“I’m doing good. Truly,” I said, pulling back, feeling the bitter bite of shame. There were long gaps in time when I didn’t talk to Abby, talk to anyone really, and I knew she had worried. “Where is Abby?”
Colton looked over his shoulder and tilted his chin up. “The girls have a seat back . . . there they are.” With a hand on my shoulder, he pointed to one of the large round tables toward the back. “You see them?”
Stretching up, I thought I saw the back of Abby’s head. I turned to Brock. “I’m going to go over and say hi.”
“Cool,” he replied, but as I started to step away, he caught my arm and hauled me back. My hand landed on his chest. “But first.”
I opened my mouth, but whatever I was about to say was cut off with his kiss. It was quick but deep, and he kissed me like no one was standing right in front of us. When he let go, I swayed a bit and his grin was smug.
“I’ll swing over there in a bit,” he said.
“Okay,” I whispered, feeling dazed. There was a good chance I would’ve agreed to anything at this point.
Brock lowered his mouth to my left ear and said, “Fucking cute as hell.”
“What?” And then I realized he was acknowledging that I was still standing there and staring up at him like a doofus. Like a doofus who Brock found “fucking cute,” but still a doofus. “I’ll go now.”
Brock chuckled.
Turning around, I wiggled my fingers at the incredibly hot cop duo and then navigated the throng of people. The partial hearing made me feel slightly unbalanced as I walked through the crowd.
I rounded the set of high-top tables and saw them. Abby was sitting at the table, toying with a straw in her drink. Standing beside her was Roxy, a bartender at Mona’s who was married to Reece. I didn’t know Roxy too well, but she was hilarious, extremely quick-witted and very talented. The woman could paint anything.
Sitting next to Abby was Calla. The tall blonde had her hair pulled back. The faint scars on her face were barely noticeable. She was laughing at something the absolutely stunning brunette sitting across from her was saying. Surprise filled me when I realized that Steph was there and Nick was standing behind her chair, his hands on the back. I figured they’d be in Martinsburg with her mom.
Roxy started to turn and she spotted me. “Hey! Oh my God, look at you!” Full of energy, she bounced over to me and enveloped me in a warm hug. “Ah, you made it here!”
“It’s so good to see you.” When she pulled back, I laughed. “I love the glasses and hair.”
“Me too.” She reached up, touching the green streak of hair that matched her glasses. “I know it’s only Thanksgiving, but I’m getting festive already. Green reminds me of Christmas. Reece says I should’ve gone with red, but I’m thinking about saving that for Valentine’s Day.”
“You could also go white for Christmas,” I said. “You know, for snow and Santa’s beard.”
Her eyes widened behind the glasses. “Damn. I didn’t even think that. I’ve actually never done white before.”
I actually couldn’t believe there was a color Roxy hadn’t tried yet.
Abby let out a squeal and extended her arms, but she was blocked in. “Jillian! Finally!”
“Sorry. We were running a little late.” I waved at her.
“Oh, the ‘we’ part is very exciting.” Roxy bumped her hip into mine. “Very, very exciting.”
Steph extended her arms from where she sat. “Look at you! Holy crap, you look amazing. Love the boobs.”
I blushed as Nick dropped his head, shoulders shaking with laughter.
“What?” Steph turned around and shot the dark-haired Nick a look. “She looks hot. Women need to tell other women when they’re looking hot. It needs to be a rule.”
“Thank you,” I said, laughing. Steph was possibly one of the most gorgeous women I’d ever seen in real life. She was bold and confident, spoke her mind often and freely, and she was also one of the most loyal and sweetest people I knew. I bent down to hug her. “I thought you would be in Martinsburg—oh my God, you’re pregnant!” I froze halfway, realizing she had quite the little belly on her.
Steph laughed. “Yeah, that I am. I’m six months along.”
“She didn’t tell any of us for the longest time,” Abby said. “Hell, she just started wearing really loose tops—”
“Which should’ve been a dead giveaway,” Calla added dryly.
Steph rolled her eyes.
“And stopped drinking,” Abby continued. “I asked her, because she claimed she’d just gained weight and was on a diet.”
Flipping her dark hair over her shoulder, Steph laughed. “We just didn’t want anyone to know until we were a hundred percent sure this was going to . . . that it was going to last,” she said. “We wanted to make sure we were basically out of the woods.”
“It’s why we stayed home this Thanksgiving,” Nick explained, placing his hands on her shoulders, massaging them. “Her mom came up and we’re having dinner here.”
“I’m so excited for you guys,” I said, wanting to clap like a seal. “Congratulations.”
“Where is Brock?” Nick asked, speaking up to ensure I heard him through the hum of conversation and music.
I pointed to the bar. “He’s with Colton and Reece.”
“Haven’t seen him in a minute.” Bending down, he kissed the top of Steph’s head. “You good?”