ONE
“O’DONNELLYS ASSEMBLE!”
Star’s hundred-decibel shout had me rubbing my temples. Both of them. Simultaneously. “For fuck’s sake.”
A malicious gleam appeared in her eyes. “Late night?”
I ignored her and, instead, watched as the mass of women and children’s heads turned to face my former BFF.
I swore—if she weren’t so handy with a knife, I’d make her regret that whistle.
Of course, the mischief I literally made tumbled into my lap, her inquisitive eyes—Aidan’s eyes—switching between her aunt and me. Her little, pointy elbows and knees didn’t give a damn that they dug into soft, squishy bits as she plunked herself into a prime spot for the gossip.
Nosy.
Third totally inherited that from me.
As I hugged her to me, enjoying the faint traces of baby powder and milk, I refused to cry. Because if I did, it scared her, and I never wanted her to be scared.
Plus, there was no need to cry.
So what if Aidan had frozen me out last night?! Just because he’d never done that before, ever, well, so. What?!
Grabbing Cameron’s hands before he could snag another cinnamon roll, Aela blew out a puff of hair that clung to her brow. “What’s going on, Star? I told you not to do that. It drives me insane. Also, we’re not dogs.”
“That’s what she said,” Star chirped. “Anyway, I have good news.”
Eyes wide, Aoife sank back into the armchair. “No way. You did it?”
Star smirked. “I did. Just call me God. Miracle maker par excellence.”
“In your dreams.” I hooted. “Your ego is plenty big enough.”
“Did what?” Camille inserted, dragging Jake onto her lap, preventing a head-on collision with a tea tray.“What miracles did you make happen?”
“I managed toconvinceConor that Lena needs a break over the holidays. She and Paddy are going on a martyrs’ honeymoon.”
I took a deep sip of coffee. “Do I even want to know what that means?”
Inessa gawked at Star. “They’re married?”
“Nope. But you just watch her come back with a ring on her finger.”
While Inessa’s nose scrunched, I chuckled more at Star’s glare. “Her review on your stuffing still stings, huh?Allthese years later. How precious.”
“Fucking bitch thinks she knows everything,” Star muttered in an aside.
“I heard that,” Kat sang, then waggled her fingers in front of her mother. “Swear jar. You promised.”
“She used two curse words.”
Kat beamed at me. “Thanks, Aunty S!”
“You’re welcome, honey.” Pressing my cheek to Aidan’s, I sank back in my own armchair as Star coughed up twenty bucks. “Jesus, that’s how much two curse words cost nowadays?”
“You don’t want to know what the tooth fairy charges.” Aoife’s gaze turned concerned. “Are you okay, Savvie? You look a little…”
“Like dogshit?”
