My shift went over even though I tried my damnedest to get home in time to shower. Add in the fact that I’m in charge of picking up the ring, and it was kind of a shit show.
Now, I’m dressed in a suit, my blonde hair is slicked back, my shoes are even fucking shined. January is usually a cooler month, so I threw on my nice coat over it all.
The Gilded Skull is an upscale restaurant that opened recently, and is doing very well. They host daytime events for young professionals, wine tastings at happy hour, and have beendoing really well. They also have a back room to host our huge family, along with the Widows.
Walking into the restaurant, I give the hostess an apologetic smile. It’s a Friday night, and they’re really busy.
“Sheriff, they’re just straight back. Would you like me to walk you?” she asks with a smile.
“No, that’s alright. I can make it. Thank you,” I reply, walking across the restaurant to the back room.
Everyone glances up, and Silva gives me a wide smile. God, does she fucking light up a room. She smiles and laughs more these days too.
“Happy birthday, you two,” I say. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
“Don’t be,” Silva says, moving her purse from the chair next to her. Fuck, she even saved me the seat nearest her.
Lexi is sitting on the other side, and Izzy smirks as he watches me puff up with happiness as I walk around to sit beside her. We have a huge table, allowing everyone to talk and chat.
“Everything good?” Silva asks as I kiss her cheek.
“Perfect now that I’m here,” I grin. “Everyone made it.”
“They did,” she says. Leena, Lexi’s two year old daughter, is playing with Sloane, giggling and having a good time. She’s such a well behaved little girl, you just have to keep her busy, like any kid.
The waitress comes by and gets drinks, and Harlan raises his brow at me. Nodding, I raise my brow back to see when we're going to ask her. Kyren holds up a finger as he scratches his forehead, and I decide to cool my jets.
“Having a Widow's birthday is like a national holiday,” Luna grins. “How many people tried to gift you guys things today?”
“My chai was free today,” Silva says.
Chai?What weird world is this? Since when does she drink chai?
“I ordered a cupcake, and the same happened to me,” Lexi laughs.
“The bar is closed tonight, so everyone was telling me happy birthday as I walked by,” Silva says. “It‘s been such a nice day.”
“It has!” Lexi says. “We had a snowball fight with Leena.”
“Yeah!” Leena yells excitedly as we chuckle.
“So, we kind of wanted to ask Silva something while we have everyone in her life here tonight,” Harlan drawls, standing.
Izzy, Kyren, and I stand, while Silva’s eyes bounce wildly between us all.
“Oh shit,” Lark whispers.
“Did you?” Silva drawls.
“Having you in our lives is incredible,” Izzy begins. “I get to wake up every morning with my best friends and lovers. Technically, our bites make us official, but we’re a little extra.”
“A lot extra,” I laugh. “You deserve the world, and that includes a wedding, saying vows in front of the people you love for all to see.”
“From rocky starts and electric prods,” Kyren adds as everyone smirks.
“To vengeance and nightmares slain,” Harlan says.
“We wanted to know,” I reply easily, pulling out the ring box. Yes, we did practice this for the record.
