With his fingers running through Katie’s blonde hair and a hand resting on his son’s ginger head, Brendan gazed tenderly at his wife. “Declan wanted me to let you all know he’s getting a baby sister in May.”
“You’re pregnant?” Kelly asked, her mouth hanging open.
Rubbing her still-flat tummy, Katie beamed. “I am.”
The news wasn’t altogether unexpected. It was common knowledge among them that they were ready for baby number two.
“Well, Declan, guess what?” Kelly exchanged a glance with Kodiak, and he nodded, while the two-year-old finger-painted with his sweet potatoes. “You’ll be getting a new baby cousin, too! I can’t tell you if it’s a boy or a girl, though. It’s going to be a surprise.”
Two more seats at the table. For sure, they were going to need that tent.
“Ohmigod, when are you due?”
“May fifteenth.”
“No way! So am I!” Katie embraced her aunt, giggling. “I’m convinced we made her at the Red Door party in August.”
And Kelly shot Brendan a side-eye. “Of course, you did.”
“Since we’re making announcements…” Clearing his throat, Dillon wrapped his arms around his little family. “Linn and I are taking Charlotte on a trip to Cabo San Lucas. We’re getting married on New Year’s Day.”
Out of sorrow, joy can grow, my friend. They both deserved all the happiness in the world.
Gina squeezed his hand.
Matt pressed a kiss to her cheek.
Yesterday, he thought they’d be sharing joyful news of their own.Soon, right?He glanced across the table at Kit. Knowing what he’d been through, the pain he still endured, Matt wanted him to feel worthy and loved. Because he was. And by him more than anyone.
“I drove past Mickey’s yesterday. Linn sent me to pick up the ham,” Sloan casually mentioned as he poured whiskey into a glass. “The building’s for sale.”
“If a developer gets their hands on it, they’ll just tear it down to build more overpriced condos.” Dillon would know. That’s what the Byrne cousins did. They bought stuff, made it beautiful again, and then sold it.
Glancing at all of them, Bo shook his head. “That would be a fucking shame.”
It would. Art déco in style, the old, rundown building held more than just sentimental value.
“They can’t do that to Mickey’s.” Kit stared blankly, and tipping back his bottle of beer, it looked as if a light bulb suddenly went off in his head. A smirk appeared. “We should buy it.”
“And do what with it, pray tell?” Glancing up at the ceiling, Taylor rolled his eyes. “Turn it into a shrine?”
“Yeah, why not?” Matt said with a half-shrug. “It’s not a bad idea.”
“Have you gone mad?”
“Nope.”Quite the contrary, in fact. “And before you get your knickers in a twist, hear me out. We gut the inside and get rid of the apartments upstairs. Nobody lives there anymore, anyway. The entire building becomes a club… a bar… whatever you want to call it. Picture an intimate venue where folks can have food, some drinks, and listen to live music from up-and-coming bands.”
“I can see it,” Sloan said, glancing at the Gothic stained-glass window, and grinned.
Gina leaned into his ear and giggled. “I think he’s already decorating in his head.”
Uh-oh.
“Mickey’s on steroids.” Bo high-fived Kit. “Yeah, man, I dig it.”
“Hold up. Before you get too excited, let me check the listing.” And Dillon held out his phone. “It’s still available. The asking price is reasonable, but I bet we can get it for less. If you’re serious, that is.”
“Are you sure you want to take on something like this right now?” Brendan’s bright blue eyes flicked between Taylor andMatt. Always looking out for them, he was wise to question his sanity. Perhaps he was mad. “You’ve got a record releasing in six months, and you’ll be touring all summer, at least.”
