A Congratulations banner and balloons decorated the area as they stood around a table with a large, life-size cake that looked like Braddock.
Emily grabbed his hand and squeezed, and he would’ve been happy to just stand there and soak up the beauty of her smiling face, but Carter shouted again.
Holden laughed and shook his head. “Fine.” He held up a bottle of beer someone had shoved into his hand. “To you, Mac, for creating ESI for people like us who need a home, or in my case, a steppingstone back into society.”
Cheers went up.
“Thank you to my brothers, for always having my six.”
Another round of cheers sounded, this time with a few Army “Hooahs”, punctuated by a few Navy “Hooyahs”.
Holden laughed and lifted his drink one last time, grabbing Emily’s hand and drawing her close. “To Emily, for giving me a second chance and allowing me to stand by her side as she realizes her dream.”
He clinked her wine glass with his bottle and then sipped before dipping down to kiss her lips.
“I can’t think of anyone more qualified and dedicated to running the sanctuary than you, hon,” she said, tears filling her eyes, but she blinked them back and cupped his face. “I love you.”
His chest expanded to make room for the sudden surge of warmth. “I love you, too.”
Her gaze was soft as he leaned in for a light kiss.
“Happy?” he asked, after drawing back.
“Very,” she replied. “And I’m just so thrilled and amazed how everything is falling into place.”
He grinned. “Balance. It’s all about balance in life.”
She nodded.
“So, I hear Braddock is coming to Harland County,” Gabe said, stopping beside them to grab a piece of cake the bakers started to cut and hand out.
“Yes.” His heart swelled every time he thought about the call he’d received last month from his commander, telling him the dog was retiring. “I’ll be flying with Emily to meet up with him in Germany.”
She’d pulled in some kind of incredible favors that had managed to speed up the process to secure his adoption of the dog and paved the way for their paperwork and flights.
Gabe nodded. “That’s great to hear.”
Holden agreed, lifting Emily’s hand to kiss it. “All thanks to this woman.”
“Roger that.” Gabe laughed. “Never mess with our girls when it comes to animal welfare.”
“And don’t you forget it,” Emily said with a grin, and Gabe nodded and joined his fellow SEALs shooting the shit in a corner.
He released Emily’s hand so they could grab the offered cake. She lifted up on tiptoe to kiss him before taking her cake to eat by Lyndsey, Stef, Isla, and the rest of the women.
Holden scarfed his down on his way to where Mac stood with his baby boy cradled in one arm, while he talked with the guys.
“Fatherhood looks good on you, Mac,” he said with a grin.
Dex nodded.
Carter grinned. “Think he has a daddy’s boy.”
“Who’s your daddy? Who’s your daddy?” Lex muttered while Marilyn bobbed her head.
“Great, hon.” Mel groaned as she walked by. “There’ll be no stopping him, now.”
He snickered.
