NYLON ~ 68 ~ TEAM HALEB
Hanna swirled the sparkling ring around her finger. She couldn't stop looking at it, not with what was on the agenda for that night. Caleb pulled up to the valet and handed over his keys before coming around to take Hanna's hand as they walked into the building.
"Do you think they're already here?" Hanna asked looking around for a large party.
"Back there!" Caleb pointed at the patio.
"Hey!" Spencer got up and gave her a hug. "Sit down."
"Thanks," Hanna took the seat next to her friend while Toby and Caleb engaged in their typical bro hug.
"So," Caleb smiled at them both, "how's little Victoria."
"She's definitely a Hastings," Toby teased.
"Hey!" Spencer playfully slapped him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"She's smart, duh," Toby said matter-of-factly.
"Are you tired?" Hanna asked them.
"All the time," Spencer sighed. "I don't know how you did it."
"My mom helped a lot," Hanna reminded her. "Maybe if you play your cards right, she can baby-sit for you on the regular."
"Well, we'll test her out next time," Spencer joked. "My parents have her tonight."
"Hey guys," Emily ran toward them with Paige in tow.
"Hi sweetie," Hanna gave her a hug, then she turned to Paige. "It's good to see you."
"You too," Paige hugged her.
"So," Emily took her seat, "where's Aria?"
"Late," Spencer replied, "as always."
"Who's always late?" Aria snuck up behind her.
"Kidding," Spencer assured her as Aria and Ezra took their seats.
"Okay," Emily raised her water glass, "can we toast to the new parents!"
They all clinked their glasses and erupted in cheers shortly before the waitress came to take their order. The food came out quickly and they spent the rest of the dinner making small talk and catching up on their lives. The bill came all too soon for them and Caleb extended an invitation to their home for a nightcap. Soon their living room was joyously crowded as Hanna passed out glasses of wine while Caleb uncorked the bottles.
"Okay," he said when all their glasses were filled, "Hanna and I may have had an ulterior motive for inviting everyone over."
"I knew it!" Spencer teased. "You just hijacked out celebratory parents' dinner."
"Shush!" Aria commanded causing Spencer's face to flush.
"Anyway," Hanna told them, "we thought you should all know that we're married."
"Married?" Aria asked.
"We did it a few months ago at the courthouse," she explained. "With everything else going on we wanted to keep it quiet."
"You kept it real quiet," Emily laughed. "You were only engaged for, like a minute."
"But they belong together," Paige said. Everyone in the room turned to her. "I mean, come on, we all know it."
"Who knew Paige was team Haleb!" Spencer laughed.
"Who here isn't?" Paige defended herself.
"Thanks," Hanna nudged her. Then she whispered. "So, you and Emily?"
"I'm here for moral support," Paige murmured. "We can talk about it when I see you next month."
"Deal," Hanna smiled.
The rest of the table joined in another chorus of toasts to all of their good fortune. Caleb placed his hand in Hanna's under the table and then flashed her a knowing smile.
"I love you," she mouthed.
"I love you, too," he echoed squeezing her hand.
She knew then that she was the happiest girl in the world and she was so lucky to have everything she could ever want. Now all she had to do was muster up the courage to help Caleb achieve his dream of a big family.
UP NEXT ~ CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
Hanna throws a party for JT when he turns two and Caleb takes it as a sign to persist with his ambition to convince Hanna that JT needs a sibling, or two.
