Page 92 of Hit the Ground
My fingers curled harder into his shirt. “Like you’ve ever needed an excuse.”
He dipped his head to put his mouth beside my ear. “Why should you have to walk when I’ve got two arms and you fit perfectly in them?”
I rubbed my cheek against his. “You have a point.”
“Glad you finally see it, darlin’.”
After a while, the four of us took a breather at the table. Caleb and Deke got us fresh drinks, and Phoebe held hers up for a toast.
“What are we toasting?” Caleb asked, holding his glass against his sister’s.
“Lots of things,” Phoebe started. “To my brother having the best girlfriend ever.”
“Damn right.” He clinked his glass against hers and mine. “What else?”
Phoebe’s eyes lit on mine. “To Alice, who fits right in with all the crazy.”
I laughed. “I don’t know about that, but I’ll drink to it anyway.”
She winked. “It’s bad luck if you don’t.” Then she leaned toward her husband, who hadn’t taken his eyes off her since we’d sat down. “And cheers to us and the little cinnamon bun growing in my oven.”
It took a solid five seconds for Caleb to get it. When he did, he shot to his feet, circled the table, bent down, and wrapped his arms around both Deke and Phoebe. They were laughing, grabbing his arms as he kissed his sister’s head, congratulating them, telling them how happy he was for them and that he couldn’t wait to meet his new niece or nephew.
My heart swelled, and my eyes burned as I watched them. When Caleb finally let go, I got up and hugged Phoebe too.
“I’m so happy for you,” I whispered in her ear. “What a lucky kid you’re going to have.”
And when she let go, I went to Deke. We were still getting to know one another, but I couldn’t stop myself from throwing my arms around him too.
“You’re going to be such a great dad,” I told him, meaning it with all my heart.
“I hope so,” he mumbled.
“You will. Phoebe wouldn’t have chosen you otherwise.”
He jerked slightly, then said, “Means a lot. Thanks, Alice.”
Caleb was still standing, waiting for me, so I walked right into his arms. He squeezed me tight and buried his face in my hair,breathing heavily. When he finally loosened his hold, I looked up. The tears in his eyes matched my own, and I wondered how I ever thought I could get over this man.
Joy approached the table, going straight to Deke. “Were you ever going to tell me?”
He got up from his seat, started to lift his arms, then dropped them. “Yeah. Of course we were, Aunt Joy. You were next.”
She nodded toward his arms, loose at his sides. “Well, get those around me.” She sniffed, and I swore I saw a little wetness at the corner of one eye. “This kind of news deserves a hug.”
Phoebe let out a strangled sob as the two of them embraced. It was awkward—like two people who’d only ever seen other people hug but had never put it into practice—but they held each other hard and tight. Joy was saying something quiet, for only Deke to hear, and he nodded, his eyes slammed shut.
I had to wipe my own tears. There’d been no holding them back anymore—not with my stoic, tough Joy getting emotional.
It didn’t last long, of course. Joy had a reputation to uphold, and I imagined, between comforting me and now this, she’d reached her capacity for tenderness for the year. She pulled back from Deke, gave Phoebe a pat on her shoulder and well wishes, then returned to her spot behind the bar like it had never happened.
I caught Joy watching us a little while later. Our eyes met, and an unspoken understanding passed between us. If she hadn’t pushed me to seek my own life, I would have still been a waitress with my trusty notepad, watching this scene from across the bar.
I mouthed, “Thank you,” to her, even though it wasn’t nearly enough. I knew she got it, though. She always had.
Chapter Thirty-six
Alice
