Emma gave them both a big grin. “Mara told me you two were cute together,” she said, completely devoid of any tact, just like Ty and the rest of the family.
Zane seemed to struggle with that piece of news. “She did?”
“It’s not supposed to still be a secret, is it?” she asked worriedly. Ty shook his head. She rolled her eyes in relief. “That’s good, ’cause everyone knows.”
“Awesome,” Ty grunted. He’d known his extended family would all find out sooner rather than later because that was how his mother rolled, but it still caused butterflies. He winced at Emma. “Good or bad?”
“I’d say mostly good. Pretty much nobody gives a shit because they all expected you to be dead by thirty. Actually, Elliot won like three hundred bucks on a bet he made with Tag back in high school that you were gay, so Tag’s still kind of pissed at you.”
Ty barked a laugh.
Zane shrugged and smiled at Ty. “Hell, your opinion’s the only one that matters anyway.”
“Aw, that’s sweet,” Emma said as she looked Zane up and down. She glanced at Ty. “Yeah, they’re going to eat him alive.”
“I know,” Ty agreed with a long-suffering nod. “And seriously, where’s the rest of your dress?”
“Shut up, I’m flaunting it while I’ve got it.”
Nick sat in the chair next to Ty, holding a glass of champagne he’d been nursing. He put his feet up on the fire pit, setting them next to Zane’s. “Emma was telling us about what she does. I still haven’t decided if she’s messing with us or not.”
Emma laughed. “I’m not messing with you.”
Kelly repositioned the last stray chair next to Nick and sat down, and Emma perched on his knee for lack of anywhere else to sit. Ty narrowed his eyes at them.
“Emma has a degree in underwater archaeology,” Deuce provided.
“That sounds like it’d be interesting. What do you do with that?” Zane asked her.
“Not what most people do. I’m a member of a team of researchers who investigate cryptozoological anomalies, historical mysteries, and natural phenomenon.”
“Cryptozoological?” Zane repeated incredulously. “That’s . . . animals that aren’t scientifically recognized, right?”
“Like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster?” Livi asked.
Emma laughed. “Among others, yes.”
“Seriously?” Zane asked.
Emma laughed harder.
“I think it’s fucking cool, man,” Kelly said, peering through the darkness at Nick. Nick raised both eyebrows but chose to take another sip of champagne rather than comment.
“The team’s sort of on hiatus right now,” Emma admitted. “Marley, our camera specialist, came with me to film the wedding. We’re going to make a side trip and see if we can head over to Loch Ness after.”
Ty frowned. “Why are you on hiatus?”
Emma sighed. “Our expedition leader had a little disagreement with the producers of the show they’re trying to get off the ground, and then he went on strike. They’re trying to find someone to replace him so they won’t have to deal with him.”
“So you’re without a team leader?”
“Pretty much. And those are some weird resume requirements, know what I mean? Not only did he have the skills to keep us from getting maimed in the Amazon, but he also had the degrees to qualify as an expert in the fields of history and anthropology. He filled two posts despite being kind of an arrogant asshole. Then our medic went and got pregnant, so we’re down by three spots.”
“Kelly’s a medic,” Ty told her. “And Nick’s currently being a jobless bum, plus he knows everything about history there is to know. He could lead your expeditions.”
Nick grunted.
“Really? You were both Recon like Ty, right?”
Nick shook his head, but Kelly’s eyes lit up. “What kind of expeditions are we talking about?”
“The kind with really big snakes to poke,” Emma answered, glancing sideways at Nick.
They all laughed, and Nick shook his head harder.
“I’ve been getting a little restless where I am,” Kelly admitted. “I wouldn’t mind finding out more about this.”
Ty chuckled as Emma sank her teeth in and started talking up the open positions on her team. He could see Kelly fitting in with a bunch of adventuring whackos like Emma and her crew. Nick would go nuts, though.
Deuce brought the blunt out again, leaning forward to light it. He was able to take a long drag on it before Nick reached over the fire pit and plucked it out of his mouth.
Livi laughed. “You’re being oppressed by the Man.”