by Susan Stoker
“Squirt,” Truck whispered, but couldn’t say anything else.
Tears filled his eyes, and he couldn’t have prevented them from falling if his life depended on it. He was a big bad Delta Force soldier, and this little slip of a girl had brought him to his knees.
“I’m glad you and Mary are together now. I’m not as dumb as people think I am. I know when she was babysitting me and you came over that you guys liked each other, but since she was sick, you were both pretending you didn’t. But she’s better now. So you can get married like Daddy and Mommy did and live happily ever after.”
Truck heard Mary sniff from next to him, but couldn’t take his eyes off of the precious little girl in his lap. He cleared his throat several times and finally got himself under control. Annie wiped the tears that had fallen from his cheeks and smiled at him.
“Ethan Ford, huh?” he asked.
Annie nodded. “Yup.”
“Cool.”
“Yeah, cool,” Annie agreed. Then she climbed off his lap and asked, “Can we have cake now, Mommy?”
Everyone chuckled. Truck turned when he felt Mary’s hand on his thigh. Everyone began to stand, to congratulate Fletch and Emily and to coo over the still sleeping Ethan. But Truck couldn’t move.
“I can’t think of a better tribute for the greatest man I’ve ever known,” Mary said softly.
“I don’t know what to say.”
Mary smiled and leaned up and kissed him gently on the lips. “That’s the thing about best friends. You don’t have to say anything. Fletch knows how much you love him. Knows that you’ll do anything to keep him and his family safe.”
“I will. Just as I will you,” Truck vowed.
Mary leaned up again, but Truck met her halfway this time.
“I need to go see my namesake,” he said after a minute.
Mary nodded. “Go. I’ll find Rayne and see if there’s anything I can help with.”
Truck stood and helped Mary up then wandered over to Fletch. He was surrounded by the other Deltas. He went right up to Fletch and pulled him, and his son, into a brief hug. “I don’t know what to say,” he told his friend.
“Nothing to say,” Fletch reassured him. “You’ve always been there for me, and every one of us,” he said, gesturing to the men around them. “Without question, without fail, you’re there. I can’t imagine a better namesake for my son.”
The other Deltas nodded and added their agreement.
“We’re all so fucking thrilled that things with you and Mary worked out,” Fletch continued.
“So am I,” Truck said with a grin.
“And in case you’ve forgotten with all the head banging you’ve done over the last month, Rayne still wants to get married at the same time as Mary,” Ghost informed him. “Even if you’re already officially man and wife.”
“And the biggest wedding ceremony this town has ever seen is currently being planned,” Beatle said.
“And it’s not going to be in my backyard,” Fletch quipped.
Everyone chuckled.
“How’d we get so lucky?” Truck asked, looking around at his friends. “Seriously, not too long ago we were like Trigger’s team. Ready and willing to sleep with any women who wanted us. We didn’t have any connections, we were free and easy, living for our next mission. And now look at us.”
“Yeah. Look at us. We’ve got the best fucking friends, children, homes, family. I don’t care how it happened, but I’ll fight anyone to the death who tries to take it from me,” Coach said vehemently.
“Me too,” Beatle agreed.
“Me three,” Blade chimed in.
Fletch held out the hand that wasn’t holding his son. “To friends and family,” he said softly.
Truck put his hand on top of Fletch’s. “To friends and family.”
One by one, the other men did the same until they were all standing in a circle with their arms outstretched, hand to hand.
“Look at them,” Rayne said with a contented sigh. She and the other women were in the kitchen, laughing and talking.
Everyone turned and stared at the men in the living room. They were standing together, obviously having a moment.
Rayne put her arm around Mary and pulled Kassie, who was still holding Kate, into their little embrace too. The other women quickly followed suit, linking arms and staring at the men in the other room.
Mary smiled when Casey reached out and pulled Bryn into their huddle. The other woman hadn’t realized what was going on, and probably didn’t understand why Casey was suddenly holding her hand, either.
“Thank you all for being so amazing,” Rayne said softly. “I didn’t have many friends, other than Mary, before I got together with Ghost, and now I can’t imagine not having you all in my life. We need to promise not to let anything come between us. I know the thing with me and Mary got out of hand and involved all of you, and I promise not to do that again. I need you all in my life. Any kids I might have need all you aunts in their lives. We need to swear right now we’ll always be friends, no matter what happens in our futures or where we might end up, even if it’s in the middle of nowhere.”
“Like Rathdrum, Idaho?” Bryn asked. “That’s in the middle of nowhere.”
Everyone chuckled.
“Exactly like Rathdrum, Idaho,” Rayne told her.
“I’ve never had friends,” Bryn commented. She didn’t seem upset about it. She was just stating a fact. “I didn’t really think I was missing much, as I don’t like painting my nails or don’t really see the need to sleep in someone else’s house when my bed is super comfortable. But when Fletch called last week to say the party was postponed, I talked to Annie after he and Fish were done. She cried.” Bryn was whispering now. “She said that she’d been so looking forward to me coming to visit, so we could talk about how deafness occurs and what kind of life the deaf lead. No one has ever been so upset that they wouldn’t get to see me that they cried. And all of you gave me that. I know I’m different and weird, but it’s like you guys don’t even care.”
