Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)(20)

Rachel sighed as she held my hand. “You’re engaged.” Her eyes drifted over my shoulder to Matt, before quickly refocusing on my ring.

I shook my head. “No . . . we’re married.”

Jenny snapped her head up. “What? You got married? Without me?” Jenny’s hurt expression matched my mother’s, and I was sure I now had two wedding planners.

Anna snorted. “Relax. They exchanged rings at the bar. They’re not really married.”

My parents were a little behind Anna, and I could clearly see a tiny smile form on my dad’s lips. Kellan was next to them, and he frowned at Anna’s assessment of our relationship status. I did too. “We’re married in our hearts, where it matters. The legal stuff will come later.”

Griffin broke away from a suddenly pale Matt to join our conversation. Just like Anna, he snorted. “Please, you guys aren’t married.” He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Kellan. “No bachelor party, no marriage. That’s the law.”

I matched Griffin’s posture. “That is not a law, Griffin.”

He swung his head around to look at me. “Well, it should be. No T and A, no ball and chain.” There was an annoying smirk on his face, and I really wanted to smack it off of him. I resisted, though.

Anna helped me out by smacking the back of his head. He narrowed his eyes at her. “What? It’s a fair sacrifice. If you’ve got to be with one chick for the rest of your life, then you should at least get to go out with a bang. Or two. Or three.”

Anna raised a perfectly arched brow. “Really? Would you want some jackass to do that with our daughter?” Her hand caressed her belly, and Griffin’s eyes shifted to where his child was peacefully growing.

“Fuck no. I’ll chop the little bastard’s balls off if he tries that kind of shit on my girl,” he scowled.

“Hmmm.” Smiling, Anna kissed his cheek and let the conversation die. I could tell Griffin was still pondering what she’d said, though. And he clearly didn’t like the scenario he’d imagined for Kellan when it was applied to his child. I shared a secret smile with my sister. Maybe there was hope for Griffin yet.

Our group headed inside the bar to have a congratulatory toast for the band before their taxi arrived to take them to the airport. The night crew wasn’t on yet, but a few familiar faces were around: Hun, Sweetie, Emily, and Troy, the bartender with a never-ending crush on Kellan. He perked up considerably when we walked in together.

When we all turned to head to the band’s usual table, I stopped in my tracks. A man I knew very well was sitting at the table, waiting for the band. Denny Harris, the ex–love of my life. Kellan noticed who had my attention and stopped too. Denny stood up, hands casually tucked in the pockets of his jeans.

Denny had changed a bit since coming back to Seattle. He seemed older, more mature. There was a confidence in the way he carried himself, and his dark brown eyes simmered with self-assurance. He just seemed to know who he was and what he wanted, and that wasn’t me anymore. He was hopelessly in love with his girlfriend, Abby. It had hurt at first that he’d moved on—but I had too, and I couldn’t be happier for him now.

Denny grinned at us as Kellan scoffed in astonishment. We crossed over to him, and Kellan immediately pulled him in for a one-armed hug. “You came to see me off?”

Denny shrugged. “You guys are about to hit it big. This might be the last chance I get to see you.”

Kellan looked away, a small smile on his lips. “I don’t know about that.” He looked back at Denny. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

I stepped up to give Denny a hug after the two friends pulled apart. Since I was sure Kellan was still a little uneasy about me being too friendly with Denny, regardless of how many times he’d told me he was fine with our friendship, I kept the hug as brief as politely possible.

Denny turned to the other band members once he’d greeted me. As everyone squished around the table, I took a seat catty-corner to Kellan. When Denny was finished congratulating everyone, he took the only empty spot, next to me on the end of the table. Ironically, Denny, Kellan, and I were sitting in the exact same seats as the first time Denny and I had joined the band for a beer.

Denny looked over at me as Kellan ordered the table of round of shots. I saw a soulful expression pass over my ex’s face. Maybe he too was pondering how drastically things had changed for us. I raised an eyebrow at him in silent question, and his contemplative mood evaporated. With a slight chuckle, he shook his head and turned to watch Emily approaching our table with our drinks.

Kellan was watching me as shot glasses were set in front of everyone. I didn’t feel the twinge of guilt I used to feel when we were all together. Instead, I grabbed Kellan’s hand and kissed his fingers, letting him know that I was his, bound in my soul.

Kellan gave me a smile that was loose and easy. He understood. My mom watched the dynamic between the three of us with a crease on her brow. I think it still blew her mind that we were all friends, especially since she now knew exactly what had transpired between Kellan and me.

When everyone had their shots—except my sister, of course, who was at the other end of the table staring at a cup of apple juice like it was toxic—we lifted them to make a toast.

Matt opened his mouth to speak, but his loudmouthed cousin beat him to it. “To fame, fortune, and scores of loose women!” Griffin downed his shot while the rest of us stared at him; Dad glowered, but then again, he usually did around Griffin.