Page 45 of War Games

“Thank you all for accepting not only Landon and me as a couple but also who we are as individuals. It really goes without saying why that means a lot to both of us.”

With another moment of lifted glasses and a short round of cheers, the grooms took their seats.

Heath opened his bottle of bourbon and poured a glass, leaving everyone in silence for a minute, watching him treat it like it was ritual. He stood up once it was poured to his satisfaction, and I knew he could be a little particular about it.

“On the day you were born, Landon, Richard gave me this bottle of bourbon to drink on the happiest day of your life. Seeing you with Dirk, I know I picked the right day. This was all I ever wanted for you, to find love and acceptance and someone to go through life’s journey with, no matter how long or short that journey might be.”

I looked at Landon to see him needing to wipe his eyes.

“Dirk, you are a member of this family. You have been since the day you showed up on her doorstep.” Heath actually pointed at me, making me laugh and sink in my seat. Dirk covered his face a moment, trying not to laugh as well. Or cry. Who could tell anymore?

“Today only put it on paper. To the happy couple. May you have a lifetime, no matter how long, of love and joy together.” Heath lifted his glass and the cheers to his toast were the rowdiest yet. “Now, give us the first dance, and let us start having some fun.”

Landon and Dirk did just that, keeping it simple so they could stare into each other’s eyes. Right as their moment ended, Heath grabbed me, and I was dragged onto the dance floor. We weren’t the only pair that found themselves out on the floor. Roselyn and Piper danced, too. Landon and Dirk went around the room, hugging and shaking hands with people, getting drinks, and talking.

“This is such a perfect moment,” I said, trying to watch them over Heath’s shoulder.

“It only happened because you took a chance on some werewolves living in your territory, an unprecedented thing for a werecat to do.”

“Don’t make this somehow my touch or anything like that. This is because those two fell in love and decided to make a commitment to each other.”

“Don’t be so modest, Jacky,” he whispered, kissing my cheek. “It falls flat in this dress.”

“Thanks to your taste, it seems to be the only thing that falls flat in this dress.”

Heath laughed like many who heard, but I caught Niko’s spit take, which made Shamus cackle even harder than my comment, his laughter becoming a near howl as Niko had to clean himself and the table up.

Heath spun me, which brought some appropriately named wolf whistles and cat calls from the spectators. Heath grinned as he pulled me in close again and kissed me.

“Hey, I’m the newlywed. You two need to cool off!” Landon shouted, but there was no anger in the words, only warm affection and humor at his father and me.

When he was finally done spinning me around the room and kissing me in front of everyone, Heath guided me back to our table.

“You did a good job with this, Heath,” Niko said, having not moved since the reception started. He was sipping a beer, probably one of the German brands I liked to keep in stock.

“Thank you. I had a very short deadline. Luckily, neither boy is very flashy when it comes to these things.”

“It’s perfect,” I said, smiling as Dirk and Landon went back to the dance floor.

“It is,” Niko agreed. “What’s going on with those two? Aren’t they a couple?” He pointed, and I turned to see who he was talking about.

Jenny and Carlos were sitting at their table, enjoying the moment but not joining in.

“Carlos has a lot of… history.” Heath’s answer was soft. “It might take him a moment to feel brave or ready to join in. Jenny clearly wants to. She’s strong-willed enough to drag him out there, eventually.”

“I don’t blame him. Dancing is exhausting.”

“Carey, you promised both of us a dance,” Landon called out. “Get out here.”

“Fine!” Carey got up, making a face, and I realized those heels were really hurting her.

“Just take them off. The floors are clean, and Landon won’t let anyone step on your feet. He won’t want you out there giving yourself blisters.”

“Yeah…” Carey reached down to yank off the black heels, tossing them to the side of the room into a booth. She went out into the center to meet her brother, who looked at her feet, shrugged, and swooped her up for a dance, making her giggle wildly.

Eventually, Jenny and Carlos did join in. Carlos looked stiff and uncomfortable, but Jenny glowed. While Dirk and Carey danced, Niko and I relented and went for a dance because Heath pointed out something we hadn’t thought about. Our family was going to want pictures of us having a good time. When Niko was done spinning me around, I found Heath talking to Ranger at that table. Carey was dancing with Kody, both laughing because they saw each other as cousins, and it was weird for them. Teagan got Benjamin and Arlo onto the floor as well, taking lessons from Piper and Roselyn as their partners.

“Really?” I said to Teagan, nodding at the situation he’d thrown those young men in.

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