“Now, do you need anything from us?” Glory said softly, smiling at her. “We are having dinner at Valkyrie and Marisol’s house Friday night, and you should join us. I need your cell phone number.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Mary countered, realizing that Jax was going to be gone by then.
“No, it absolutely is the best idea, because you cannot let yourself slip into a spiral, and it happens faster than you realize. You ARE going to meet and have dinner with us – or we’ll bring the party to you,” Glory threatened with a smile. “I’ve seen Karen’s place, so I know how small those apartments are.”
Mary nodded and gave the woman her phone number.
“Perfect,” Glory beamed. “Now, let’s have a little fun, some cake, some margaritas to help you relax… and Sophie has a room waiting for you at the bed and breakfast. Apparently, Reaper insisted that they revamp one of the rooms into a ‘Honeymoon Suite’. Who knew the big baddie had it in him to be a romantic like that?”
They drove a few minutes down the road and pulled into a strip mall, where a tiny corner unit said ‘Bakery’ on the sign… and Jax was standing in front, looking concerned.
… Reinforcing Glory’s words.
He would be worried if she didn’t put on a brave face when he left. He would be distracted, concerned, and she couldn’t pull away from his focus, especially if he was flying back to a warzone.
No, she had all the tools within her grasp to keep going on like nothing was happening – except now she had his name, his love, and everyone’s support if she needed it.
“Is everything okay?” he said, coming over to the car quickly as she opened the doorway, his eyebrows pinched in worry.
“Oh yes,” she smiled easily. “Glory was just giving me a pep talk.”
“Whoa boy,” he muttered, his neck flushing slightly with embarrassment. “I hope you got a different one than I did. I’m still reeling from what some of the guys said…”
“What?” Mary laughed in disbelief as Glory walked past them – and winked.
“Hunter knows better than to kiss and tell,” she announced primly to the couple, and Jax looked at Mary.
“He tells a lot…” Jax whispered in a hushed voice, looking stunned. “No wonder Thumper calls him a walking hormone. I’m a nun compared to that man. Am I still blushing?”
“What did he say to you?” Mary whispered as he took her hand.
“I can’t repeat any of it,” Jax blurted out, chuckling and shaking his head – only to have Mary step right in front, putting her hand on his chest and stopping him.
Glory’s words rang in her head.
“… Are you planning onshowingme then, if you can’ttellme?” Mary said softly – marveling at how Jax’s eyes widened for a moment before softening. There was something so warm and possessive in his gaze, igniting something within her.
“Is that an invitation?” he asked, his voice soft.
“If I said ‘yes’?”
“Then we are leaving right now,” he murmured invitingly.
“But…there’s cake,” she countered, laughing softly.
“Cake, it is, my love…” he acquiesced, laughing with her and wrapping an arm around her waist as he walked her to the doorway where their friends were standing, waiting.
As they entered, everyone started clapping and hugging them… and she spotted the little two-tier cake on a table towards the edge of the room, realizing this was the ‘reception’she always wanted – full of smiles, laughter, and happiness, instead of staged, ‘orchestrated’moments. She might be wearing blue jeans and filthy from the salt water, but this was spectacular.
“Mary!” Karen called out happily, hugging her and kissing her cheek. “Oh my gosh, I couldn’t believe the text message… and Ghost! You two are so sweet together! I love it! Wait till I tell Jace – he’s going to eat this up…”
“Let’s get some music in here,” Firefly hollered, “and have some fun.”
Everyone started talking at once, surrounding them, nudging them towards the cake as Glory and Harley started pouring margaritas out – giving the children, Luke and Betsy, chocolate milk.
Jax curled around her, laying his hand atop of hers as they moved to cut the cake, so everyone could start partaking of it… and she sighed happily as he bent to kiss her shoulder.
Delilah was there, taking photographs, while Luke was chasing Betsy and trying to ‘sneak’a chocolate covered strawberry… that had been placed low for the two toddlers to reach.