Page 67 of Unscripted Love
“Dirty Bird!” I turned to face Gabe. “I thought you worked out a deal withyourbird.”
“He wasyourbird long before I walked into your salon.”
“He’s Big Daddy’s boy now,” I countered. “I thought he was going to play nice from now on.”
“I can control that bird’s mouth about as much as I can control you,” Gabe said dryly. “I’ll work on it.”
“We’re a family now!” Savage squawked proudly, making me smile. Gabe had taught him a host of new sayings, and we repeated them all the time in the hope of pushing out his foul vocabulary.
“Family of fucknuggets!” Sassy added.
“Gonna wash your mouth out with soap, cock badger!” Savage added.
I threw up my hands. “It’s hopeless.”
Gabe looked at me with wide eyes. “I never called him a cock badger.”
“I’ll ask their pediatrician about fitting them with ear plugs,” I told him.
The birds settled back down while the babies were gently passed around like precious party favors. I made a beeline for Kyle and Chaz once they were done making googly eyes at my kids. Gabe was right on my heels probably ready to intervene if I got too huffy. “You have some serious explaining to do!”
“It just felt right,” Chaz said with a shrug. “We went to Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve and got caught up in the excitement of the moment. A new year seemed like the right time to start a new life.”
“It sounds romantic and sweet, but why didn’t you tell any of us?” Gabe asked.
“We stayed in Las Vegas for five days then went to Cabo San Lucas for ten days and just got back ourselves,” Kyle said. “We told our families this morning, and now we’re telling our friends. We’re going to have a reception party to celebrate properly.”
“Just wow,” I replied. I opened my arms and hugged Chaz. “I’m so damn happy for you. Your writing career is taking off, and you finally took Dr. Dimples by the…”
“Josh,” Gabe said in a warning tone.
“…handand took that leap. I’m going to miss seeing you every day at the shop, but I am so proud of you, Chaz. Don’t you forget about us.”
“Like you could get rid of me,” he replied, hugging me tighter. “I’m so happy for you too, Jazz.”
“Let me in,” Mere said. Chaz and I opened our arms so she could join us in a group hug. “You’re my tribe, my ride or die, and the most amazing men I know.”
“We’re not all that,” I told her, rumpling her hair.
“But we’ll do in a pinch,” Chaz added.
“I’m glad you said that because I need to ask you guys for a favor,” Meredith said. “I would like for both of you to give me away in May when I get married.”
Meredith’s father had passed away when she was a young girl, and she didn’t have any living male relatives. Her request meant the world to me and moved me to tears. I looked at Chaz, and I figured my expression was just as dopey as his.
“Oh, Mere,” I said, “We’d be honored to give you away.”
“We’ve been waiting to do it for a long time,” Chaz added. “Wait, that might’ve sounded wrong.”
“Still holding a grudge, I see,” Meredith said after she stopped laughing herself silly. She was referring to the way Chaz resented her arrival in town our first year of high school because he suddenly had to share my friendship with someone else.
“I honestly didn’t mean it the way it sounded.” Chaz was prone to say the absolute worst things at the wrong time. “I meant that your finding your Prince Charming has been a long time coming. I’d be honored to share in your special day.”
The doorbell rang, and Harley yelled, “Food’s here.”
“Aw, you guys ordered us dinner?” I asked.
“It’s just pizza,” Chaz said. “None of us can cook quite to your standards yet.”