Chasing Love's Wings by Zoey Derrick

off. He’s better known as Nikki Cliff, an eighties rocker that
     has a strong presence in Phoenix.  

    The rest of dinner is a blast. We’re all having fun and joking around, much the way
     we were in Tarah, and the alcohol keeps flowing, though after the initial drop of
     Cristal, we all switch over to our signature drinks. While alcohol turns my stomach,
     I decide that it is probably better to drink my way out of my aversion to it, and
     Tristan doesn’t object.  
    Once our dinner plates are cleared away, we all order dessert. Though most of us are
     pretty full, I insist. Tristan looks out of the corner of his eye at me, probably
     because I’m very casually spending his money. But I have my reasons.  

    Desserts arrive, along with a dessert wine, and we are all treated to fresh glasses
     of alcohol.  
    We’re all chattering on when I hear the clink of silverware against glass, and my
     heart goes about a thousand beats per minute. I look immediately down the table to
     Mick, who is shaking like a leaf.  
    “I’d like to propose a toast,” he says, and we all raise our glasses. “To the most
     beautiful woman I know. The woman who keeps me sane and keeps me on my toes. The woman
     who has my heart in every way possible.”  
    “Hear, hear.” We all raise once again and take a drink.  
    We all set our glasses down as Mick continues. “I’m so glad we could all get together
     tonight, despite the fact that we are all going back to our work and our lives over
     the next few days. These last few weeks have been a lot of fun. But before you go,
     there is something I want all of you to see.” Mick stands up, sliding out from between
     his chair and the table. He stands next to Beau at the head of the table. Then he
     drops to one knee. “I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life without you in it.
     You mean more to me than anything I could’ve ever thought possible, and I need you
     in my life.” He produces a small black box from his pocket. “Beauty Allison Robinson,
     will you marry me?”  
    I watch as Beau’s face goes beet red — she knows no one at this table knows her as
     anything other than Beau — but she also starts crying. But she doesn’t answer. I know
     she’s toying with Mick, and he begins to grown uncomfortable. “Yes,” she responds,
     and we all clap as Mick places the ring on her finger and they kiss. Many of the other
     restaurant patrons join in our applause.
    Tristan leans over and kisses me, then whispers into my ear, “You knew about this?”
     I nod. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “Shh, it was a secret.”  
    He kisses me.  
    I pull back and stand, walking around the table to give Beau a hug.  
    “You bitch, you knew.”  
    I give her my best innocent face. “I have no idea what you’re—”
    “Liar.” We laugh and hug.  
    I whisper in her ear, “Congratulations. I’m so happy for you.”  
    “I love you, girl,” she says, and we both squeeze a little tighter and then let go.  
    I go around her to Mick and hug him too. “Well done,” I whisper in his ear.
    “Thanks for keeping the secret.”  
    I can’t help the breathy laugh that escapes. “You deserve to be happy and I am honored
     that she’s the one that makes you that way.”
    “Love ya, Cams,” he says, and we pull away from each other.  
    I look down the table at all of our friends — Tyson, Travis, Jolene, Naomi and of
     course Tristan — and for the first time in twenty-five years I finally feel the love
     that has been hiding there all along. It’s something I never knew I was capable of
     until I met Tristan, and right now I feel as though my heart could explode with all
     the overwhelming gratitude I’m starting to embrace toward each and every one of them.  
    Tristan smiles at me and I smile back. Those eyes are the eyes I know I can never
     live without, and I love him even more for that.  
    “Let’s party, shall we?” I say, and everyone stands. Tristan