‘I’m still with Jack,’ Maeve said, laughing and pointing.
Tim seemed to finally register the people making fools of themselves on stage and his jaw dropped. ‘That’s… that’s Declan King.’
The awe in his voice wasn’t unusual; Declan still seemed to have that effect on the straight male population.
‘Indeed,’ Oliver said wryly, catching Declan’s gaze from across the bar and raising his glass. Declan’s grin was wide and open. Oliver felt very warm all of a sudden, and he couldn’t solely blame the alcohol. Jack belted out the final words of the song, and the two stumbled off the stage.
‘Oh God, he’s coming over here,’ Tim said.
‘He’d probably take a picture if you’d like,’ Maeve said. Oliver shot her a warning look.
‘Made a new friend, have we?’ Jack asked, sidling up to her and taking a sip of her drink.
‘He’s a fan of the show,’ Maeve said, eyes crinkled with amusement. ‘He thinks Oliver and I were the best couple.’
‘Er,’ Tim flushed and stammered out, ‘I mean… you two seem great too.’
‘Good enough to win,’ Declan said, throwing a mock punch at Jack.
Tim seemed at a loss for words, staring at Declan unblinkingly. But Declan was too far gone to notice, wrapping a hand around Oliver’s waist and tucking into his side.
‘You have a fan,’ Oliver murmured in his ear. Declan turned to the man with his real smile still in place, reaching out his hand.
‘Hi, I’m Declan.’
Tim blinked at Declan’s hand for a moment before shaking it. ‘I love you.’
From the look of terror on his face, Oliver guessed that wasn’t what he’d meant to say.
‘I mean you, and your brother. And your father, really. Great family. Really great.’ Tim squeezed his eyes shut as if willing himself to stop talking. Oliver traded amused looks with Jack. ‘The best,’ he finished lamely.
‘Thank you,’ Declan said, graciously ignoring the awkwardness. ‘Aaron is having an amazing year. Couldn’t be prouder of him.’
‘I bet.’ Tim swallowed nervously; there was a beat where no one said anything. ‘Well, um, good to meet you. I don’t want to take up any more of your time.’ To Maeve, he said, ‘Thanks for the photo.’
She raised her glass to him as he walked away.
‘God,’ Jack said, ‘that was next level. Do you get that all the time?’
‘Only sometimes,’ Declan said, nuzzling his face into Oliver’s neck, his breath smelling faintly of tequila. Instead of being disgusted, Oliver found it oddly endearing.
‘I’d like it to be known that I was actually recognised first,’ Maeve said, pouting. ‘I’m much more famous than Declan.’
‘Of course you are, sweetheart,’ Jack said, kissing the side of her head before looking around. ‘Hey, where did Holls and Owen go?’
Oliver grimaced. ‘I think they went to the bathroom… together… rather a bit ago.’ Holly and Owen had been all over each other at their table, so he was grateful they’d chosen to take their canoodling to a slightly more private area.
Declan’s hand came to rest on Oliver’s hip. ‘Being much more civilised, I think we’ll go back to the hotel now.’
Maeve resumed her pointing, this time at both Declan and Oliver. ‘Make sure to set your alarm before you get too distracted. The engagement party starts in…’ She checked her watch and shuddered. ‘Seven hours, for some ungodly reason.’
Jack rolled his eyes. ‘It’s the exact time of day Niall and Stella laid eyes on one another during the hit TV showSummer of Love. The producers assured them they’d be the perfect match…’
‘And, somehow, they were right for once,’ Oliver finished, grabbing Declan’s hand and squeezing it. He saluted Maeve and Jack with his unoccupied hand. ‘We’ll see you at 10:13 on the dot.’
‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ Declan said, putting a hand on his heart. ‘Unless Oliver doesn’t wake me and force me to go, in which case I’ll probably miss it. But, y’know, I’ll see you around.’
Oliver pulled him outside the karaoke bar and into the brisk night with a wave to the others.
