Grae burst out laughing, and I wanted to drown in the sound.
“No one can handle your moves. They’re an assault on the eyeballs,” Noel said with a shake of his head.
Eddie scowled at him, and they began bickering as I led Grae toward the table that her brother had secured.
“We ordered for the table,” Nash said, chomping down on a nacho.
Maddie rolled her eyes. “What he means is that he had no patience, soheordered for the table.”
Holt chuckled. “But if Nash is good at one thing, it’s ordering food.”
Wren elbowed her fiancé. “Like you’re any different. You were already scoping out the dessert menu.”
He shrugged. “They have pie.”
Grae laughed and slid into the empty chair next to Maddie. “Some things never change.”
I sat next to Grae as a waitress hurried over to us. “Can I get you two anything to drink?”
Grae smiled at her. “Water and a margarita, please.”
“I’ll have a beer, whatever is local and on tap.”
The waitress nodded and took off again.
“Is it usually this packed when they have a band?” I asked.
Nash nodded as he ate another nacho. “During the summer, always.”
I leaned back in my chair, resting my hand on Grae’s thigh. “Maybe I need to think about getting some bands up at The Peaks.”
Grae glanced up at me. “That’s a great idea. You could even do some more low-key concerts out on the grass with that amazing view.”
My brows rose. “Maybe I need to hire you.”
She laughed and shook her head. “I’m too busy as it is.” She turned to Wren. “How are you feeling?”
Wren’s hand went to the tiny swell of her belly. “I actually feel really good. The morning sickness has pretty much passed.”
Maddie grinned at Grae. “We need to start planning her shower.”
Grae clapped her hands and let out a squeal. “I can’t freaking wait.”
They lost themselves in talk of baby shower themes and food options, and I just watched Grae. I could’ve done it for hours. Joy radiated out of her in waves. Everything about the night was so normal. The kind of life I’d been missing for so long.
“You love her.”
I stilled at the sound of Holt’s voice and tried to beat back the panic his words caused. “She’s an amazing woman.” It wasn’t an admission, but I knew the truth deep down. I’d been gone for Grae for most of my life.
Holt took a sip of his beer. “I wasn’t sure about you two.”
“I don’t blame you.” I’d never been serious about a woman before. Had never been willing to take that risk. But with Grae, it was as if I didn’t have a choice. She had burrowed deep before I had the chance to fight her off.
“Don’t feel that way anymore.”
I studied Grae’s brother. “Why not?”
He was quiet for a moment. “It’s how you look at her. How you move around her. You’re always aware of where she is in the room. Like you’re prepared to jump in front of a bullet at the drop of a hat. Like you’d do anything just to see her smile. How could I not want that for my sister?”
