Kody’s smirk grows into an expression that could damn-well be considered a smile.
“I’ll get some glasses.”Dove steps toward the kitchen.
“No.”Kody waves her back.“We’ll do it family style.”
Monty reclaims his spot on the couch as I grab the free armchair and pull Dove onto my lap.She settles across my thighs, her palm finding the center of my scarred chest.
Her touch sinks like a grounding bolt, pinning me to the moment, keeping me from retreating into the parts of my brain that still feel the scalpel opening my flesh.
Kody twists off the cap and takes the first pull, jaw feathering as the vodka hits.Then he passes it to Monty, who drinks like he’s signing legal documents with his throat.Leo takes a swig and releases a loud, aggressive shout, widening his eyes and fully extending his tongue like the animal he is.
Frankie laughs, snatching the bottle and giving the rim a mournful sniff.No alcohol for our baby mama.
Then the bottle comes to me.
I hold it to Dove’s lush lips and tip it back.She swallows like a champ, then I slug my share, the vodka burning warm all the way down.Clean and wild.Kody’s specialty.
“So…” Monty crosses an ankle over his knee.“What’s the plan for you two?”
“We’re getting married.”
Dove makes a sound of surprise.Everyone else looks at me likeDuh, tell us something we don’t know.
“Oh, you meant what are our plans right now?”I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.“We’re going to chill on the island for a week.Let everything settle after… Everything.We need time to get to know each other better.”
Leo snorts.“By that, you mean biblically, repeatedly, and with enthusiasm.”He shakes his head.“Poor Dove.”
“All right, let’s get this over with.I know why you’re all here and what you’re thinking.I have no experience, so I probably fumbled it.”I take a long pull from the bottle and hand it to Kody.“Feral men and lady of the jury, allow me to present the evidence.Dove said, and I quote,I was legendary.”
“I meant it.”She touches her smile to my cheek.
“Now you know.”I glance around the room, enjoying the hell out of their squirmy discomfort.“In other news, I called Dr.Thurber yesterday.”
Frankie’s head snaps up, eyes going bright.
“He’s coming to the island tomorrow.We’re doing a session here.Oh, and you won’t see Gretchen’s robe again.”I motion at the flames in the fireplace.“I sent it back to hell.”
“Wolf…” Frankie practically vibrates.“I love that for you.”
Leo stares at the floor, smiling to himself.Kody gives an approving nod and takes a hit of the vodka before passing it.Monty sits back, studying me like I just lifted the weight of the world off his shoulders.
“I’m so proud of you.”Frankie casts a look at her husbands.“It took an act of Congress to get these three into a therapist’s office.”
“Here we go.”Leo takes a swig and returns the bottle to Dove.
“I support mental health.”Frankie flattens her hands on the journals.
“You support mental torture.”
“Shut up, Leo,” we all say in unison.
Dove laughs, takes a sip from the bottle, and offers it to me.As she curls up against my chest, her warmth sinking into my bones, the whole room shifts around that simple connection.
My past sits on Frankie’s lap.
My future sits on my lap.
My family sits around me, loud, supportive, andmine.
