Page 83 of Even Ground

“Give me that.” Delaney grabs my statuette from me and shoves it into a bag.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m holding onto them because you’re all drinking and I don’t want any lost.”

I grin. “You’re the best.”

“I know. It’s why you love me.” She waves me away. “Now, shoo and have some fun.”

“What about you?”

She tilts her head to the side. “Josh is just securing a table.” She looks down at her baby bump and runs her hand over it. “I need to get off my feet.”

“Good thinking.” I kiss her on the cheek. “Thank you for everything. I couldn’t have done this without you and Josh.”

“Bollocks.” Her eyes shine.

“I’ve got a table,” Josh says as he approaches us. “Let’s go over here. Any sign of Gabby and Antonio?”

“I think they’ve gone to have a private party.” I shrug.

He shakes his head. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

Leading us through the crowd, Josh takes us to a table tucked in the corner and near the bathroom. For a moment, I wrinkle my nose before Delaney grabs his arm and kisses him.

“Thank you. It’s perfect,” she says before taking a seat.

“I thought you’d gone mad.” I laugh.

“So does anyone when I say I want a table near the bathroom. But it makes it easier for Delaney, and it’s worth the odd looks.”

For the rest of the evening, Josh and Delaney hold court at the table. Josh watches over her like a hawk, and even though he’s drinking, he keeps it to a minimum.

I’m not under any obligation to behave.

And the only thing I do is drink. I get at least two blatant propositions, and one that tries to be subtle, but I’m not about to throw nearly two years of good behaviour away. That’s the life I used to lead.

Eventually, I stumble back to the table, and Delaney rolls her eyes as I sit beside her.

“I love you,” I croon, leaning my head on her shoulder.

“I love you too.” She leans her head against mine.

“Josh is such a lucky bastard,” I slur. “I wish I had a woman like you in my life.”

She chuckles. “I am in your life. Just in a purely platonic I-love-you-like-a-brother kind of way.”

I raise my head. “Oh, I’m not coming onto you, Delaney. I respect you and Josh too much for that. But can we clone you?”

Delaney sighs and shakes her head. “That’s a little creepy.”

“Probably, but when has that ever stopped me?”

She’s got that caring look on her face, where her expression’s all soft and it tells me she’s slipped into Mom mode. “One day you’ll find the right person, Reece.”

“Do you think Josh would be open to a time-share arrangement?”

“A what?”

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