I pitched my voice low as she poured the juice into the shot glasses far away from her dress. “You look beautiful. My brother is going to swallow his tongue.”
Her cheeks pinked up. “As long as he’s waiting at the end of the aisle.”
“Oh, he’s been ready for months.”
She huffed out a laugh. “If Sully had his way we would have eloped.”
“Nah, he likes the big family party. If he says anything different, he’s lying.”
“Thanks, Rip.”
“For what?”
“For going above and beyond.”
“I didn’t do anything. Everything looks amazing out there. Mercy is fussing with the cake to make it perfect. The flowers are flowering or whatever, and you look amazing.”
She sighed. “Look at you being charming and helpful.”
I laughed. “Full service, ma’am.”
“Parker told me about the cake.”
“We have it handled. Mercy is a pro. Everything else is gravy at this point.”
“I know it probably seems silly to you.”
I shook my head. “Not at all. The only worry you have is getting down that aisle to my brother. He’s dying to meet you under the stars.”
Her eyes shone. “Okay, now you’re getting mushy too?” She fanned her hand in front of her eyes. “Do not make me ruin this makeup.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
I ruffled Danny’s hair and handed him the shot glass with yellow juice, then held mine up. “Slàinte mhath. As my grand dad would say.”
Everyone said it back and we all took a shot.
“Ready to get this party started?”
Nora nodded, her eyes still shining.
For the first time in my life, I wondered what it would be like to have someone look at me like the way she did at Danny and Sully. All the happiness must be rubbing off on me or something.
Chapter 7
Mercy
I snuck awayfrom the dessert table when I heard the first strains of guitar from the band giving guests the high sign to get to their seats.
I grabbed my dress and makeup and booked it to the bathrooms behind catering. It wasn’t going to be the best look of the night, but at least I wouldn’t be slathered in icing and sugar during the actual nuptials.
The sock curls were easy enough to take out and I attacked the unruly waves with some detangler, hairspray, and a brush until my waist-length hair cooperated. I rarely wore it down, but the sock curl trick from TikTok actually saved me on more than one occasion.
I loved the retro look for my shop but rarely took a lot of care for myself. A red lip and a winged eyeliner was about the extent of my makeup.
It worked with the maxi dress. I swore as I looked down at my Chucks. Ahh well, if the only thing I actually screwed up was my shoes after this disastrous day, I’d count it as a win.
The scuffed white tips were the only thing that poked out from the long dress since I didn’t have my heels. I pulled outthe sparkly black knit shawl I’d bought from a holiday fair and draped it around my shoulders in deference to the cool night.
