Steam rose from the popping hot dish of pizza, pulling a string of cheese with it as Luke added the piece to Amy’s plate. They were at John’s Pizzeria waiting for Erin and Caleb to arrive.

“Are we waiting for them to get here before we eat, babe, or are you hungry?”

A grin cornered Luke’s lips. “I’m hungry; worked up quite an appetite throughout the day, and night.” He winked, and Amy smiled. “You should be hungry, too, or should we go work on that more?”

“No, no!” Amy practically shouted. The grin on Luke’s face widened.

“Are you sure, baby? I’ve got more fuel in the tank if you need—”

“I’m sure, positive actually.” Amy giggled. “I’m starving too, but I was trying to be polite and wait for our guests.”

Luke put down the slice of pizza he had halfway to his mouth. “You’re right, we should wait. But if I get too hungry then I may start eating off you.” He leaned in traipsing and arm around her waist. Pulling her close, Luke nibbled on her earlobe and Amy gasped; her hands sliding up the pillar of his throat to his face. A giggle tickled from her and a storm of heat buzzed across her skin.

“I see you two sure know how to pass the time,” Erin said saddling up to the table with Caleb at her side.

Both Amy and Luke peered over at them with Amy holding a wide smile.

“You two would show up now, wouldn’t you?” Luke joked. He released Amy and stood to his feet, meeting Caleb halfway. The two embraced each other with a firm hug and slap on the back.

“Hooah!” They yelled simultaneously garnering the attention of other patrons in the bar.

Noticing their military call, a few people strolled up, one of them being the owner of the establishment. He held his hand out for a shake.

“Good evening, gentlemen. I’m John Daniels, owner of this lovely place you’re in.”

Luke accepted his proffered hand and they greeted before the owner moved over to Caleb.

“You two servicemen?” John asked.

“John, this is Luke Sutter and Caleb Malone,” Amy said from her seated position at the table.

Luke, Amy, Erin, and Caleb frequented Johns Pizzeria when they were teenagers, but the guys’ transformations during their tours in Iraq changed their physical appearance drastically. John glanced over to Amy and his eyes widened as he looked back at Luke and Caleb.

“We are, sir,” Luke said responding to Johns query.

“Well I’ll be damned,” John said. He scratched his gray and black hair then held his hand out for another shake as if the first one wasn’t proper enough. Luke accepted his hand again. “It’s very good to have you boys or I should say men home. Congratulations and thank you for your service. Your dinner tonight is on the house.”

“Thank you, sir,” both Caleb and Luke responded.

“Do either of you drink?”

“I’ll take a Michelob,” Caleb said.

“Make that two,” Luke added.

John turned to Amy and Erin. “Ladies would you like anything to drink?”

“Just water for me,” Erin started.

“Don’t listen to her John, we both want your house margaritas,” Amy said with an easy smile.

John chuckled, and Erin pursed her lips and cut her eyes at Amy.

“I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

“Thank you,” they all chimed. Luke made his way around to Caleb and pulled Erin in for a quick hug.

“It’s good to see you again, Erin.”

“Not as much as it is to see you, Luke. I’m sure Amy was the most thrilled.”

Caleb, Luke, and Erin, glanced over at Amy and Amy held her smile even though the light in her eyes dimmed a bit.

“I can only hope so,” Luke said.

He returned to her, wanting to be by her side at every moment. Sitting back against his chair, Luke tossed an arm across the back of Amy’s chair as Caleb and Erin took their seats.

“It’s good to be home,” Luke stated.

Caleb nodded in agreement. “You’ll hear no denial here, brother.” The men slapped hands again and Erin winked over at Amy with a smirk on her lips.

“I know we were supposed to have this dinner last night, but Erin never told me why you guys canceled. Is everything good between you two?” Caleb peered at them with suspicion.

“We’re good, aren’t we baby?” Luke said glancing over at Amy.

“Better than ever,” she confirmed.

Luke leaned in and kissed her on the cheek and Amy blushed.

“Well look at this shit,” Erin said.

“What?” Amy asked.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you blush a day in your life.”

“Oh, shut up. You’re exaggerating I did not blush.”

“And then she lies on top of that,” Erin added.

