Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
He tried to focus on his customers and not stare at his husband across the bar, and he mostly succeeded until a couple of men he didn’t recognize approached DJ’s table and sat down, one of them beside him. Seamus frowned.
From his distance, he couldn’t hear anything they were saying above the ambient noise, but DJ didn’t look happy and Todd seemed even worse. Lucas was delighted, which was honestly the most concerning reaction of all. He was coming up with an excuse to go over there when he saw them all suddenly shift their attention toward the front door. Seamus looked in the same direction and saw Richard Davis glowering their way, enraged. Deciding to check with him on whether there was some trouble, he walked around the bar, but before he reached him, Todd weirdly hopped up onto his chair, climbed over the stranger, jumped down to the floor, and then raced to the door.
Seamus turned to DJ who had stood up and was watching the whole scene seemingly as confused as he felt. “What’s going on?” he asked DJ and Lucas once he reached their table.
“I don’t—” DJ stopped midsentence and stared at the sheriff who was now making out with his friend. “Huh.” He turned to Lucas. “Did you know about this?”
“Yep,” Lucas said smugly. He flicked his gaze back and forth between him and DJ. “I know all sorts of things.”
Really, continuing to keep their relationship a secret was ridiculous. “Do you?” he said to Lucas.
“Are you two seriously going to pretend you haven’t been hooking up? I know I’m pretty, but that doesn’t mean I’m dumb.”
DJ moved around the guy in the chair next to him and over to Seamus. “So,” he said, looking up at him.
“So.” He smiled down at his husband.
“What do you think?”
“I think I got you a present when we were in Claddagh and I’ve been trying to think of the best time to give it to you.”
“A present?”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring he had gotten for DJ, along with a matching one for himself. The concept was original to Ireland but everyone in the community wore them when they got married. The bands varied and he had chosen a smooth flat one for comfort. Like all Claddagh rings, the center held a crown for loyalty and commitment, sitting atop a heart for love and affection, clasped by two hands for friendship and companionship.
DJ looked at his palm and then raised his watery gaze. “Now seems like a good time.” He blinked. “I’m ready.” Then he held his trembling hand out to him.
Seamus slid the ring over his finger, brought his hand to his mouth, and kissed it. “I love you.”
Sniffling, DJ leaned into Seamus’s chest and held onto him. “I love you too.”
“Did you two just get engaged?” Lucas sounded shocked. Apparently, he didn’t know everything.
“Nah. We’ve been married for months.” He kissed the top of DJ’s head. “Hopefully the rings will clear up any confusion.”
“You’re married?”
DJ nodded and brushed his hand over his eyes, wiping away the wetness. “You know how it is. When you find the perfect guy, you need to lock him down fast so he can’t escape.”
He cupped DJ’s cheek, caressing it. “I already escaped, and it turns out, I was running straight to you all along. Funny how that happened.”
“I guess you can’t outrun fate.”
“Guess not.” He grinned. “All it takes is thousands of miles, a lot of years, and a few stubborn family members and then, boom, fate prevails.”
“I’m grateful it was me,” DJ said.
“It never could have been anyone else.”
The End