"Are we celebrating your promotion tonight?" Tucker asked when he arrived and ordered a beer.
"I think we're celebrating everything: the promotion, Eve's first successful holiday season in Christmas Town, and everything the Sterlings are doing to revitalize the town."
"Here, here," Steve said, and we clinked bottles and glasses.
Tucker sat next to me, tipping his bottle against mine. "Congrats, big brother. You deserve to be fire chief."
"Thanks."
His face pinched. "I'm happy to celebrate with you. But do I need to go to the party afterward?"
I gave him a pointed look. "Eve wanted me to invite you."
He tipped his beer back. "Just because you're dating her doesn't mean that I have to be involved."
I shook my head. "Yeah, it kind of does. Eve will be my family soon enough."
Tucker's eyes widened. "It's like that, huh?"
I smiled. "It's like that."
"I guess congratulations are in order. When are you planning to propose?" Tucker asked.
I inclined my head to the other guys. "I want to keep that a secret."
He was quiet for a few seconds, and then he said, "I didn't know you had it in you."
My brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
He turned slightly so that he was facing me. "Don't take this the wrong way. But I wasn't sure you'd give yourself permission to date after Marla died."
I tipped my bottle back. "I wasn't tempted until I met Eve."
He raised a brow. "So you're saying that everything changes when you meet the right person?"
I thought back to that moment when I saw Eve standing in the fire house's kitchen in that dress, talking to Steve. "I guess it does."
He sipped his beer, placing the bottle on the bar. "I don't plan on meeting anyone for a long time."
"Good luck to you," I said wryly, knowing that he couldn't plan these things.
Ford stood. "Natasha texted to say that they're ready to go. We need to meet them inside and escort them into the ballroom."
Tucker gave me a pained look.
"Stick with the Sterling brothers. Most of them are single," I suggested as we grabbed our coats and paid our tabs.
Outside, flurries fell. It was the last town event before Christmas.
After this, we could relax and enjoy being together as a family. I was looking forward to more down time.
Inside, holiday music played on the speakers. The single guys proceeded to the ballroom, and I stood with Ford at the bottom of the grand staircase.
Ford cleared his throat. "Now that you're officially with Eve, we should spend more time together. We'll be family soon enough."
I smiled. "Like a double date?"
"Yeah."
