“We love you very much, Jacky boy.”
I love you. In every way possible. So much it hurts.
“I love you back, pretty girls. I’ll come pick you up when I’m off duty so we can leave whenever you want tonight.”
“See you soon,” she sighs before hanging up.
***
A few hours later, we’re all squished into a booth at Denim & Diamonds, laughing and drinking beer like we’re in our twenties again. It feels good to be out like this, better than I expected.Even if I do feel a little fidgety without having something to keep my hands moving constantly.
I should be relaxed, reveling in a night off of both fireandbaby duty. But all I can think about is the pretty girl we left at home, and the way Abby’s thigh is pressed next to mine.
“Oh my God, I’ve turned into such a lightweight,” she giggles, leaning in so only I can hear her. “I didn’t realize what not drinking for a year and a half would do to me.”
Chuckling, I tip the neck of my beer bottle into hers with a clink.
“Nothing wrong with that. Cheers to getting drunk for way cheaper.”
“Oh my God, you’re so right,” she gasps. “I’m actually saving money tonight. I think that’s called ‘drinking responsibly.’”
“Whatever you say,” I murmur, grinning as she leans the other direction to giggle about something with Ellie. When she does, she places her hand on my thigh to steady herself. When she straightens up, she doesn’t move it.
Which means absolutely nothing,I mentally scold myself.
Whatever she told Ellie has them both cackling, which is both a good and a very dangerous sign. These two haven’t had the chance to be partners in crime for awhile, and I’m worried what they’re going to do to make up for it.
“Please come dance with me, Griffin,” Ellie says, grabbing her hand as she slides out of the booth. “I promise not to pick a fight and storm off the dance floor this time.”
“You got yourself a deal, darlin’,” he says with a sly smile, taking her hand and pulling her close as they begin to twirl across the dance floor.
“Ugh, I miss dancing,” Abby sighs, leaning against me. “David, come dance with me.”
“Uh, hell no,” he says quickly. “You’re a menace out there, you never let me lead.”
“Only because you’re so bad at it,” she argues. Turning to me, she bats those pretty eyelashes and sends my heart rate to the moon. “What about you, Jacky boy? Will you come dance with me?”
“Anything you want, pretty girl.”
She might not understand exactly what I meant, but it still feels good to say it.
“You know, for a drunk lightweight you sure are nimble,” I marvel, following her lead as she dances to the music in perfect time.
“I’m actually a better dancer when I’m drunk,” she yells over the music. “Don’t tell anyone my secret.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Every spot her skin touches mine lights up like fireworks. The hem of her t-shirt has hiked up–the perfect opportunity to lightly graze my thumb over the small patch of exposed skin. Despite being the toughest woman I know, everything about her is incredibly soft. Her skin, her hair, the way she smiles at me.
I want to bottle up that smile and keep it forever.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you up close for this long before,” she says, a small crease forming between her brows. “Did you know you have a tiny starburst of blue around your pupils?”
“Can’t say I’ve ever noticed,” I say, face flushing under her intensely focused glaze.
“They’re really beautiful,” she mutters, seemingly to herself. “You’re really beautiful.”
“I don’t know if anyone’s ever used that word to describe me before, but I’ll take it,” I joke, trying to break whatever immense tension is brewing between us.
