“You look beautiful.” Tristan squeezed my hand as we stood on Gabriel and Autumn’s doorstep. “You have nothing to be nervous about.”
“These people have known you forever and love you. I know I’ve met them before, but that was different. We weren’t . . . I didn’t care before. Now I want them to like me.”
“They will like you. Because I like you.”
I groaned. “That’s a terrible thing to say! I want them to like me because I’m a likeable person, not just because—”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.” He turned me toward him and cupped my face in his hands, my anxiety draining away. I was safe, without a care in the world. “They’re going to like you because you’re kind and funny and a great listener, and for all the reasons I like you. Not just because you’re my wife. That’s what I meant.”
“Well, when you put it like that, maybe it’s okay.” I grinned up at him like he’d just said exactly the right thing. Because he had. “Do they know that we’re . . . whatever we are?”
He knew without me having to explain what I meant. “I imagine so. They know most things about me before I realize it.”
I laughed. “The best kind of friends.”
“You’re going to have to stop wearing lipstick so I can kiss you without looking like I’m into drag.”
I shook my head. “Not going to happen.”
Autumn threw open the door, looked at Tristan then at me, then at our joined hands, and squealed. “I knew it.” She gathered us both in a hug before releasing us and racing into the house. “Gabriel! Hollie!” she called over her shoulder. “I told you it would happen in Mexico. They’re holding hands.”
“Does she know we can hear her talking about us?” I asked.
“The good thing about Autumn is that whatever she’s thinking comes out of her mouth. And the bad thing about Autumn is that whatever she’s thinking comes out of her mouth.”
We wandered into the living room, where Gabriel, Dexter, Hollie, and Autumn were all staring at us.
“I’m so excited for you guys,” Autumn said. “You seem so perfect together.”
“Autumn,” Gabriel practically growled, “leave Tristan and Parker alone. If they want to talk about it, they’ll talk about it.”
Autumn looked at us hopefully. “You want to talk about it? Please God, tell me you want to talk about it.”
“I’m hungry,” said Tristan, taking a seat and pulling me down on the sofa next to him. “And Parker and I are a real couple now. We’re taking each day as it comes.”
That was short and to the point. Hopefully the explanation would satisfy everyone and we could focus on having a pleasant evening.
Hollie sat and sucked in a breath, clearly trying to decide whether or not she had something to say. My heart sank when she began to speak. “But there’s no reason why you have to get divorced in ninety days, is there?” she asked. “If you’re a couple, and you’re happy, why would you get divorced?”
“Exactly,” Autumn said, taking a seat next to her sister. “You’d only have to go and get married again later.”
“Which could be fun.” Hollie and Autumn exchanged a mischievous glance.
They didn’t need anyone else to participate in their conversation.
“You two are going to get deported if you don’t watch it,” Tristan said.
Gabriel stood up. “Yeah, you should both be careful, because if anyone can make it happen, it’s Tristan. He’ll put you on Interpol’s most-wanted list and you’ll end up in a maximum-security prison serving life sentences.”
“Do lifers get conjugal visits?” Autumn asked, squeezing Gabriel’s bottom as he passed in front of her. “Did I mention I made sticky toffee pudding and it looks phenomenal?”
I could barely keep up. We’d covered our relationship, prison regulations, and baking in a two-minute window.
Gabriel came back into the living room, carrying a tray of champagne glasses. “I thought we’d celebrate the happy couple,” he said, easing the tray onto the coffee table.
The happy couple? I supposed there were two of us, and we were happy. I took a glass and clinked it against everyone else’s.
“How’s that table coming on, Gabriel?” Tristan asked.
“I’ll show you if you like,” he said.
Tristan slid his hand around my waist. “I’m just going to have a look at something in Gabriel’s workshop. You want to come?”
“I’m okay here,” I said, although I wasn’t quite sure if that was true. He pressed a kiss against the side of my head and stood.
“Tell us all about Mexico,” Hollie said as the door closed behind Gabriel and Tristan. “I’ve always wanted to go.”
“It was beautiful,” I said. “The beaches were incredible.”
“Tristan’s so attentive to you,” Autumn said. Her eyes were bright and excitable, and she kind of bounced in her seat when she talked. “It’s adorable. I just knew he was going to fall hard when he finally found someone worthy of him. He’s such a great guy and so clever and perceptive. It was clear the player stuff was just an act until he found someone he really cared about.”