“We don’t care,” Harley said softly. “We’re all weird in our own way.”
“True enough,” Sadie said with a laugh.
“So we’re agreed?” Rayne asked.
“Agreed!” everyone chimed in.
Epilogue
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiant announced. Then turned to the second couple and repeated his words. Then he said, “You may kiss your brides.”
Beatle leaned down and kissed Casey, while Blade took Wendy in his arms and tilted her backward and kissed her.
The congregation cheered and clapped as the two couples straightened and faced them.
Rayne dropped the curtain she and Mary had been hiding behind and smiled at her friend. “Are you ready?”
“The question is, are you ready?” Mary countered. “Truck and I are already married. Renewing our vows isn’t the same as getting married the first time.”
“Are you sorry?” Rayne asked.
“About what?”
“About having a quickie courthouse wedding the first time?”
Mary immediately shook her head. “No. First off, I didn’t think I was going to live long enough to really enjoy being a wife in the first place. Secondly, I was sick as hell. I couldn’t have done this even if I’d really wanted it. And third, even though I knew what I was doing would hurt you…I wanted to marry Truck. I wanted something beautiful for once in my life, and that was it.”
Rayne’s eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, shit, don’t cry!” Mary ordered. “You’ll ruin your makeup before the pictures!”
Rayne chuckled and looked up and blinked quickly, beating back the tears. Then she looked back at her best friend. “Nothing could be more perfect than this day,” she declared. “When we met at that bar all those years ago, I never ever thought I’d be standing here with you like this. I mean, we promised we’d get married together, but I never really thought it’d hap
pen. I love you, Mare.”
Mary rolled her eyes. “You’re awfully sappy today, Raynie.”
Rayne smiled at her. “Yup. It’s my wedding day. I’m allowed to be.”
“I guess.”
“And it’s more than that too.”
“Yeah?” Mary asked.
“I’m pregnant,” Rayne whispered.
“Holy shit! Really?”
“Really.”
“You better tell Ghost. He’s gonna expect you to get shit-faced at the reception, and if you refuse to toast him, he’ll get worried.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m planning on telling him in the limo on the way to the reception hall. It’s my wedding present for him.”
“Oh, jeez,” Mary huffed. “You’re so going to be late.”
“As if you should talk, Miss I’ll Be at the Church in Plenty of Time to Get My Makeup Done.”
Mary couldn’t help the blush that blossomed across her cheeks. She’d had every intention of being at the church early, but Truck had different thoughts. He’d refused to sleep away from her, claiming that since they were already married, he didn’t have to cater to the tradition of the groom not seeing his wife before she arrived at the church. He’d kept her up late the night before, and then that morning, showing her several times how much he loved her.
“Yeah, okay, you’re right,” Mary told Rayne. Then she hugged her tightly, and refused to let her go when the hug went on a little too long. “I love you, Rayne,” Mary said quietly. “I’m so happy for you.”
Rayne sniffed, but said, “I love you too, Mare.”
“Come on, you guys,” Kassie said as she entered the little room right off the nave. “It’s time.”
“How’s everyone doing?” Rayne asked. “Do they need a break?”
“Hell no,” Sadie said, entering behind Kassie. “There’s no way I’m letting anyone free until this thing is done. With all those hot, single and not-so-single men in attendance, I’d never get them all back in before the single women jumped their bones.”
The four women chuckled.
“Was it too much to invite the SEALs and their wives from California?” Rayne asked, obviously not catching the teasing note in Sadie’s voice.
“No,” Mary told her.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have included the other Delta team,” Rayne mused, still obviously worried about Sadie’s comment.
“Rayne,” Mary said, taking her friend’s shoulders in her hands. “Trigger and the others are fine. They’re making sure Truck’s sister is okay. She looks like she’d rather be eating snakes in Borneo than sitting out there. And I’ve noticed the commander is taking particular interest in her. The SEALs and their wives are also fine. So are the Taggarts from Dallas. And the cops and firefighters who came too. No one is gonna have a sexual orgy in the pews.”
“Yeah, they’ll wait until the reception,” Sadie muttered.
Mary mock glared at their friend and continued talking Rayne off the ledge. “The only thing you have to concentrate on is becoming Mrs. Keane Bryson.”
“Why is that a thing?” Rayne asked.
“Why is what a thing?” Kassie asked.
“Why would I be Mrs. Keane Bryson? I mean, that’s not my name. That’s Ghost’s name. I’m going to be Mrs. Rayne Bryson. That’s never made sense to me.”
Mary chuckled. “Right. Okay, enough talk. It’s time.”
“We’re walking down the aisle together, right?” Rayne asked nervously.
For some reason, Rayne was completely freaked out. Mary had thought it humorous at first, but she knew she needed to comfort her friend. “Of course. Arm in arm. Just like we planned.”
“Good.”
“Good,” Kassie echoed. “I’ll make sure everyone is ready.”
“I’ll help,” Sadie said, and followed Kassie out.
Rayne took Mary’s hand in hers and the two best friends stared at each other. “Remember how this all started?” Rayne asked.