Amy rolled her eyes. “Whatever. We could talk about you and Caleb and how you guys have nearly disappeared from the public eye since you’ve gotten engaged,” Amy said flipping the conversation on Erin.

“Well played,” Erin said catching on.

Amy stuck her tongue out.

“That’s right, congratulations are in order,” Luke said. “Man, you moved fast didn’t you? How long have you been home?”

“Long enough,” Caleb responded.

They all laughed.

“When you know it’s right, there’s no need to wait.” Caleb looked at Erin. “We’ve done all the waiting that was necessary, for six years. I didn’t want to wait anymore.”

Luke nodded. “I truly understand you, brother, more than you’ll ever know.”

That statement sent a shockwave coursing through Amy. What was Luke implying? The excitement that waved through her made Amy nervous. She’d never been unsure about her future with Luke, but after the way they’d reunited, the uncertainty lingered, no matter how bad she tried to brush it off and look past the incident.

John reappeared with two Michelob’s, 2 margarita’s, and water with lemon. “Since you asked for the water,” John said. “I thought I’d bring it to you even though Amy disagrees.”

“Thank you,” Erin responded. “I appreciate that sincerely.” Erin eased the margarita that Amy was trying to force down her throat to Amy’s side of the table.

Amy held her hands out. “It’s time to celebrate, what gives?”

Erin glanced over at Caleb who held a conspiratorial gleam in his eyes. Caleb took his attention to Amy.

“We’re pregnant,” he said, his smile spreading so wide it was bright enough to light up a room.

“Oh my God!” Amy screamed. Her hands flew to her mouth and her eyes rose as big as saucers.

“Congrad-u-motherfucking-lations soldier!” Luke shouted. He removed himself from the chair and reproached Caleb. Accepting his salutations, Caleb also rose, and the two men slapped hands and hugged each other tightly.

Amy jumped from her chair so fast it tilted over and fell behind her. She squealed and ran around the table to swallow Erin up in her own friendly embrace.

“Oh my God, I’m so happy for you two! Why didn’t you tell me?”

Erin’s smile was enormous. “Well it’s the first time I’ve been able to bring it up.”

“What are you talking about? I was just at your house yesterday!”

Erin squinted. “I didn’t think that was exactly the right time to give our happy news.”

Amy’s smile dropped, and she smacked her own self on the forehead.

“Oh my God, Erin, I’m so sorry.”

“Why?”

“I was a complete bummer yesterday.”

Erin waved her off. “Oh, girl, that’s water under the bridge. I was too a complete bummer when Caleb returned, remember?”

Amy did remember, but that was beside the point.

“Now I’ll forgive you for not toasting with me,” Amy giggled and clung to Erin tighter. “I can’t believe this.” Tears misted over in Amy’s eyes.

“Are you crying?” Erin asked surprised.

Amy sniffled. “I’m just so happy for you two, seriously, you’ve been through so much.”

“Oh my God, Amy, you’re running a record today for things I’ve never seen in our 25 years of friendship. First blushing, now tears, who are you and what have you done with my best friend?”

Amy laughed as tears trickled from her face.

“You’re going to make me cry, stop that!” Erin chided.

“I can’t help it! I blame Luke and Caleb.”

The men turned from their conversation to peer over at Amy.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Amy went on, “before you two came back I was hard as hell, now I’m all mushy and stuff.”

Erin tossed her head back and laughed. Luke shook his head and Caleb chuckled. “Now, I need to go get myself together. I’m going to the bathroom.”

“I’ll go with you,” Erin added. Turning to glance at Luke and Caleb Erin said, “Are you two going to be alright by yourselves?”

Caleb strolled up to Erin and wrapped her from behind in his arms effectively pulling her from Amy. “I think we can manage,” he said rubbing his hand in a circular motion on her belly. A trail of heat passed through Erin and she turned her face to the side where she and Caleb kissed hotly.

Amy began fanning. “You guys are sizzling!”

Erin giggled, giving Caleb one last smooch before pulling out of his arms. Amy helped her out, grabbing Erin’s wrist to pull her along.

“I promise to take care of her!”

“You better,” Caleb retorted.

Amy’s smile widened, and her mouth dropped, then she tucked Erin’s arm underneath hers and the women sashayed off with the men staring after them hungrily.