Then his gaze slowly lifted as he stepped forward and pressed his palm against my dad’s. “I’ll take good care of them, sir.” The conviction in his voice melted me straight to my core.
Jerking his chin in a quick nod, my dad yanked Tristan into a hug. Those beautiful eyes that always seemed to look straight through me widened as far as they could. A myriad of emotions flitted over his features before he finally realized and accepted what was happening.
Slowly, so slowly, he lifted his arms and hugged my dad right back.
My heart grew two sizes too big, and those damn tears returned with a vengeance. Like before, my mom’s arm slipped around my shoulder, and she pulled me into her side.
“Everything’s going to be just fine,” she said. I didn’t have to look to see the smile on her face. It was all it took for my own lips to stretch wide.
“Yeah,” I whispered. “It will be.”
Chapter thirty-seven
Kate
Everything was not fine.
It was freaking chaos.
The good kind though.
Music, laughter, and banter between friends that had me smiling so wide my cheeks hurt. I’d been apprehensive when Tristan suggested we use their usual poker night, that hadn’t been a poker game in months, to officially celebrate our marriage with his friends.
I was relieved when they didn’t make any remarks about how unexpected or strange all of this was. They simply pulled me and Millie into their little circle like we’d always belonged there.
“But you have the perfect spot for a poker table right there,” Rafe cried out, pointing at the corner of the room.
“Knock it off.” Tristan playfully smacked his friend’s shoulder. “If you want to play poker, do it at your own damn place.”
“Oh, please,” Rafe fired back. “Weren’t you the one who got his panties all twisted the first time Liam canceled poker night?”
“He’s not wrong,” Liam added with a laugh.
Tristan narrowed his eyes at his friends. “Traitors. Both of you shameless fucking traitors.”
The words had barely left his mouth when Millie popped out from who knew where. Without saying a word, she held up her purple jar. The label on the side read: CONCERT SAVINGS, and I’d bet every dollar I owned, it would be full before the end of the year.
“Okay, I’m officially impressed.” Izzy slipped her arm through mine. “Your husband has seriously hot friends.”
I stared at Tristan as he popped a few bills in Millie’s jar then bopped her nose. The sweetest giggle traveled across the room before she disappeared again. And like every other time I’d seen them together, a thick gooey warmth coated my insides.
“You do realize one of them is married and his wife will be back from the bathroom any moment now?”
Evie, Liam’s wife, had to be the sweetest person I’d ever met. The instant I’d opened the door, she had me in one of the best hugs ever. Her eyes were bright and her smile wide.
We became fast friends. Not even an hour into dinner, and we’d already made plans to meet up at her bookstore over the weekend.
Apparently, these men had a penchant for big gestures since the bookstore Evie owned had been a gift from Liam.
“Phew.” Evie joined us. “This baby is having way too much fun playing bouncy ball on my bladder. Goodness.” Rubbing her hand over her belly, she leaned in a little. “What are we talking about.”
“Tristan’s hot as fuck friends,” Izzy piped up before I could utter a word. “I know the Brit is yours, but that doesn’t make him less attractive.”
“Izzy,” I groaned.
“What?” She threw her hands in the air. “I’m only stating facts. I’m sure Evie here will agree her husband is hot.”
“Oh my gosh.” Shaking my head, I covered my face with my hands. “Would you just…zip it.”
