Page 12 of Tequila & Lace
Helping my best friend plan his proposal felt as though someone had a death grip on my heart and wouldn’t let go.
For the last ten or so years, I hadn’t been able to think about spending the rest of my life with only one woman. After Vanessa, I didn’t want to be tied down. I wanted as much pussy as I could get. And Iwasgetting it. Now helping Gabe pick out the ring for Autumn and coming up with the proposal brought back memories ofherand how you’resupposedto marry your first love. At least that’s what I’d thought.
They say things happen for a reason…
Cochran, Gabe’s first love, had died in his arms while we were in Afghanistan on a MEDEVAC call. Autumn was perfect for him, though—maybe more so than Cochran. But, of course, I’d never tell him that.
The house was silent as I woke and made my way to the kitchen for my morning cup of coffee and breakfast. I looked into Gabe and Autumn’s bare room as I passed. It was weird being without roommates after so long. Gabe and I had started rooming together when we moved to Vegas from Malibu. Autumn moved in not long after, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Her husband, who was our Major from the Army, hadn’t taken it too well when he’d learned that Autumn was leaving him, but Gabe and I hadn’t taken it too well when we’d learned that he was putting his hands on her. Major Dick got what was coming to him when he was poisoned by a business associate.
Even in the Army I’d had someone to harass in the morning. Okay not harass, but I liked making breakfast for more than just me even if it were for grouchy ass Gabe. But now Gabe and Autumn were engaged and had their own house, and I had a house all to myself.
I didn’t like it.
I needed a dog or something.
Turning from the empty room, I walked to the kitchen and made my coffee. I ate breakfast quickly, then dressed and headed for Club 24 where the three of us worked out. We also taught self-defense classes there until we could save enough money to open our own location. Gabe and I naturally wanted to protect people since our time in the Army, and after everything that had happened in Autumn’s past with her husband, it was only fitting to get certified to teach self-defense classes and to teach people how to shoot. Our company taught both types of classes. One was at Club 24 and the other was out on the range.
Before heading out the door, I grabbed a bottle of champagne and a few plastic cups. We had celebrating to do. Two of my favorite people were getting married—as long as Gabe didn’t fuck up the proposal.
Club 24 hadeverythingyou needed to meet your fitness goals. Aside from your standard treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes and weightlifting equipment you’d find at any gym, they offered yoga, Zumba, kickboxing, Kenpo, self-defense classes (with yours truly), cycling, aerobics, indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, racquetball… Basically, people spent all day there.
“Should we pop this now or after class?” I held the bottle of champagne up with my left hand and walked through the steel door where our class was being held in a half an hour. Autumn unwrapped her arms from around Gabe’s neck and turned toward me.
“You want to drinkbeforeclass?”
“It’s only champagne. Like a mimosa without the OJ, Auttie.” I winked. “I see you said yes, by the way.” I motioned with my head at her left hand and greeted Gabe with a head nod.
Gabe shook his head and walked over to the sound system. “No one’s drinking before class.”
“Cap—” He was my captain for so long that it still slipped, especially when he ordered me around. “Fine. After class, but then we’re drinking more than this cheap ass champagne I found at home.” Gabe liked his whiskey. I liked tequila, especially a shot of it after I’d licked salt off the skin of a chick, followed by a slurp of lime juice from her navel.
They both shared an odd look without saying anything. “What?” I asked. They shared another look. “Jesus. What?” I asked again.
Autumn turned to me. “I haven’t been to the doctor yet, but…” She paused and they shared another silent look. “I’m pregnant,” she finally blurted.
I blinked. Then tore my gaze from Autumn to Gabe to check for his reaction. I wasn’t sure if I should be happy for him. I knew he was in love with Autumn, but I also knew this was a new relationship and I knew how much he’d loved Cochran. What I saw when I looked into Gabe’s eyes made me smile.
It wasn’twhat I saw when we were in Afghanistan and he’d snuck around with Cochran.
It wasn’twhat I saw when we’d first moved to Vegas and he wanted to find out who Autumn was.
It wasn’twhat I saw when we were at Autumn’s house and had to fight off her husband to protect her.
It wasn’twhat I saw when he thought she left him when she learned what he did for a living anditwasn’twhat I saw when he was nervous because he thought she might say no when he was going to propose.
What I saw was a man’s life finally going the way it was meant to go. The look on his face was pure adoration and he was smiling with a twinkle in his eye.
“Holy fucking shit, dude!” I reached for both of them and engulfed them the best I could in a group hug. “All that fucking I heard you guys doing—no wonder you got knocked up.”
Autumn tried to push off of me, but I kept her from budging. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that,” she mumbled into my side.
Gabe broke free from my grasp. “What did I tell you about letting her know you could hear?”
“You knew?” she asked.
I laughed and set my gym bag and the champagne down in the cabinet while they spoke. Gabe whispered mumbled, but I could still hear him. “Do you really think he couldn’t hear you when you came, angel?”
She whispered back, stepping closer. I pretended to get items to set up for class, but really I was enjoying the show. I was going to miss living with them. “Every time?” she asked.
