Page 66 of Up In Smoke

From the moment I stepped onto that stage and saw my husband’s face, I didn’t think about having a drink once.

Not once.

CHAPTER 20

Rico

Sooo…Imight have chickened out my last couple of shifts and kept my new ring in my locker, like I do Jesse’s bead bracelet. That’s a practical thing, though. It would easily snap if I tried wearing it during training or out in the field.

The ring is not going to snap.

My protective instincts got the better of me and the urge to hide Jesse away all to myself for a little longer won over.

But after seeing him perform at Trixie’s Tavern last night, how can I possibly keep this a secret any longer? He was so unabashedly fierce and happy and just…alive. I’m so glad I surprised him, because the look on his face is going to stay with me forever. It didn’t matter that it was a little stage somewhere in suburban SoCal. I watched Jesse shining like a fuckingstar.

I still want to protect him. But it’s obvious he’s not so fragile that I can’t come clean about him to my work family. Especially seeing as Angelica Carson hasn’t made an appearance yet. If I can tell them the news naturally, hopefully it’ll seem more convincing if she ambushes them to ask about the legitimacy of mine and Jesse’s relationship.

It takes less than three seconds for all hell to break loose once I walk into the changing room.

“Lieutenant!” Sawyer shrieks. I’ve opened my locker and, yes, my left hand is resting on the edge of it. He comes dashing over so fast he almost trips over Lili’s duffle bag on the floor. “What. Is. THAT?”

I chuckle and shake my head as he points accusingly at my finger. “It’s called a ring, Nelson.”

He arches an eyebrow at me. “Why’s it on the one reserved for people who get married?”

A wave of nerves crash over me, making me feel nauseous. Nothing that a strong cup of coffee won’t fix, though, so I barely hesitate. “Because I got married.”

“I’m sorry, but WHAT the FUCK?” Lili demands, scrambling to join Sawyer before grabbing my hand and yanking it a couple of inches in front of her eyes. “That’s a fucking wedding ring! Lieutenant, I repeat, what the actual fuck? You said your roommate was just that?”

“The roommate that agreed to adopt Klaus with you?” Beast asks, eyebrows raised. “What did I miss?” His dog Rocky runs back and forth between us both, seemingly picking up on the group’s agitated state.

“A lot, apparently.” Anton shakes his head and opens out his palms to me. “Congratulations, I guess?”

I grin and slip my hand from Lili’s surprisingly strong grip, closing my locker. “I’ll tell you all about it over breakfast. Come on.”

My heart is pounding as I head into the kitchen, leaving my team to hurriedly join me.

“Did you know about this?” Sawyer demands to our paramedics who are already at the dining table going over some paperwork.

Del raises his eyebrows at me and everyone else trailing behind. “Know what?”

Lili jabs her finger at me. “This mother fucker apparently gotmarriedand didn’t tell anyone!”

“What?” Teddy yelps, his head popping up from where he was seemingly looking for something in the refrigerator. “Rico? Married?”

Sawyer grabs my left wrist and holds it up for them all to see my ring. “He tried to sneak this by us just now.”

“I wasn’t trying to sneak anything,” I say, slightly wearily. “I just wasn’t trying to make a big deal out of it. So…that’s gone well.”

There’s a blur as Yara streaks across the room and throws her arms around my waist with a squeal. “I’m so happy for you, Lieutenant! Can you tell us all about him? Why didn’t you let us know? Ohh, is it like Romeo and Juliet and your parents don’t approve so you had to elope?”

I sigh but I’m still smiling. “Coffee,” I remind them. “Then interrogation. I’ll tell you the whole story.”

“But itisthe adorable, ridiculously good-looking guy that came and picked you up the other week, right?” Lili demands. “Because I think I’m going to be mad if it’s not.”

I roll my eyes and jab at the coffeemaker, grateful the third watch changed the filter before they left. “It’s Jesse, yes,” I confirm, feeling my heart skip a beat in my chest.

“Who’s Jesse?” Sawyer asks.