Mary nodded. “Yup. You sent me a text from London and told me you were hooking up with a hot guy and if you were never heard from again, you gave me the deets you had on him.”
“Of course, they were all lies, so you never would’ve found him or my dead body.”
Mary chuckled. “You’re beautiful, Raynie. Ghost is the luckiest man alive.”
Her best friend smiled back. “I think Truck might have something to say about that.”
“What do you think?” Mary asked. “Want to go get married?”
“Absolutely.”
And with that, the two women linked elbows and walked arm in arm out of the small room, and to the beginning of the aisle of the church.
The music started, and all the guests stood and turned to face them.
Mary saw Truck smiling huge at the end of the aisle, waiting for her. His smile was lopsided, but she’d never seen anything more beautiful in her life.
She fingered her beautiful engagement ring he’d given to her not long after leaving the hospital after the bank incident. It was elegant, and not too flashy, and absolutely perfect for her...just like Truck was.
All their friends were there. Annie was already standing at the altar. She didn’t want to wear a dress and no one had the heart to make her. She had on her favorite combat boots and a pair of jeans with a white frilly shirt…the only concession she’d made to the occasion. She didn’t have her basket of flowers mixed with small plastic Army men this time, like she had for her parents’ wedding, but Emily had warned them that the wedding cake at the reception may or may not have an Army theme.
“Ready?” Rayne asked.
“Ready,” Mary said firmly.
Then the two friends walked toward their men just like they’d always planned…together.
Trigger and the rest of his Delta team, the morning after the weddings.
* * *
“Holy shit,” Lefty groaned. “My head hurts.”
“Maybe if you didn’t drink a keg of beer all by yourself, it wouldn’t,” Doc quipped.
Grover laughed and Lefty smacked him. “Shut up, Grover. Too loud.”
“Come on,” Trigger said. “We’ve got five miles to run before we hit the gym.”
The others all groaned, but fell in beside Trigger as they set off.
“What time did you guys get home?” Brain asked his friends.
“About three,” Oz answered. “Me and Doc made sure everyone had rides before they left.”
“Luckily, most people were staying at the hotel next door, so it wasn’t a big deal,” Doc added.
“Did you guys see the commander leave with Truck’s sister?” Lefty asked. “It’s a good thing Truck didn’t see that.”
“Right?” Doc asked. “He would’ve lost his shit. But then again, I think he would’ve lost his shit no matter who it was that left with her.”
“Shut it,” Brain ordered. “The commander is a good guy. Truck trusts and respects him. Besides, Macie didn’t look so good.”
“Was she sick?” Trigger asked, concerned now.
Brain shrugged. “Not in the way you think. She just looked…anxious. Like, really anxious. Almost freaked out. If the commander hadn’t gone up to her, I would’ve.”
“Think she’s all right?” Doc asked. “Do we need to tell Truck?”
Brain shook his head. “I’m sure the commander has it under control. If he thinks Truck needs to be informed, he’ll tell him. Even if it is his honeymoon. Or second honeymoon, as the case may be.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“It was one hell of a party, wasn’t it?” Lucky asked no one in particular. “I mean, if I was going to get married, that’s how I’d want to do it.”
“What do you mean, if you’re going to get married?” Trigger asked. “You don’t want that?”
Lucky shrugged. “It’s not that I don’t want it, I just don’t see it happening. We’re not at home much, we’re always sent off to do the dirty shit that the regular units in the Army w
on’t touch. I just don’t see it happening.”
“It happened for Ghost and the others,” Trigger noted.
“Yeah, they all got lucky,” Brain chimed in.
The seven men continued their run in silence. Partly because they were all a bit hungover from the reception the night before. But also because seeing four of their fellow Delta Force soldiers get married at once had struck a chord within all of them.
They’d talked about it in the past. How the chances of them living long enough to have families were slim. How the missions they went on were slowly sucking the life right out of them. How no women would likely take a chance on them. They were the baddest of the bad the US Army had, and lived life moment by moment.
But seeing Ghost, Truck, Beatle, and Blade pledge their lives and love to their women had made them start to rethink things. Seeing Fletch and Hollywood with their children had made them yearn, deep down, to have the same.
They might be badass soldiers who weren’t scared of anything, but they were also human.
“Maybe all hope for us isn’t lost,” Trigger said out loud. “If they found love, maybe we can too.”
His teammates didn’t respond, but no one laughed and said he was crazy either.
Commander Colt Robinson and Macie Laughlin, the morning after the weddings.
* * *
Macie opened her eyes and stiffened, trying to figure out where she was.
Recalling the night before, she immediately squeezed them closed again. She felt as if she’d been run over by a truck…exactly how she always felt after she’d had a major anxiety attack. She should be used to the feeling by now, as she’d had more than her fair share of them over the years.
She wanted nothing more than to keep her eyes shut and stay under the covers all day…but that was impossible, because she wasn’t at home. The bed she was in wasn’t hers. The chest her cheek was resting on belonged to Colonel Colt Robinson. Shit.
Feeling her fingers start to tingle once again and her heart start to race, Macie recognized the signs of anxiety rearing its ugly head.