“Maybe,” I teased, but I definitely agreed. He was perfect.
He was like steak. I always thought I disliked steak, and then I realized it was because I’d only tried it well done. Once I had my first taste of a good, juicy steak, I loved it. Craved more. Wanted to make up for all the lost time.
I’d barely had a taste of being with Liam, but I hoped it would be just like that.
Before Liam could respond, more people came over.
“Corrie,” I called, drawing her attention to me. “It’s Jenna. How are you?”
“Hi Jenna! I’m good, you?”
“Great. We just got some new Braille romances. You should come by when you get a chance.”
“Oh, I will. Thank you!” Corrie was blind, and she was awesome. We’d had a long discussion about Braille books, and since I brought it up to Robert, my director, the library had been more on top of keeping them up to date.
I said hello to her husband Quint, who was a cop, and he introduced me to Conor and his wife, Erin.
“You work at the Sloppy Cow, right? I remember Juliette was so excited to go and meet you.”
“Yep, that’s me,” Erin said. “You should come with them next time.”
“I’d love to!” I could tag along with Juliette anyway, but would I be invited to more get togethers now as Liam’s girlfriend? I wasn’t keen on bars usually, but I didn’t think I’d mind with him at my side.
Juliette returned, and I linked my arm with hers as we walked into the restaurant and followed Liam and Dylan to a corner booth, Nicky and Ryan and the others right behind us.
“After you.” Liam gestured for me to go in ahead of him, obviously on the side against the wall.
I slid into the corner seat, and Liam scooted in next to me. Nicky sat on the other side of Liam, and Juliette, Dylan, and Ryan sat across from us. The rest of Dylan and Liam’s friends filled the other booths around the restaurant.
The room suddenly felt smaller now that it was filled with so many large men.I felt smaller. They weren’t just any men, I reminded myself. These were our friends, and many of their wives and girlfriends, who’d also become friends, were here too. But still...you never really knew what someone could be capable of. Even firefighters and cops weren’t exempt from sometimes being the bad guy.
Liam leaned in close and whispered, “You okay?”
“I’m good,” I said, surprised by the depth of understanding in his eyes. Yes, I’d had a negative thought, but I didn’t think I’dreacted outwardly at all. How did he know? He held my eyes for a moment, then the seat shifted as he moved closer and his thick leg pressed against mine, offering me comfort with his presence.
“This alright?”
He studied me while I decided, and I realized three things. One, only our legs were touching. He hadn’t put his hand on my leg, which I deeply appreciated. Two, I knew with certainty he wouldn’t put his hands on me without my permission. Three, I really liked the feel of his strong, muscular thigh against mine.
I nodded, unable to stop the grin spreading across my face as warmth bloomed under my skin. Who would've thought I’d like his touch? Or trust him so much? Or that his pleased look would make me feel so good?
Overwhelmed in the best way, I redirected my attention across the table to Juliette and Dylan. “Congratulations! I’m so happy for you guys. I always knew you were too stubborn to stay down.”
They exchanged a sweet look, thanked me, and kissed. I was so thrilled for them.
Dylan’s return to work was the official reason for the party. But at this table especially, we were just as excited to celebrate Juliette and Dylan as a couple. They’d been through a nightmarish few months with Dylan’s injuries, their breakup, and his grueling rehab. They deserved their happily ever after.
I filled Juliette and Nicky in on the latest with the sensory room grant. Besides genuinely valuing their input as awesome occupational therapists, I knew it was a topic that Juliette could get sucked into. Her dyspraxia symptoms—slurred speech, clumsiness, and overall awkwardness—got worse when she was nervous, and being in a crowd like this, especially with the focus on Dylan, and therefore her along with him, would normally have her wrecked. I was impressed with how calm she seemed, and I loved Dylan for being so good for my best friend. Thesensory room was a topic she could speak confidently about, and that made all the difference for her.
The waitress came over with a tray of shots, courtesy of a table across the restaurant where some of the cops were sitting—Quint and Corrie, Conor and Erin, and also Hayden, a sheriff’s deputy, and her husband Boone, who I’d met earlier.
The guys gave them chin lifts, one of those macho moves they all did, and Juliette, Nicky, and I smiled our thanks while Ryan passed the drinks around the table.
“To Dylan,” Ryan said as we clinked our glasses.
Cheers and whistles rang out from around the room. Despite my crazy reservations about people in general, a warm fuzzy feeling filled me. These guys truly were a team.
Everyone at the table knocked back their shot. I pretended to drink mine like always, studiously avoiding Liam’s knowing gaze. Everyone pretended not to notice, as usual, and I was so grateful for these friends.