“You having fun, yeah?”
“What can I say?It’s too easy to take the piss out of you.”
Nick shakes his head and drains his glass.
“You nervous too?”I ask.
“Me?Why should I?”
“Is the rope getting tighter around your neck?”
“Fuck you.”
“Well, I thought you’d be the first after that big public proposal.What are you waiting for?”
Nick and Casey got engaged a few months ago.
“I didn’t think there was such a rush, and I didn’t think anyone would beat me to it.”
“Taken away from you, huh?”
“You can see that my brother couldn’t bear the idea that, for once, I was the favourite son.”
“After all, what does it change?Eventually, it’ll be your turn.Or are you afraid she might reconsider in the meantime?”
“A piece of paper doesn’t change how I feel about her, or how she feels about me.”
“True.”
“And we’re in no hurry.It will happen soon.As soon as my family has recovered from this euphoria.”
I put down my glass.“I’m going to do my duty.”
“It’s about time.”
“Unless she had second thoughts and climbed out of the window.”
“Don’t joke about that, Jamie.My family couldn’t handle another runaway bride.”
Despite the delicate situation, I smile.An O’Connor being left at the altar isn’t new.
We head back to the groom, who is so pale that I think he is about to collapse on the grass.
“Be nice,” Nick says between his teeth before joining Ian and Ryan.
“How is it going?”he asks his brother.
“We’re almost half an hour late.”
“Well, that’s normal, isn’t it?Brides are always late,” Nick comments.
“Not quite all…” Ryan mutters, taking an elbow from Nick.
“What did I say?”he complains.
“Don’t be a dick,” Nick retorts.
Having confirmed that the three brothers are in their public-display-of-affection phase, I leave them and head to the main hotel building, where the ceremony is taking place.In the lobby, I find Mr and Mrs O’Connor.
