Page 77 of Silver Sanctuary
“Hey, guys. Wow, everyone looks awfully dressed up. What are we celebrating today?” Rudy asked the second his eyes landed on the group.
Everyone turned to Nash. “We got married.”
Rudy’s eyes went wide, and Lacy wanted to fold in on herself.
“Since the one on your right seems a little young to be getting hitched, I’m taking it your blushing bride isthat one?”
Nash stiffened beside her. “You mean, was I lucky enough to marry the most beautiful woman in this room? Yeah. Lacy Caldwell has such a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
She nodded, smiling, as Rudy shrank back.
“Well, the first round of drinks are on me to celebrate. But just a Shirley Temple for the pipsqueaks.”
Laughter and cheers erupted at the announcement, but Lacy couldn’t settle her nerves. She watched as her husband tracked Rudy’s retreat, her body finally sagging in relief when he made it back to the bar.
“I want to know what that was about, Lace,” Nash whispered into her ear as he pulled out her chair at their table. “What’s going on? Do you not want to be here? Is this too much?”
“Sorry. Just a memory from when I was a kid, that’s all.” She shook her head, peering around Gage to check on Embrie.She was busy chatting up a storm with Seb and Emma’s daughter, Addie.
Lacy could do this. It clearly meant a lot to Nash, and Embrie hadn’t smiled so much in such a long time. “I’m great, just tired. I think all the adrenaline from getting married and meeting with the lawyers is crashing out of my system.”
“That means it’s definitely time for some champagne!” Emma giggled.
“Hand over Sage—you’re hogging her today, and Uncle Hawk isn’t having it!” Hawk reached over to take Sage from Gunner.
“It’s not hogging when she’s my kid.”
“Yeah, well I haven’t seen her in a few days because you’ve been running my ass into the ground with getting shit ready at The Trident for this week. It’s the least you can do to say thank you.”
“You know you have to put ten dollars in the swear jaw now for that adorable rant, don’t you?” Lily smirked.
“Worth it if your grumpy husband actually hands her over.”
“Fine,” Gunner grunted. “But you know the second you take her, she’s just going to slide down and run for the jukebox.”
“And Uncle Hawk will run after her. Chill.”
“Do I get to call you ‘Uncle’ now too?” Embrie asked, her bright eyes focused on Hawk.
He paused for only a second before his face melted into a dopey smile. “Hell yeah you do, Emmy girl! I’ve got another niece!”
“That’s another ten for the swear jar,” Lily mumbled.
“If my straw-for-brains brother gets to be called Uncle Hawk, then I better get to be Auntie Mae!”
“Oh, Aunt Sloane has a nice ring to it!”
“And Aunt Lily.”
“Uncle Stone.”
“Nah, Uncle Gun is the best.”
“I think what they’re trying to say, Cheese, is that,yes. They are your aunts and uncles now, and they’d love for you to call them that.” Nash’s whole face lit up and Lacy found herself smiling too.
Embrie giggled as she ducked her head behind her menu, clearly overwhelmed by all the attention.
Ten minutes later, their table was louder and filled with more laughter than ever. Sage had run right to the jukebox, just like Gunner predicted, but she was now back safe in Lily’s arm, chomping her little heart out on a breadstick.
