He covers my hand with his thumb brushing my knuckles. “You don’t have to thank me.”
Then, gently, he leans in and presses a kiss to my lips. Warm and grounding, like he’s reminding me we’re in this together. When we pull apart, I’m smiling despite myself.
We step inside together. The noise hits us immediately—laughter, clinking glasses, the hum of conversation. And then heads start turning.
Brynn looks up first, spotting us immediately. She grins, sliding out of her seat and opening her arms. “There they are.”
I step into her hug, laughing softly as she squeezes me. “You okay?” she asks quietly.
“I am,” I say, nodding. “Really good, actually.”
Knox stands when we reach the table, clapping Cam on the shoulder. “We need some champagne to celebrate.”
A server appears, already grinning. “Well, congratulations, to the Wells party,” she says. “First round’s on the house.”
I glance at Cam, surprised. He shrugs slightly. “Don’t look at me. It’s probably plastered all over Haddie’s page by now.”
As she walks away, Brynn leans forward, elbows on the table. “Yeah, there was a post about an hour after we left the courthouse. But it’s a good thing! Phase Two!” She’s trying to be reassuring. “So, how does it feel?”
“It feels…weird?” I say finally. “But, in a good way. Everything is going to plan.” Cam nods beside me.
The conversation drifts easily after that. Brynn fills us in on her day. Knox talks about the upcoming football season.
After we order a second round of drinks, Cam casually says, “Spent the afternoon packing up some things to bring over this weekend.”
I turn to look at him. “Oh yeah?”
He nods and I catch the grin on Kinsey’s face. “I promise I won’t crowd you, just a few things.”
“Bring whatever you need, I want you to be comfortable.”
He squeezes my knee under the table. “Being around you and Evie will be enough to keep me comfortable.”
Damn it.
“Okay.” I feel stupid for giving such a simple answer to such a sweet statement, but it’s all my brain can muster.
He turns back to Knox, his hand still on my thigh and I watch him take a sip of champagne, watching his lips on the rim of the glass and the way his throat works as he swallows.
Brynn knocks me out of my stupor with a whisper, “You're staring at your husband like he’s a piece of meat, Kate.”
My cheeks burn. “Can you blame me?”
Kinsey laughs. “Not one bit, get it, girl.”
When Brynn starts yawning, Knox says they’re calling it a night. Kinsey has a morning shift, so we all close out our tabs and start for the door. It’s a warm summer night and we linger saying our goodbyes.
Once it’s just Cam and I, he steps into my space, placing his hands on my hips. I wrap my arms around his neck.
“Do you have to pick up Evie?”
I shake my head. “No, she’s spending the night with my mom. Why?” I pretend to be coy, but my smile betrays me.
Cam slides a hand up my side. “I was sort of hoping we could consummate this marriage.”
Fuck, why is that so hot?
“Yeah?”
