I pulled back. “Not now please, babe. We’ll talk soon, okay? But tonight we’re here to celebrate. Can you join us?”
Her eyes sparkled. “I’d love to.”
I did the introductions and followed Zara as she led us over to our table, chatting as we went. She told me the tattoo shop had been open for two weeks and that she loved her new job.
“How are things with you and Boot?” I asked her.
“Non-existent.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “I told him I wasn’t interested when I left the clubhouse.”
“Why?” I asked. “I always thought Boot was good to you.”
She looked at me warily. “Let’s just say he did something I thought was shitty, and it opened my eyes to a few things. I’ll tell you all about it one day, but you’re right; tonight’s not the night.”She pointed over at the best table in the place, center-front of the stage, and did a sweeping gesture with her hand. “Ta daa!”
“Oh my God!” Maeve exclaimed. “That table looksawesome!”
She was right; it did.
Metallic gold balloons and streamers covered the table, along with buckets filled with my favorite Armand de Brignac Champagne in the iconic gold bottles. My eyes flared slightly because I knew that even wholesale, those bottles cost around four hundred dollars each, and there were five of them in ice buckets, along with bottles of Grey Goose vodka and various mixers.
“Wow, Maeve got the VIP treatment,” I murmured, my gaze sliding to Zara. “Did you do this?”
“Roxanne and I set it up, but it wasn’t our idea.” She laughed at Kennedy, who let out a loudwhoopas she picked up a bottle of champagne and held it high in the air. “I hope you girls have a good night.”
“So do I,” I said absentmindedly, glancing around the club furtively.
“He’s in the office,” she told me softly. “He’ll probably be out later.”
My heart jumped into my throat, but I hid it with my nonchalant shrug. “Whatever.”
Zara smiled sadly at me. “If it’s any consolation, he misses you.”
“Thanks, babe, but at this point, it’s irrelevant.” I nodded to where the girls were getting settled and making themselves comfortable. “Let’s get a drink.”
We walked over to the table and grabbed a set each. “I’ve been trying to call you, but your number’s not working. Is everything okay?”
I plucked a bottle of champagne from a bucket and poured us both a glass. “I dumped it. I’ve got a new number now. I’ll give it to you before I go. I was going to call you anyway, but I went to Ireland and honestly just tried to switch off from everything. I only got back yesterday, and I spent the day at the salon today, so I haven’t had time to speak to anyone.”
She took the glass I held out for her. “I understand.”
“How’s Rox doing?” I asked.
“She’s doing great. Nox is furious that she won’t give him the time of day anymore.”
“Wow. Still?”
“You’ll find out all about it later, no doubt. Roxie’s dancing tonight. I know she wanted the night off, but she couldn’t afford to lose Saturday night tips. Her daughter wants to go on a school trip next summer to London, so Roxie’s trying to raise all the cash she can.” Her gaze lifted over my shoulder, and her eyes widened as she stared.
I craned my neck to see my brothers and the rest of the guys walking through the club toward another table that, incidentally, was clearly reserved but hadn’t been decorated like ours had. Still, a couple of waitresses were already there, placing fresh beers down ready for Callum and the boys.
“There’s the groom.” My eyes tracked Callum as he spotted Maeve and began to head over. “They all met at the bar for a drink first; that’s why they’re late.”
“They’re all so good-looking,” she breathed.
Tristan, who was sitting at the other side of me, gave her a pointed look and nodded. “Girl. You have no idea. Hambleton’s full of hotties. I think there’s something in the water that makes ’em big and strong because, going by the way all their kids are shaping up, it’s only gonna get more interesting.” He gave me a nudge. “Did you know Rosie moved back to town when you were in Ireland?”
I took a sip of champagne. “Donovan mentioned he’d seen her.”
“She’s looking fine,” Tristan crowed.
