“Surprised you haven’t had a conniption by now,” Atlas returned. “Thought that weddin’ ring stranglin’ your finger would have given you a dose of the shakes at least.”
I shot him a cocky grin and shook my head. “I may be shaken,brother, but I’m not stirred.”
Roars of laughter went up, and I muttered, “Best weddingever.”
The Lucky Shamrock was packed to the rafters. I hadn’t seen this many people here since the night we reopened, all those months ago.
It was hard to believe that Rosie wasn’t in my life then, at least not physically. Still, she’d haunted me, mind, body, and soul, back when I was a bored, disillusioned soldier, looking for a way out of the darkness and into the light.
Rosie reached up and swiped at my mouth with her thumb. “You’re covered in my lipstick.”
I leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. “Don’t give a fuck.” I pulled back, my gaze sweeping down her short, beaded, low-cut, titty enhancing, sexy, wank-inducing wedding dress. “You look ripe for the plucking, Mrs. O’Shea.”
She made an ‘eek’ face. “That’s the first time I’ve been called Mrs. O’Shea. It’s scary as fuck.”
“Well, it’s too late to change your mind now.”
She giggled. “I’m not sure what we just did was legally a wedding, honey, butmeh. Whatever.”
We’d been married while sitting in the exact same positions we were now, by the mayor of Hambleton, about thirty minutes before. We had the appropriate state license, and Abe was ordained, but I wasn’t sure if saying ‘I do’ while sitting atop a bar was strictly legal.
Still, it suited us, and we had the certificate signed by Abe, so as far as we were concerned, we were man and wife. Neither ofus cared about a big ‘do’ as Mam called it, though I did tell Posy she could go the whole hog if that was what she wanted.
My woman replied that the cake a big, white wedding would cost us would be better spent on college educations, the mortgage, and new office space for her flourishing business.
Our wedding ended up costing us a grand total of four thousand bucks. DJ and I got new matching navy-blue Armani shirts. Rosie, Gabs, and Imogen got new dresses. The license cost us about a hundred bucks, and the flowers cost five hundred. Dischordium was playing later for free, and Callum and Maeve donated the booze as a wedding gift. The biggest expense was the catering, but we were in the throes of winter, so Mam, Iris, and Elise Stone had spent two days making huge catering vats full of Irish beef stew and enough soda bread to feed an army. The smells coming from the kitchen were making me salivate, and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in later.
Job done.
Mam sidled over, took a stool, and raised her fingers at Adam, who was working the bar while she shouted over the music, “Two double whiskeys and a Pornstar Martini, please, love.”
I deadpanned at Rosie, then turned to Mam. “Two? Doubles? And a cocktail? Are you trying to getlangered, woman?”
She whipped around and gave me a sharp slap upside my head.
I ducked and cried out, “What was that for?”
“It’s because you’re a cheeky bollocks.” Ma gestured in the direction of Adam, who was pouring the drinks. “One of them’s for you, isn’t it, you little fecker? And we all know our Rosie loves a Pornstar. Plus, we’re celebrating.” Her eyes softened on me. “Never thought I’d see the day, my beautiful boy.”
I shot Rosie a little wink and declared, “I knew three years ago.”
“Why three years ago?” my mother demanded. “What happened three years ago?”
I ducked my head, grinning. “Nothing.”
Ma looked toward the door and bit her lip nervously. “I can’t imagine where Aislynn’s got to. She said she had to work this morning but promised she’d make it in plenty of time. She’s not answering her cell, and nobody’s spoken to her. What if she’s had an accident?”
I leaned across to cover Ma’s hand. “She’ll be okay. Aislynn can look after herself. She’ll walk through the door any minute with a dead phone, covered in engine oil, and wanting to commit murder.”
Mam smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I know. It’s just bad enough that Tadhg couldn’t make it on account of his big race later, but I never expected your sister not to be here.”
I pulled Mam close. “It’s fine.” I swept an arm around the room. “Look, it’s the most informal wedding you’ve ever been to. I only proposed two weeks ago. We were married by the mayor in the family bar. Don’t sweat it. People can come and go as they please. It’s all good with us.”
Mam looked around and smiled to herself. “Everybody’s having a grand time. When you first told me what you wanted for today, I had my reservations, but everybody’s loving how informal it is. Atlas already has his top off. Look.”
The crowd parted to reveal Atlas standing to his full height, holding a bottle of Shamrock Ale in one hand with the other high up in the air. He was rolling his hips and shoulders to Nelly singing how it was getting hot in here, like some huge, hairy assed version of LL Cool J. His huge barrel-chest was bare (God only knew where his cut was), and he was down to his jeans and biker boots. The asshole was surrounded by Cara, Sunny, Gabby, Tristan, and Maeve (and her huge baby belly), who all ground onhim like he was some kind of R&B god and they were his video bitches, strutting around him, flicking their hair, and giggling.
“I need bleach for my eyes,” I muttered, turning to Rosie. “And I thoughtmyfamily were fuckin’ loo-lah.”
