Chapter Thirty-Five
Suds
Standing at the open bar in a room full of appetizer tables, I slap my pal Lucky on the back. “Thanks for doing this… again.”
“No worries, mate.” He laughs as he watches his wife corral three girls, all under age three.
“Gonna try for a boy?”
“Not sure. We might.”
Slate, his arm around Dr. Lilac, walks up to the bar. “How many times you plan on getting married, Seb?”
“This is it.” His gal kisses him and I can’t help but raise my brow because of the band on her left hand.
He notices my surprise. “Justice of the peace. Reno. She had a couple days off between shifts.”
“About time.”
“Yeah. If she got sick, I didn’t want any bullshit about me taking care of her. The license makes it easier.”
For them, not being wed was more binding and I almost get it. Somehow, it lent more meaning to their relationship, not less. They choose to stay together because of love not because divorce would suck.
A waiter passes a plate under his nose and he grabs a skewered piece of chicken, coated in hot sauce. Chewing thoughtfully, he wipes his mouth on a napkin. “We found the trackers. Tiny motherfuckers and out of range of our wands. Took care of everything.”
That’s as close to an apology as Slate comes. He shares a rare grin, leans back on the bar, and eyes his wife, holding the youngest of Lucky’s brood. Maybe there’s another reason he tied the knot.
“You two thinking kids?”
“Maybe. You?”
“Yeah… we’ve talked.”
Sam stops, tugs up on her bodice, then eyes me. She steals my whiskey, downs it, and glances down at her chest.” You will tell me if one of the girls pops out while I’m dancing.”
Lucky raises his hand. “I swear it.”
“Swear to what?” Andy, ambles up to the bar, stuffs a couple twenties into the tip jar, and points to a top shelf.
“Let the groom here know if there’s a wardrobe misfire.”
They both laugh and as the bartender pours, my lawyer eyes me. “Did Samantha really fall asleep during the homily?”
“That priest is a genius.”
Andy sips his drink, nodding. “He may good but you’re better. His was only an hour.”
“Thank God.” Jack slaps me on the back, gets a drink, and Grayson Patten joins us. Wheels is there, too.
We all order shots and lift out glasses to Samantha. The second round, we dedicate to our boss. At the third, the wives surround us and put a stop to the drinking.
“Time to go inside for dinner.” Sam drags me to a side door.
Then, the DJ announces. “Dancing together, for the first time as man and wife, please welcome, Mr. and Mrs, Sebastian Sutcliff.”
A little tipsy, I turn to my beautiful Calamity Jane. “Ready, Sugar.”
She tugs up on her dress. “Tits in?”
