Fortunately, her attention keeps being drawn elsewhere—either to a new decoration she didn’t notice before, another guest coming over to chat, or one of the many games we planned for the party.
So far, we’ve played in a cutthroat Extreme Jengatournament—which Leo and his wife, Georgia, won, which isn’t a surprise since he’s the one who originally came up with the game—and a blindfolded round of pool, which, in hindsight, may not have been the best idea.
“It’s fine,” Frank assured us after Hazel accidentally broke three beer glasses with a runaway pool ball. “I’ve got plenty of extras. And as long as everyone is having fun, that’s the important part.”
Iseveryone having fun?
A quick glance around Blissful Brews tells me they are.
Max and Ronan are playing cornhole against Swede and Allie, and from the sounds of it, there’s some good-natured heckling going on. Ronan’s voice breaks through the happy chatter in the room as he asks Swede, “Don’t they teach you marksmanship in the Navy? What kind of shot was that?”
Gage, Rory, Knox, Lark, Jess, and Kane are caught up in a rousing game of Cards Against Humanity, all of them howling with laughter at the ridiculous answers. At one point, I hear Rory blurt, “That’s not even a real thing!” And then, more quietly, “Isit?”
Honestly, I’m not sure. And I thought, after more than a decade in the Army, that I’d heardeverything.
Over in the Blissful retreat corner, Winter is reclining on the loveseat while Enzo gazes adoringly at her, every so often patting the slight swell of her stomach and beaming with pride. It’s still hard tobelieve they’re having a baby—a boy, which Enzo is especially excited about—but I couldn’t be happier for them.
But they’re not the only ones expecting. Knox and Lark are in the process of becoming foster parents, and they’re hoping to adopt one day. “We just want to have kids,” Knox explained when he first told us about the whole foster parent thing. “It doesn’t matter how it happens. Or if we’re related by blood. The important part is that we all love each other.”
I couldn’t agree more.
That’s something I learned in the Army, and it really hit home once I joined the Green Mountain Guardians. Family doesn’t have to be blood. Family is doing anything for the people you care about. It’s sharing their struggles and celebrating their victories. It’s knowing they’ll always have your six, no matter what.
It’s something Hazel’s learned over the last six months. That even though she doesn’t have her dad anymore, she’ll always have family.
Me. My teammates. Rory, Winter, and Lark. Jess. Max. Swede and Allie.
And more recently, Sawyer.
Because Sawyer’s been spending a lot of time in Bliss since he got back to the States. First, just making quick overnight trips, and then later, week-long stays at one of the cabins on the GMG property.He hasn’t committed to moving here yet, but I’m hoping to convince him.
It’s like Hazel said to him when he was over for dinner a few weeks ago. “Bliss was the fresh start I needed,” she said. “And moving here was the best decision I ever made. It could be for you too.”
And speaking of Sawyer, there he is, walking back into the bar with Ace. They’re both laughing, which is great to see. Not that I wouldn’t expect to see Ace cheerful—he’s having a great time in Portland with his Blade and Arrow team—but smiles haven’t been a common occurrence for Sawyer.
Yet.
“He looks happy, doesn’t he?” Hazel asks. She puts her hand on my shoulder as she slides into the seat beside me. Her cheeks are pink with pleasure, and her eyes are a bright, sparkling blue. The little key necklace nestled at her collarbone catches the light and throws tiny rainbows from it.
I scoot my chair over so I can loop my arm around her waist. “Sawyer?”
“Yeah.” She glances at Ace and Sawyer again. “I’ve noticed at least half a dozen smiles since he got here. And when we were talking earlier, I noticed he didn’t have that anxious look about him. Like he’s waiting for someone to attack.”
“You’re right,” I agree. “He does look happy. I think being here is good for him.”
Hazel gives me a soft smile. “It was good for me. Coming here, I mean.”
“So you’re happy?”
“Alec.” Her voice is gently scolding. “How could you think I wouldn’t be? I have everything here. A job I love, friends, a home…”
“Hey.” I put on a mock-affronted tone. “What about me?”
She stares at me for a silent moment, emotion working in her eyes. “You’re the best part, Alec.” Her hand comes to my cheek, cool and soft against my skin. “As long as I have you, I’d be happy anywhere.”
My heart flips over. Squeezes.
“Haze.”I capture her mouth with mine. She tastes of spice and sugar and a hint of molasses. As I tease her mouth open to dip inside, she leans into me, clutching my shoulders for balance.
