“Yes.”
Her eyes widened with disbelief. “The dinner party.”
“Was awkward, yes. But we got through it.”
“Who else knows about this? Why did I find out this way?”
I put a hand on her shoulder. “No one knew, Tally. Just me and Jules. We didn’t know how serious it would become.”
She shook her head. “I guess ... as long as you’re willing to cover the therapy I may need later, I’m happy for you.”
“Babe, quit it,” Lucien interjected, offering me his hand.
“Congratulations. I couldn’t be happier for you. She seems like a great woman, and you deserve to be happy.”
I shake his hand, grateful for his immediate and total support.
Talia shot a glare at him. “Okay, yeah. All that, Dad. I am happy for you. Engagements are exciting. I hope to one day experience one myself.”
Lucien ignored the jab. The two of them are a perfect fit, but he told me he plans to surprise her with a real proposal when the time’s right, which won’t be during a busy hockey season.
“So, Jules,” Talia says, raising a glass in the air. “Happy birthday from me, Audra, Chloe, and Chase. Soon you’llbe driving us around in your new minivan and buying us Starbucks.” She locks eyes with Jules, smiling. “But seriously, you make our dad very happy and we already love you so much. Welcome to the family.”
Everyone raises their glasses for the toast, Jules clinking hers against mine. As soon as we both take a sip, I kiss her, still intoxicated by the scent of her perfume.
We’ve talked a lot about our future. She wants to get married a year from the next offseason, and she wants a big wedding in Cleveland, so all our friends and family can be there. I’m already shopping for a new home for not just me and her, but also Blair and her boys. Jules thought I’d be reluctant to live with them, but I’m not. Eli and Cooper are great kids, and they’ve both started in youth hockey since we got engaged.
We’ll find a home that’s comfortable for all of us. The boys asked for a pool, and I’m happy to accommodate, even if it means having a pool installed at a home we build.
There may be more kids in the house in the future, but we haven’t decided on that yet. Jules doesn’t think she wants to have kids, but she said she may want to adopt one.
She’s worked hard to get to know Chase and Chloe, spending time with each of them individually and making dinners for all of us at my place.
“Now we’re doing a song requested for the birthday girl by her fiancé,” the DJ says.
I pass my drink to Olivier, taking Jules’s hand as “All of Me” by John Legend starts. I used to be a guy who didn’t like dancing in public, but it’s important to Jules that I don’t just say I’m proud to be with her, but also show it.
This is me showing it. Happiness shines in her eyes as I put my hand on her waist and pull her close to dance.
She sighs softly, resting her cheek against the front of my shoulder.
“Would you still want me if I had praying mantis legs instead of my legs and hands?”
I laugh and kiss her forehead. “Where do you come up with this stuff?”
“This is just how my brain works. I’ll be asking you these questions for the rest of your life.”
“Hm. Well, I need some clarification then. Would you use the legs to hold me so you could eat my head off after sex?”
“I can’t make any promises. It would depend on how hungry I was.”
I bark out a single note of laughter. “Then I’m gonna have to say no, babe. I want to keep my head attached.”
“Okay, but Lainey is a science genius and she told me the male praying mantis doesn’t die immediately when his head gets bitten off. Scientists think it actually enhances sex. So it’s the ultimate kink.”
“So decapitation, one earth-shattering orgasm, and then death?”
“Yes, but your genes would endure.”
