Page 92

Proving me right, as soon as we walk into the living room, Sarah spots Tate and hurries over to her, a wide smile stretched across her face. “Tate.” She gives her a one-armed hug, mindful of the plate Tatum’s carrying. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been telling everyone about your cookies.” She laughs. “And you, of course. You more than the cookies.”

“They’re both amazing,” I agree. “Tate and her cookies.”

“You’re the incredible cook,” Tate insists to Sarah. “I just baked. And”—she tilts her chin at the tray I’m carrying—“I threw together some Philly steak sliders. Nothing fancy, but?—”

“They’re delicious,” I interrupt. “Trust me.”

Tatum throws me a puzzled look. “How do you—” Then she lifts a corner of the foil to peer inside. “Erik! You ate one already?”

I grin. “Maybe?”

Sarah laughs. “Here. Let me grab both of those before Erik eats all of it. And Erik, go introduce Tate around before you go all vulture-style on the food.”

“As if I’m the only one?” I ask. I flash her a mock-insulted look. “I seem to recall Dante hogging almost all of the tiramisu at our last dinner.”

Dante comes up behind Sarah and takes the slider tray from her. “My wife made it. I think that means I’m entitled. And anyway, what about the time you hogged all the mac and cheese? I barely got a bite before you polished it off.”

“You guys.” Tate smiles. The tension in her body releases. To Sarah, she asks, “Are they always like this?”

“Yup,” Sarah replies brightly. “And we love them that way.”

Tate glances at me, her expression softening. “Yeah. We do.”

“Hey, guys!” TJ lifts his hand in greeting as he and his wife, Milena, approach us. “It’s good to see you.”

I shake TJ’s hand and give Milena a warm smile. “Glad you could make it.” Hugging Tate closer, I add, “Tate, this is TJ Rockwell and his wife, Milena. And I’m sure you’ve figured out by now, this is Tatum.”

Tate beams at them, any evidence of her earlier nerves gone. She extends her hand to Milena, then TJ. “You can call me Tate. And it’s so nice to meet you.”

“It’s great to meet you,” Milena replies. “And it’s so nice to see Erik looking so happy.”

TJ nods. “I don’t think I’ve seen Erik smile this much… Well. Since I met him.”

Tate kisses my cheek. “Well, I’m glad he’s smiling now.” She pauses. “So, TJ. Erik said you were a Green Beret, too?”

“I was,” TJ affirms. “It’s?—”

But he’s interrupted by a cheerful voice asking, “Is that Tatum?”

Bubbly Mackenzie comes rushing over, a smile brightening her face. She makes a beeline to Tate and hugs her without hesitation. “Tatum. I’m so thrilled to meet you. I heard about everything you went through, and—” Her mouth snaps shut. “Anyway. Enough about that. This is a party. And really, the important part is you’re here. With Erik, who we thought might be single forever.”

“I just hadn’t met the right person yet,” I tell Mackenzie. “And now I have.” To Tate, I explain, “Mackenzie is married to Daxton. Dax is a Texas Ranger.”

“It’s great to meet you,” Tate replies as she shakes Mackenzie’s hand.

“Daxton is over there helping.” Mackenzie angles her head over her shoulder, towards a giant Jenga set that Dax, Xavier, and Niall are arranging. “These guys love playing Jenga. You should see the crazy rules they come up with, too.”

I’ve told Tate all about our extreme Jenga matches—using multiple sets and creating impossible rules and our most recent addition to the collection, a giant version that reaches almost to the ceiling when it’s set up.

And we might have discussed strategy for the team challenge, too. All the other times, I’ve sat out and watched while my teammates take part. But this time, I have a partner, too. And I’m kind of excited about it.

Mackenzie, TJ, Milena, Tate, and I fall into an easy conversation about kids and jobs and recent trips for a few minutes, until another familiar voice approaches us.

“Erik. Tatum.” Cruz claps my shoulder. To Tate, he says, “It’s so good to meet you in person finally.”

Tate stares at him for a few seconds without saying anything.

A flicker of unease moves through me. I didn’t think seeing Cruz would be upsetting, and he is one of our friends, but maybe it’s too much of a reminder…