Page 78 of Jay Bird

The second they walked inside, Willow stopped. “Oh. Wow!”

Jay Bird chuckled. “Told ya.”

The interior looked nothing like the outside. Warm wood covered the floors and walls, while nautical decorations mixed with military memorabilia throughout the large restaurant. Unit patches, framed photographs, challenge coins, old Navy signs, and Coast Guard memorabilia filled one wall. Another held fishing gear and photographs of boats.

The atmosphere was comfortable rather than polished, with large booths, mismatched tables, and wide windows overlooking the water.

“Okay,” Willow admitted. “This is actually really nice.”

“Say it louder.”

“Don’t push it.”

Jay Bird grinned and guided her through the restaurant toward doors leading onto a huge back deck.

A long table stretched across the back wall right next to the patio doors. Holy crap, Jay Bird hadn’t been exaggerating when he said there would be a lot of people.

Willow felt her nerves spike. But then she saw Riley.

Riley smiled and pushed herself carefully from her chair, one hand instinctively settling over her very pregnant belly.

“You made it!” Willow relaxed instantly as Riley pulled her into a hug. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Me too. I think.”

Riley smiled at Lily, who had suddenly abandoned all her earlier enthusiasm and was now clinging tightly to Jay Bird.

“Hi, Lily.”

Lily buried her face against his shoulder.

Jay Bird rubbed her back.

“Apparently, we’re shy now.”

Riley laughed. “Give her five minutes.” Then she took Willow’s hand. “Come on. I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

Thankfully, Jay Bird had already given her a head start.

Riley pointed toward the first couple. “Bear and Jocelyn. Their kids are Max, and the tiny tornado currently bouncing in her chair is Amira.”

Amira waved enthusiastically. “Hi!”

Willow waved back.

Then came Joker and Clover, followed by Duke and Hannah with baby Izzy, who was just a few months shy of her first birthday, and then Playboy and Gabby. Aussie sat beside Ava with their son Christian, while Snow and Nova were seated farther down the table, and at the very end were Derek and his wife, Juliette.

Willow waved to everyone. Everyone greeted her warmly without making a big deal about her arrival, which she appreciated more than they could know.

Jay Bird pulled out a chair across from Bear and Jocelyn.

“Here. Have a seat.”

Willow sat, and Jay Bird took the seat beside her with Lily still firmly planted on his lap.

Amira leaned across the table, shoved a coloring placemat and crayons toward Lily. “Does she want to color?”

Jay Bird shrugged. “Ask her.”