And just like that, my heart is filled to the brim and into theoverflow.
“Merry Christmas,Raven.”
“Merry Christmas,Brody.”
Our mouths fuse over one another in a fury, with a passion, with the beauty of our love. Raven is the girl I have always wanted, desired, and dreamed about. And this Christmas, she also feels like a gift from above, one that my grandfather ordered for me all those yearsago.
Life has offered its fair share of surprises these last few months. And the best surprise of all is right here in my arms. Love is real. It exists. My grandfather found it—and so haveI.
The Sloppy Pelicangleams like a gemstone, sending its happy peach glow into the night like a beacon. It’s exactly three days after I proposed to Raven, and we’ve since let her mother and brothers know, and I’ve clued in my family as well. Raven and I decided that next September on our one-year anniversary, we’ll retie the knot right here at The Pelican. We’d hate to break with tradition. It seems if you’re a partial owner in the place it’s your fiduciary duty. It’s my night off, but Levi called and asked if we would join him and Low for dinner so we made our wayout.
“Just think of all the fabulous double and triple dates we’re going to have now,” Raven practically sings while swinging our conjoinedhands.
“I’m thinking about it, and I’m dreading it, too.” I take a quick bite of her ear. “I’m teasing. You’re lucky I like yourfriends.”
“You’re lucky I likeyourfriends.” She butts her shoulder into mine as we head in, and the scent of a freshly grilled steak hits mysenses.
“Now that’s heaven,” I say just as Jess struts by bearing her ample cleavage with a wave, and I deeply regret my ill-timing.
Raven gives my arm a quick tug. “Is this the part where I seek outMojo?”
“Do it and we’ll have one dead bartender. And I promise you I wasn’t ogling the waitress. It wasthe—”
“Steak,” she finishes. “Of course, it’s the steak. What did you think I was going to ask Mojo about? Rumor has it, he knows the cut by thescent.”
“You’re a riot.” I steal a kiss from herlips.
“Aww,” a female voice chirps from our left, and we turn to find Colby decked out in a dress and heels, dressed to kill, or more to the point, dressed to stress out her big brother. “I totally think you make a cute couple.” She wrinkles her nose at the two of us. “Your surprise awaits. Follow me,” she begins, leading us through the bar, and we quicken our steps to keep up withher.
“What surprise?” I callout.
“Never you mind.” She turns back and winks. “Oh, and guess what? I got into Briggs for the spring semester and so did Teagan! Consider that a pre-surprise surprise. We’ve been hounding the admissions department for months, and we finally got a breakthrough. All it took was a little—” She looks back with a nervous glance. “Never mind what ittook.”
“Let me guess—” Raven bites down on her lip, looking my way as if she’s afraid to say it—“the promise of a heftyendowment?”
“Shit,” I mutter under my breath. Of course, that’s what it was. Everyone knows Whitney Briggs doesn’t send out acceptance letters until late spring, and they sure as hell don’t admit over winter break. “At least you have good grades. And I’m assuming she does,too.”
“You betcha!” Colby offers a hard wink as she leads us to the darkened banquet hall, and at once the lights blink on and there stands everyone we know andlove.
“Surprise!” they call out atonce.
The place is decked out in hundreds of twinkle lights. Tall vases sit in the center of a sea of tables with bright red roses blooming out of them. The house band has moved into the room for the night as they start in on a cover of a popular song. In the corner sits an enormous display of white frosted cupcakes built in tiers to mimic a weddingcake.
Levi steps forward with a sheepish grin. “Hope you don’t mind. This is just a casual get-together to express how much we love youguys.”
Low hops at his side. “So please accept this unofficial wedding reception from us. In no way is this to detract from the official one, which my bestie and I have already started planning for next September. But we couldn’t wait that long to lift a glass of champagne in your honor. Are youmad?”
“Heck no!” Raven launches at her with a hard embrace just as Axel and Lex come at us from theside.
“Good,” Lex snaps. “Because we put off our honeymoon until Friday because we wouldn’t miss this for theworld.”
“Aww!” Raven wails and pulls Lex into their tangle oflimbs.
Axel and Levi each offer up a congratulatory slap to the back as the band starts up and the room breaks out into a friendlychatter.
“We did it.” Levi shakes his head at thecrowd.
“Filled the restaurant with potential patrons?” Itease.
