Sarah’s white lace gown. She’d looked so pretty with her blonde hair pulled up into a fancy bun and blue and white flowers tucked into it, bringing out the color of her eyes. They had stood in his parents’ gazebo while Pastor Lewis took them through their vows. Aero’s chest pitched slightly, remembering the way she’d cried happy tears. She kissed him deeply, and then they had been peppered with birdseed as they retreated down the aisle. Sarah was worried rice would harm the birds. He blinked a few times, bringing himself back to the bar.
Sam hugged him tight, feeling his solid chest beneath her cheek.
“Sammy?” Aero said softly, and she tilted her chin so she gazed up at him with warm, hazel eyes. “What kind of wedding do you dream of?”
Sam pulled back slightly, taken completely off guard by the question.
“Oh, um, I’m not sure.” Her brows pulled together. “Why?”
“Just curious,” he murmured, not able to stop himself from picturing Sam in a white dress with flowers in her hair. Orchids, preferably.
“Something small,” she mused. “Nothing too fancy. A nice dress, lots of flowers, oh, and a chocolate cake.”
Aero grinned. “Chocolate, huh?”
“Definitely. Oh, and no throwing rice. It hurts the birds.”
