The Jump

18 A Night to Remember - Part 2

Once Raif closed the sliding glass door behind Lucinda, he turned his attention to the very man that had his blood pressure rising. Flexing his fists and taking a calming breath, he looked Tanner dead in the eyes.

"Leave Lucinda alone. She is my girl." He pointed into his chest. "Mine. So back off."

Tanner smirked. "You're such a caveman. She's not a piece of property and last time I checked, one night stands are more your speed. Lucinda is a classy woman and she deserves someone with a little more... class."

"Oh and let me guess, you think she'd be better off with you? Oh please!" Raif scoffed. "You just like competing for shiny new things you can brag about. This isn't really about Lucinda. This is about you trying to beat me at something. Well guess what?" he said as he tapped Tanner's temple. "You're the only one competing in that contest going on inside of your sick head."

Tanner practically snarled as he snatched Raif's fingers, but as the sliding glass door slid open with a bang, the two of them spun to see what the commotion was about. A nervous looking Loris was rubbing his hands together and approaching them in quick, long strides.

"Is everything ok here?" He cleared his throat as his expression took on more of an annoyed appearance. As he looked from Raif to Tanner, he added, "Not going to ruin the most important night of my life, are you?"

"No," both men said at the same time.

"Good!" He nodded in one stern motion. "Cause if you ruin this night for Annie, I swear I'll chop each of your balls off with razor blades... rusty and dull, razor blades."

Raif reached out and squeezed Loris's shoulder assuringly. "I wouldn't dream of ruining this for you. I promise. I just needed to set Tanner straight on Lucinda being my girl."

Tanner rolled his eyes with a snort, but Loris glared at him, causing him to straighten his posture. "Sorry Loris," he apologized. "But you know how I feel about the situation."

Loris brought his hands to his temples and sucked in an agitated breath. "Do you think that for one night, the two of you can bring your chest banging to a halt? Then after tonight, the two of you can wrestle to the death over Lucinda's heart, or do whatever you damn well please!"

"Not a problem," Raif replied. "Like I said, I don't want to ruin this night for you."

"Good. Thanks mate." Loris smiled and then shifted his attention to Tanner. "And you?"

"I can bite my tongue for one night."

Loris raised his brow at him. "Don't forget that you're in Raif's home and you're only here because I asked for you to be invited. So please don't make me regret it?"

"You're right." Tanner nodded and ran a hand through his hair. "I apologize, Raif. I shouldn't be disrespectful in your home and especially not on a night like this..." Taking a deep, humbling breath, he added, "despite disagreeing with you, in regards to Lucinda, I'll behave cordially for the rest of the night. For Loris and Annie's sake."

"Good, good." Loris nodded with a smile spreading wider over his face. "Now let's head outside so I can start the rest of my life with the most incredible woman I've ever known."

As the night went on, everyone finished their appetizers and then gathered around the table to feast on dinner. Despite any awkwardness between Raif and Tanner, everyone chatted amicably over their garden salads, while taking sips of their cocktails. Cocktails which a few of them were guzzling without concern for the headaches they might bring them in the morning. As they moved onto the main course, Emma served up heaping bowls of cioppino to everyone. Soon the atmosphere filled with the sounds of cracking and snapping from the shellfish being devoured. Merrill also began talking about the fishing he was looking forward to doing once he got back to Redwood Village. He offered to cook Bass for anyone that visited, which Hector and Emma eagerly accepted.