“You’re always stressed. Always serious. Always hard. You weren’t like this before.”
“Yes, I was.”
“No,” she insisted. “You used to enjoy…everything. You used to come up with poems about your Milky Way before you ate it.”
“At sixteen, Penny.”
“Your life is all work! No more fun or the little things that used to make you so happy. You’re so focused on goals that you’re forgetting to enjoy the journey.”
“You sound like a self-help book.” There was nothing wrong with his life! He wasn’t to blame for growing up! “My life isn’t only work. I have a girlfriend and I go to pub quiz night with Cian and Connor once a week.”
“But only if they force you. And most of the time, you work while you're there. I asked them.”
“What the hell?!” First, Hazel ratted him out, and now his friends were stabbing him in the back? What a low blow. “My friends suck,” he said, stating the obvious.
“I did it out of love, Gareth, out of love!” a voice to his right stated, and Cian slid into the empty seat next to him. “Connor would agree, but he gets to sit in the front row because the bride’s sister is his girlfriend. Weddings are very hierarchical. Couples are heavily favored. I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up at the singles or kids’ table.”
“I’m not single,” Gareth said, exasperated.
“Oh yeah? I don’t see your girlfriend, so you’re single for this wedding.”
Gareth snorted. “Speaking of the kids’ table: Where’s Ada?”
“Where do you think?” Cian asked darkly. “Over by the goat! She’s currently fighting with another girl who claims the goat is hers because her aunt bought it for her. I told Ada she’s almost eight years older, so she should be the mature one between them and give the animal to her. But, apparently, I’ma dimwitted dad who doesn’t know anything.”
“That’s a smart daughter you have,” Gareth said contentedly. “She’s captured your essence.”
Cian gave him the middle finger before leaning toward Penny with a broad smile. “Hey, Penelope. Nice to see you. Your brother’s an idiot.”
Penny blushed, as did every woman whom Cian smiled at, whether they were taken or not. He and Connor were certain the Irishman had made a pact with the devil for boundless charm, patience, and emotional sensitivity…and then the devil had forgotten to ask for anything in return because Cian had been just too damn charming.
“I know,” Penny replied lightly. “I’ve spent the last five minutes explaining to him why he’s an idiot. But I could use a little help.”
Oh, dear God. It had to stop. “Penny, why don’t you go sit next to your beloved boyfriend? So you can enjoy the benefits of the hierarchy?”
“Because you haven’t handed me your phone yet, besides, Jack is…” She cleared her throat and looked away. “Getting treated.”
“What? Why?” He frowned. “The season hasn’t even started. How did he injure himself?”
His sister’s cheeks reddened. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Oh God.” Groaning, Gareth put a hand over his eyes.
“You asked!” Penny defended herself.
“I, for one, am thoroughly enjoying this conversation,” Cian said contentedly. “I also welcome the idea of taking Gareth’s phone away and forcing him to have more fun.”
Gareth wanted to change the subject. “Okay, that’s enough,” he said sharply, looking warningly at his friend and sister. “It’smylife, I can use my time as I see fit. I have more money than I can count. A job I obviously love. A loft I didn’t decorate myself — which is why it’s beautiful! And I have a girlfriend who is so damn near perfect, I’m probably going to propose to within the next few months, so…”
“Wait, what?” Penny blinked, perplexed. “You want to marry Lacey?”
“I’m thinking about it,” he growled. “I guess you have an opinion on that, too?”
She did. “Why? Why do you want to marry her?”
“Why not? It’s the next logical step.”
“You’ve only been together for six months.”
