Dirty

“I’m moving back to town, calling off the sale of the house.”

I don’t know if I’d ever seen Nell so happy. She hid it pretty quickly, however. “And you’re manhandling my waitress, why?”

“Because we’re going to get married someday and make babies,” said Vaughan, relaxed as anything. “Not necessarily in that order. It’s up to her.”

“Holy shit.” My face returned to his shirt. God help my heart. The way it was galloping, I don’t think it would ever recover from this night.

“Damn,” said Joe’s deep voice. “You don’t do things by halves, do you?”

“When you know, you know.”

“Congratulations, man.”

“Thanks.”

“To you too, Lydia.”

I wiped off my face, smiling like a lovestruck fool. So what. All good. No, all fucking fantastic. “Thanks, Joe.”

Others echoed the sentiment. There were smiles all around. Except for on one face.

“Big decision,” said Eric, arms crossed. “You going to stick with it or you going to change your mind and leave her high and dry like you did with me being in the band? It’s just that, Lydia seems nice. And friends and family, people that are supposed to matter, don’t always seem to be important to you.”

Silence. And not the happy kind.

“You were out of the band because you didn’t take it seriously,” said Vaughan. “No other reason. I wasn’t turning my back on you as a friend. You stopped taking my calls, remember?”

Eric harrumphed.

“But you’re right. I’ve been slack with keeping in touch with people, looking after the people I love. That’s going to change.”

“That so?”

“Yes,” said Vaughan, neither man backing down. Oh, the heady scent of testosterone was thick in the air. They’d probably start banging antlers any time now. I held Vaughan’s hand, standing at his side.

“Nell,” he said. “I was wondering if you’d visit Mom and Dad’s graves with me sometime soon. Haven’t been back since the funeral, but I think it’s time.”

“We could tell them about Lydia and the baby,” said his sister, tears bright in her eyes.

“Yeah, we could.”

“What a gathering,” said a new voice. Andre joined our circle, huddled in among all of the restaurant tables. Quite a few of them occupied.

“Can we get some service, please?” called out a customer. Fair enough.

“In a minute,” said Eric, holding up a hand for patience.

“I think you’re going to make a hell of a guitar teacher. Glad to have you on board.” Andre reached across to shake Vaughan’s hand.

“Thanks for giving me a chance.”

“You’re serious about this then?” asked Eric. Judgment oozed from the man’s pores. Along with some expensive aftershave, no doubt. “Staying here, being with Lydia.”

“Yeah,” said Vaughan. “I am. You still got a problem with me, don’t want me working here. Fine. I quit. I’m not interested in making trouble in the Dive Bar.”

A tongue worked behind Eric’s cheek, his gaze inscrutable. Then he climbed onto a chair and clapped his hands, calling up everyone’s attention, staff and customers alike.

Oh shit. What now?

“Got an announcement to make,” he said, looking down at us all from on high. “Two valued members of the Dive Bar family, Lydia and Vaughan, just decided to get married. I’d like to offer them my congratulations.”

Applause erupted.

So did I. “What? We didn’t do that. We didn’t get engaged.”

“We sort of did,” said Vaughan, kissing my hand.

“To celebrate,” said Eric, smiling at one and all. “Drinks are on the house!”

I, however, was not smiling, what with being on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. “I can’t get engaged two weeks after not getting married. Who would do that? No one would do that. It’s crazy!”

“Babe.” Vaughan grinned, enjoying the moment entirely too much. “Don’t worry about it. It’s just out there somewhere, waiting until you’re ready.”

“But we’re not really engaged, right?”

“I love you,” he said, kissing my lips.

“Crap.” I deflated, basically collapsing against him. It was all too much and my heart was on the line. Again. Blood rushed behind my ears while people clapped and whooped. Champagne corks were already popping. And there Vaughan stood, waiting patiently for me to get my shit together.