“Let them get something to eat,” Dean’s grandmother said as she came up behind him. “Before there’s nothing left.” She put her hand in the crook of Dean’s elbow and motioned to the kitchen.
“Looking good, Nana,” I said, kissing her cheek.
“I manage. Do I look old enough to have a forty-year-old grandson?”
“Not even close,” Julie said.
“Your friends are nice kids.” Nana patted Dean’s hand. “I told you that at the wedding a few months ago.”
I snuck a look at Julie behind me. Her eyes widened for a second when they met mine. We’d been married just as long, but it was still—mostly—a secret only between us. She hadn’t mentioned telling anyone, and the only ones I’d told were my father and the HR department at work.
Dean nodded to the kitchen behind him. “Help yourselves. Anything you want to drink is in the cooler on the side.”
“What can I get you, darlin’?” I asked Julie, stifling a grin when I spotted Dean’s furrowed brow in my periphery.
“Just water for now. I’ll have some wine after I eat.” Julie’s lips twitched as her eyes met mine. “Thanks, babe.”
I wrapped my arm around her waist and pressed my lips against hers. We both smiled into the kiss when Maria gasped.
“For real?” she asked, clasping her hands under her chin as her eyes darted between us.
“For real.” I drew Julie closer and kissed the top of her head.
“Holy shit,” Dean said, his eyes wide. “I mean, it’s a shock, yet it’s not. But…wow, I feel like this needs a toast or something.”
“I knew it,” Nana said, slapping Dean’s chest. “Now they can get going on those babies.” Nana smiled at us as she ambled back into the living room.
“I don’t know about that yet.” I grinned at Julie but felt her stiffen next to me.
Julie smiled back, but something was off. I knew her well enough to know the difference between a genuine smile and one she pushed across her lips to pretend. She’d done that for most of the weekend in Vegas, and now that I lived with her, I watched for it all the time. She’d said her hands hurt, but she’d made her way inside without limping.
It was easy to fall into a spiral of panic and worry when it came to Julie, but I would fight to keep it in check and trust her to tell me whatever was bothering her later.
“I am going to need details,” Maria said. “Like, when did this happen?”
“I must be missing a step,” Dean said, laughing as he rubbed at his neck. “When you said you were staying with Julie, I didn’t think anything of it. I guess you moved in since you were…” He tilted his head from side to side.
“Well, yes and no,” I said with a shrug. “We haven’t been together for long, but it’s been brewing for a while.”
“Almost twenty years is a while?” Dean snickered. “You’re lucky I’m too happy for you guys to give you shit about that tonight.”
“Wait, did this happen in Vegas?” Maria squinted at us. “I thought I picked up on something between you guys.”
Julie looked up at me and shrugged. I didn’t know where to begin either. I’d gone on that trip to celebrate Dean and Maria’s wedding and spend time with my best friend. I’d ended up marrying her and then slowly realizing I was in love with her.
It was too complicated to think about, much less explain.
Dean scoffed. “Go get some food and sit. We need to talk.”
“What would they say if they found out we got married too?” Julie whispered to me after we filled our plates.
“That we stole their thunder, probably.”
“That may be a little too much for tonight.” She chuckled and motioned to where Dean and Maria were waiting for us on the couch, Dean tapping his foot when he caught our gaze. “Maybe just say we had a good time in Vegas together, and we didn’t want it to end.”
“I guess it’s good to start with the truth.” I slid my arm around her waist. “Then I realized I was crazy and hopelessly in love with you and eventually landed on your doorstep.”
“Crazy and hopelessly?” She smiled, but it was another one that didn’t make it up to her eyes.
