Page 102 of Fire in You

Twisting in my seat, I looked across the bar and my mouth dropped open. At first, I wasn’t sure my eyes were functioning correctly, but then I blinked, and I still saw her, and I knew it wasn’t someone who time-warped out of the seventies.

“Katie!” I shrieked.

The blonde hadn’t changed one bit since the last time I’d seen her. Her hair was pulled back in a tight, high ponytail. She wore sparkly pants that looked like bell bottoms. Pretty sure she was wearing platform heels, and the bright fuchsia shirt she wore kept sliding off her shoulder. She had to have at least a dozen bangles stacked from her wrist to her elbow.

“Hey, girl, hey!” She had a shot glass in one hand and a glass of dark liquid in another. “For you. It’s Coke. Because I know you don’t want to drink tonight.”

I stared as she placed the fresh Coke down in front of me, slightly unnerved by the fact she knew I wasn’t going to drink. “Thank you.”

She grinned as she reached down and hugged me tightly. “I got something to say to you, Jilly” she said, and everyone at our table quieted, because when Katie had something to say, you listened. “Hopefully you listen to me this time.”

Every muscle in my body tensed, because I knew what she was referencing and I should’ve listened to her last time.

“Still going to be rough at times, but he’s worth it now,” she said, holding my gaze with eyes the color of the ocean. “You just had to wait to discover that.”

Um.

I didn’t know what to say.

She was obviously talking about Brock. She had told me once that he hadn’t been worth ityet, and I thought she had been telling me that he simply wasn’t worth it at all.

“Holy shit,” Steph exploded, leaning back in her seat. “Is that a wedding ring on your finger?” Her hand darted out and she snapped up Katie’s arm. “That is a so a wedding ring.”

“What?” Abby demanded. “When did you get married?”

“Who did you marry?” Roxy asked.

Calla, who hadn’t headed back to work, shook her head in wonder. “And do we know him?”

Katie giggled. “Yes. I got married last weekend. We eloped to Vegas.” Popping back a step, she wiggled her finger. “And you all don’t know him,” she said, “Not yet. But you will. And he will be your favorite.”

Not a single one of us batted an eyelash.

“And when will we meet him?” Calla asked.

“Soon.” She tapped Calla on the nose. “Very soon.”

“I’m sorry. Hold on a second,” I said, shaking my head. “How did you meet this guy?”

“Well,” Katie said, lifting her shot. “Let’s just say he was a very, very determined patron of the club.” Winking, she took the shot and then lowered the glass. “And we have been together for like eight years. So it was about time we jumped the broom.”

Steph’s jaw nearly hit the table. “What? You’ve been with this guy sincethen?”

She shrugged a shoulder. “Yes.”

“Why haven’t you told us?” Roxy looked like she was about to hit Katie next.

“When did I have a chance to talk to you guys about my man? Y’all are a bunch of dramalicious bitches who constantly need my wise and sage advice.” She planted a hand on her hip. “And it’s not like I’d ever come to any of you for relationship advice. For realsies.”

For some reason, I found that hilariously funny. Maybe because it was accurate. Tipping my head back, I laughed—laughed hard enough that I think I hurt my abs.

Steph was also laughing and she looked like she was seconds away from peeing herself. From that point, Katie told us about her man, who apparently none of us knew about, while I sipped my Coke. Time passed. Calla and Roxy returned to the bar. Katie stole someone’s chair and brought it over to our table.

I saw the crowd parting, making way for Brock like he was some kind of extraordinarily hot Moses.

Within moments, I saw the glazed-over shocked faces of nearly every male in the bar once they realized they were in the presence of Brock Mitchell. If I had my complete hearing, I knew I’d hear the murmurings and gasps.

Brock nodded at the girls as he took my hand and pulled me onto my feet. Tugging me close, he said into my ear. “I was missing you.”

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