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“Thank you,” her pout transformed into a grin. “And where are we going anyway?”

“It’s a surprise, but I need you to be open minded. It’s not your usual dinner spot, but they do have some mean ass wings.”

“Say no more, wings are the way to my heart.”

They continued to make small talk until they reached their destination. Peeking out of the window, Danica scrunched her nose at the sight of the small, tattered building.

“This is where we’re going?”

“Don’t let the outside fool you,” Tucker said, opening the door to let her out. “There’s more to her than she looks.”

Shrugging, Danica accepted his hand, allowing him to lead her to the door.

Letty’swas a hole in the wall bar, and neighborhood staple. He pushed inside, and Danica was surprised to see a majority of Tucker’s squad lying in wait for their arrival.

“Heyyyy,” Charlie cheered, throwing his hands into the air. “There she is! Congratulations, girl.”

“Tucker,” Danica looked up at him.

“What can I say?” He shrugged nonchalantly, shooting her a wink. “They wanted to celebrate too.”

“Hey,” a beautiful, dark skinned woman approached her with a beer in hand. “We haven’t officially met yet, but I’m Olivia Allison. Most of the crew just calls me Allie.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Danica smiled warmly. “I’m Danica.”

“Mind if I call you Dani?” Allie smiled.

“Not at all.”

“Come on, let’s go grab a beer.”

Tucker’s eyes were glued to Danica as Allie whisked her away to the bar. He was already infatuated with her and intrigued by damn near every move she made. Her settling in with his crew as well as she did only drew her to him even more.

From the way her eyes twinkled as she conversed with Wade and Allie with ease, and the genuine smile that appeared on her face every now and again, Danica had him slowly falling for her more and more with each passing second.

Taking a seat at the end of the bar, Tucker was waiting for the bartender when a body slid into the stool next to his.

“I remember her,” Cecilia announced, taking a swig of the beer in her hands.

“Do you?” He grunted, wondering where she was going with that information.

“Accident victim, right? Around Christmas a couple of years ago?”

“That would be correct.”

Letting out a humorless chuckle, Cecilia tapped her knuckles against the bar. “I remember only because back then you seemed so infatuated with her for a moment, even though you were with Moe at the time.”

He didn’t respond. Tucker carefully studied her body language, realizing that she was upset for some reason or another. He hadn’t broached the subject, since nothing came out of the interest Cecilia had been showing in him, at least not on his end. But the direction their conversation seemed to be heading in made him feel like he needed to nip whatever it was she was thinking in the bud.

“Cece,” he began, clearing his throat. “You and I, you know that can’t and won’t happen, right? Don’t get me wrong, you’re a good girl, but-”

“I get it, Tuck,” she interrupted with a shake of her head. “It was stupid for me to press the issue, and I know it. I was just feeling some type of way over something else and--I don’t know.” For a moment, Tucker thought she was about to open up to him, but she didn’t. “Anyway, just forget it.”

Climbing out of her seat, Cecilia downed the rest of her beer and threw a couple of bills on the bar before walking out. There was something off with her, he could feel it, but it wasn’t his job to babysit a grown woman and force her to talk about her feelings.

They were a team, so if and whenever she decided to open up to him about it, then he would be there to lend a listening ear. Until then, Cecilia would have to deal with her own demons and whatever she had going on with Will on her own.

“Hey, Tuck,” the bartender called. “You want your usual?”

“You know it,” he confirmed, reaching for his wallet. “Let me get two, and a large order of the house wings and fries.”

“Got it,” she nodded, handing him the beers. “Food should be out in twenty.”

Nodding, he handed her the bills and left his seat to find Danica. Walking up behind her, he placed a gentle kiss against her temple. “You good?”

“Yeah,” Danica assured him with a smile. “I’m great.”

“You sure? If you’re not feeling this, then we can still go out for dinner.”

“This is perfect,” she winked before returning to her conversation.

You’re perfect, Tucker thought silently, thankful that after years of suffering, he was finally on the recovery road to peace.