Page 2 of Luck of the Draw

“I’m actually thinking I might head out soon,” Brennan said to Luke after a beat of silence. “I’m ready to get out of this uniform.” He tucked the flask back inside his pocket and adjusted the wrist of one of his white gloves. “And then I’m going to find a nice young woman to accompany me for the night, but it won’t be anyone who’s at this wedding.”

“Hey, I’ll go with you.” Luke bumped his beer bottle against Brennan’s shoulder. “Nothing helps me find a hot-as-hell woman for the night like riding your coattails.”

“I know,” Brennan said just as he noticed Connor and Liza approaching them. “And you’re welcome, Corporal.”

“Yeah, thanks, bruh.” Luke laughed under his breath and then jerked his chin at Connor and Liza when they stopped in front of him and Brennan. “What’s up, newlyweds?”

“I’m ready to get the hell out of this uniform,” Connor said. He slipped his arm around Liza’s waist and kissed the side of her neck. “I know you love the uniform, but it’s too damn hot.”

Liza clicked her tongue. “You love the uniform, too. That’s part of why you’re all wearing one.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t really think about how hot it was going to be.” Connor tugged at the collar of his Army dress blues.

Liza crinkled her nose incredulously. “It’s not any warmer than a regular suit would be.” She lifted her palm in a gesture at Brennan. “He wears those all the time, and you never hear him complaining about how hot he is.”

Connor threw his arm around Brennan’s shoulders and pulled him close to his side. “Nobodyever complains about how hot Riley is,” he said, grinning widely. He aggressively rubbed Brennan’s hair, which was freshly shorn into the regulation high-and-tight haircut solely because it was what Liza wanted for the wedding. “You fine-as-fuck mother fucker.”

Brennan smirked, and Liza laughed with a huge smile on her face. “That’s true, I suppose. If youmust, you can go change into your getaway clothes.” She shrugged. “I guess I don’tneedyou to have the uniform on for the rest of the reception pictures.”

“Aw, baby.” Connor released Brennan’s head so he could clasp his hand around Liza’s waist and kiss her again. “I won’t change yet, but I am going to go into the house for a few minutes to cool off.” He tugged his collar again. “I’m gonna need a friggin’ shower before I change into the getaway clothes.”

Luke stepped away from Brennan. “If you’re going in to cool off for a second, so am I. You wanna come with us, Riley? We haven’t gotten into the cigars yet.”

“We’re doing those after everyone leaves,” Connor corrected, waving his hand at a group of soldiers on the other side of the courtyard. “I only got enough for the groomsmen and our dads, and I know all those mother fuckers would swipe ‘em.”

“Y’all go ahead,” Brennan said. “The temperature isn’t bothering me.”

“Suit yourself.” Luke pivoted and marched away.

“I’ll be back in a few.” Connor paused to meet Liza’s eyes, wearing an enamored smile. “I love you, Mrs. Deneau.”

Liza’s smile reached way up to her eyes. “I love you, Sgt. Deneau.”

He cupped her face to kiss her deeply, and Brennan politely averted his eyes. Once he finished kissing his new wife, Connor grabbed her hand and held it out to Brennan. “Riley.”

Brennan jerked his chin at him. “Yeah, Sarge.”

“Look after my girl while I’m gone.”

Brennan touched his brow in a small salute. “Yes, sir.” He took Liza’s hand as Connor marched away, but she clasped his and started dragging him to the dance floor.

“I can’t believe the reception is almost over, and I haven’t danced with you once,” she said, pulling Brennan to stop somewhat in the middle of the floor. She draped her arm across the back of his neck and lowered her cheek to his collar bone without a second thought or hesitation, such was the nature of their uniquely close friendship. Brennan wrapped his hand around her waist while holding her hand at the level of his bicep and began leading her through a casual slow dance. “I am exhausted. Weddings are a lot of work.”

“They sure seem to be.” His chin was close enough to her temple that it was as natural as anything to allow his face to rest against hers. “So, was it everything you always dreamed of?”

Liza nodded against him and then sniffled before saying in a pinched voice, “Yeah.”

Brennan turned his face to kiss her cheek. “As it should be.”

“We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you, B.,” she murmured, using the lame first initial nickname that Brennan had given them on her first day in New Orleans just to make her laugh.

He held her hand against his chest and led them both through a slow turn. “I know you think that, but I think you would’ve made it here anyway. I told you about a million times that it was all going to work out. It was going to happen regardless of me.”

“And I know you think that, but I don’t think that’s true.” Liza lifted her face, pulling her chin back enough that she could look him in the eyes, and goddamn if she wasn’t the perfect picture of everything he wanted that—unlike his two friends reconciling their love—just wasn’t meant to be. Not in this lifetime at least. “We needed you. We needed everything you’ve done for the past year. Every ounce of happiness he and I get to have for the rest of our lives is because of what you did.” Her hazel eyes were full to the brim with tears, and her bottom lip gave a tiny tremble. “I love you, B.” She lightly, lovingly patted his chest. “This will never change.”

The sight of her emotional state amidst the victory of love against all adversity caused his eyes to burn a little. He offered her a tight-lipped smile. “It is changing, honey. But it’s a good change. I love you, and I love my favorite douchebag, too.”

She giggled, and he smiled a little wider before lifting his chin to kiss her forehead. Liza pressed her cheek against his and released his hand to wrap both arms around his neck, and a pang rattled in his chest.

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