Page 86 of War

“It’s your birthday?”

His lips curve wider. “Yup.”

I push against his chest, but he barely sways. “Jerk. Why didn’t you tell me?”

He starts laughing. “You can’t call me a jerk on my birthday.”

“You can’t not tell your wife it’s your birthday. I need to get you a present.”

Tyler’s eyes dance. “I can think of a few presents you can give me later.”

I roll my eyes. “How about we go out tonight? I’ll make a reservation. What’s your favorite restaurant?” I wince as I realize these are things I should know about my husband already.

He sighs and rolls off me, his head landing on his pillow, his focus going to the ceiling. “I told my father we’d do dinner with him and Dory. They’re coming here.”

“Is that what you want to do?”

Tyler rolls his head so he’s looking at me again. “My father reached out. He hasn’t always been the best dad, but yeah, I’d like to spend my birthday with him.”

This man is incredible. Despite all the ways his father and Dory have let him down, he’s still seeking out the family he’s always wanted. I vow in that moment to do everything I can to give it to him. Hopefully his father is on board, but even if he’s not, he’ll get that same kind of devotion from me for as long as I’m around. “Okay.”

“So will you meet me for lunch?” He’s back to smiling again.

“Yeah, I think I can make room in my schedule for my groom.”

“I can’t believe this is your favorite lunch spot.”

Tyler holds a giant slice of pizza in front of him and folds it in half, then takes an oversized bite. Chewing, he shrugs. “It’s not so much the place. I just love pizza.”

“Most people do.” I knock my shoulder against his as we sit at the counter. The place is a little hole in the wall, and it’s not fancy in the least, but when Tyler stepped inside, the man behind the counter set out two white paper place settings near one end, then embraced Tyler and welcomed him back.

“What else do you love?” I ask, holding up my own piece of pizza. After last night, it might seem like I’m fishing for a compliment, but I’m genuinely curious. For so long, I made assumptions about Tyler, and now that I’ve discovered how wrong I was, I want to know him. “Other than hockey,” I tack on, infusing a bit of sauciness in my tone, hoping to convey to him that I’m not looking for an intimate conversation at the moment.

Tyler doesn’t disappoint. “Surfing, boxing. Any sport that has me outside and moving my muscles, really. I also love serial killer documentaries.”

A snort escapes me before I can stop it.

Tyler pokes my arm. “You asked.”

“It makes sense, I guess. Why you love it when I’m mean to you.”

Surveying me, he lifts a shoulder. “I do love how vicious my wife is. Female serial killers could be hot.”

“Tyler,” I hiss.

He chuckles. “I mean the fictional kind. I’m sure Lennox has read a book or two that revolve around a female main character with a penchant for murder.”

I shrug. He’s not wrong. “Do you read?”

“You’re cute when you play dumb. I know you’ve been in my office.”

The reminder of the night the girls and I snooped and I discoveredthe bookshelves full of all kinds of genres has me leaning in. “What types of books do you like best?”

Smirking, he wipes a little sauce from his lip. “Want me to read you a bedtime story later, wifey?”

I love this. Love bantering with him. Love sitting with him and smiling. God, I love being with him period. Even if we’re just sitting in the corner of a tiny dive, eating semi-decent pizza, it’s one of the best afternoons I’ve had in a long time.

I hold out my hand. “Pinky promise?”

---