Page 266 of The Night Shift

I offer my keys. “Take my keys.”

“No, man, I need you to come. If your annoying girlfriend hadn’t hijacked my daughter, the cake would still be here.”

Holly shoots him a look. “Your face is annoying.”

Audrey joins in. “Yeah, Daddy! Your face!”

Parker turns to me, his expression pleading. “Need I say more?”

I sigh, not wanting to let go of Holly’s hand — it’s my least favorite thing to do — but I know I’m stuck. Just as I’m about to pull my hand away, she re-grabs my fingers immediately.

“Theo’s staying with me,” Holly says.

Audrey is now chasing Peter around the living room, attempting to shove cake into his face, both of them shrieking with laughter.

“He’s not getting shipped off to war, Hollipop.”

Holly’s eyes narrow dangerously. “Call me that one more time. I dare you.”

April, who’s been watching the exchange with raised eyebrows, steps in. “Hol? What’s wrong?”

“What?” Holly snaps, feigning annoyance. “Nothing’s wrong. Since when is it a crime for me to want to spend some quality time with my boyfriend.”

I can’t help but blush.Boyfriend. A small smile creeps onto my face despite myself. Then comes a laugh, which I try to stifle behind my palm. The blush on Holly’s face only deepens, her glare intensifying.

April stares at both of us, arms crossed. “Okay, no one is going anywhere until you two tell us what thebeepis going on here?”

I glance at Holly, her hand still clutched in mine. “Should I? Or do you want to do the honours?”

Holly meets my eyes, lips forming a silent “please.”

“Okay, now you’re starting to freak me out,” Parker says. “What’s the big secret, huh? You two murder someone?”

I stifle another laugh. Holly shoots me a look.

I raise our linked hands, releasing them just enough to reveal the glint of the wedding band on Holly’s finger. The scarlet stone catches their attention immediately, an aggressive contrast to the subtle, sleek ring it rests beside. “We got married,” I say.

Holly groans, throwing her head down, a pink flush colouring her cheeks. “This is so embarrassing.”

The room falls silent.

Holly slowly lifts her head. “April?”

April stares at her for a long beat, disbelief coating her words. “You…you got fucking married?!”

Audrey’s voice drifts in from the other room. “Mommy used a bad word!”

Peter jumps up and down, clapping his hands. “Yay!”

Parker takes a deep breath, his voice filled with bewilderment. “I think I’m gonna throw up. Did he just say they got married?”

April reaches for the ring. “Let me see this thing.” She inspects it, brow furrowing in confusion. “Wait, why is it a ruby?”

Holly and I exchange a look, barely suppressing another smile. Probably not the best moment to explain that it isn’t a ruby at all — but a crystallized drop of my blood. It wasn’t the most conventional idea, I know, but it was the only idea that made sense. I wanted to give her something that felt likeher— something unique and eternal. I could’ve gotten her the standard diamond. I could’ve played it safe. But blood makes sense. Holly loves blood. And I love Holly. It seemed like the obvious choice.

She snatches her hand back. “Please don’t be mad,” she says to April.

April takes Holly’s face between both hands. “Mad? Oh, I’m not mad. I’m furious.”