Jay looks over to Erin as they walk side by side on the sidewalk. She looks stunning in her just above the knee figure hugging back dress and heals.
"What am I doing?" Erin asks.
"Going to your high school reunion with your charming, stinking rich Fiancé." Jay jokes.
Erin glare at him. "No what am I doing falling into this trap again. Laying about my life to these girls?" Erin abruptly stops walking. "I should've just told Stephanie that I would not be attending this stupid thing. But I knew that I would be the centre of the gossip again."
"Erin take a breath." Jay says touching her elbow. "We got this. Just like undercover."
Erin laughs. "I'm not nervous undercover. I am around them I'll never be able to keep my lies straight once they start asking questions."
"So, let's maybe just lie about the status of our relationship. Keep the rest as close to the truth as possible."
Erin nods. "So, we tell them the truth you are a ranger turn cop and we met on the job. Being partners and all."
"Yes, we just need to figure out the engagement thing. Since I can't take you to a tropical island on a Chicago cop's salary."
"How about we keep it simple."
Jay nods and take the ring box out of his pants pocket. He opens the box and hand his mother's engagement ring to Erin. "What's this?"
"It was my mother's. I grabbed it from the safe on my way to you. I figured we will have less questions if you actually were a ring."
"It is beautiful Jay. But I can't wear it." Erin says holding the ring out to Jay again.
Jay takes the ring from her but grab her left hand before she can move back and slip the ring on her finger. "Well, I am your house husband anyway. You may as well be my fiancé for the night."
Erin looks down at her left hand before she takes a step closer and kiss Jay on the cheek. "Thank you" She whispers.
As the partners enter the building Jay takes Erin's hand in his. "This is why you have back up." He smiles his million-dollar smile. Erin laughs but her laughter dries up the moment she hears Stephanie. "Erin, so glad you could make it. I was wondering if you would show up." Stephanie turns her attention to Jay. "And who do we have here."
"Stephanie, nice to see you again. This is Jay my fiancé." Erin greets.
Jay holds out his right hand to her while tugging Erin closer with his left-hand fingers still intwined with hers. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you two. Wow Erin how did you capture him?"
"It must have been my bubble personality." Jay can see Erin is irritated.
"Let's go get something to drink baby. It's been a long day." Jay says as he guides Erin towards the bar with his hand on the small of her back.
Couple of minutes later Erin and Jay is surrounded by her old school friends or rather enemies. Erin sits om the barstool beer in hand with Jay standing next to her his one hand resting om the back of her stool and the other holding his own beer. "I don't know how you can drink that stuff, Erin. It tastes horrible and it's such a man's drink." Bethany openly tries to make Erin feel insecure for not drinking a girly umbrella drink.
Before Erin can respond Jay jumps to her defence. "It's okay Bethany, not everyone can have good taste like my girl Erin here." He looks down to see Erin smile before taking a sip of his own beer.
"So, Jay, Erin tells us she is a cop now. I never would've thought. I thought she would have been running from them." Stephanie interjects.
"She's not just a cop. She's a dame fine detective in one of Chicago's most elite units."
"Is that so? Isn't it hard on you and your relationship having Erin in danger everyday and surrounded by testosterone filled men all day every day. I just would not be able to deal with the hours." Bethany complains.
"Our unit is like a family and my partner always has my back." Erin answers.
"Is your partner also a woman?" Jessica askes for the first time.
"No, I am the only female in the unit. But I am lucky my Partner is a smart mouth, boyish charm, kind and dame handsome guy who really wants to play scrabble with me." Erin looks up at Jay and then adds. "I think he would probably be dame near impossible to beat at scrabble." A light blush creeps up on Jays face as Erin stands and pulls him to the dance floor. Leaving the others bewildered.
On the dance floor Erin is in Jays arms slow dancing when she says. "You know I meant every word I just told them about you."
Jay does not respond in words but rather tighten his grip on Erin, pulls her closer and kiss her temple.
At the table having dinner, the conversation has turned to the different groups at high school.
"I bet you were a jock, Jay. Am I right?" Stephanie asks.
"No that would have been my older brother Will. I was the skinny kid and the only reason I did not get snuffed down a toilette everyday was because of Will."
"You sure don't look like the skinny kid now." Bethany beams.
"Police academy builds muscle." Erin answers. "Well in your case it was probably more ranger school."
"Probably." Jay agrees smiling at Erin.
"Wow, Jay a ranger? I just love a man in military uniform I bet you could get any girl you want." Bethany is either really dumb or trying to get under Erin's skin. Jay realises this and turn to Erin to see if she is holding up, she seems to but perhaps a little brake from these nosy women will be good. "Does not matter there is only one bad ass girl I want." He says as he stands and hold out his hand to Erin.
Out on the balcony Jay is leaning with his forearms on the railing looking out on the city when he feels Erin staring at him. "What?"
"Nothing I am just imagining you in your military uniform."
"Why?" Jay asks surprised.
"I just realised I've only ever seen you in your Blues or PD dress uniform. I have no idea what you looked like as a soldier."
"Dusty and sweaty." Jay says as he bumps her with his shoulder to hers. Erin laughs but continue. "I bet you looked pretty hot."
"I bet you would've wanted to play scrabble."
"I bet your right."
There is a moment of silence before Jay speaks again. "Ready to go back in. Desert is probably being served."