“I’ll be right back.”
I order another bottle of champagne for us while she’s gone. Just as I think things are going smoothly, I catch Éabha heading for the bathrooms. Most would say this is a coincidence, but most don’t know my ex-wife. She’s after my bug. I can feel it in my bones.
Counting to thirty, I get up from the table, meeting Grimsby’s eyes as I discreetly follow Éabha.
As soon as I open the door, I catch her standing by the sink, speaking with Katie.
“Are you lost? This is the women’s bathroom, AJ.”
I make a show of glancing before flashing her a shit-eating grin. “I identify as a problem.”
Katie moves for the hand dryer, grinning in return. “I’ll be out now.”
“Take your time, bug.” I move from rocking back on my heels and opt to stand against the wall, noticing Éabhaglowering at me. “Do you need to go, or would you rather piss in the sink?”
“Aiden.” Katie rolls her eyes as she approaches me, looping her arm through mine.
“It’s a valid question, bug,” I respond with a smirk, causing Éabha to scoff and walk past us, muttering under her breath. “What did she want?”
Katie raises an eyebrow, glancing at Éabha’s retreating figure. “To warn me that you’re a walking red flag.” She slides her hands up my chest and around my neck. “But I already knew that,” she grins, pressing her lips against mine.
“Look who’s talking, Little Miss Slice n’ Dice.” I chuckle against her lips. “I better get out of here before I get us tossed out.” I exit the bathrooms, lingering outside until Katie emerges, her hand slipping into mine as we walk back to the table, our fingers intertwined.
Holding out the chair for her, I wait for my girl to get comfortable before I pull my chair closer to hers, our knees brushing against each other as we tuck into our meal.
The braised beef is so tender, I have no need for my knife. My wandering hand finds its way behind Katie’s back, my fingers skimming the warm skin where the low-cut fabric of her dress meets her bare back. Katie’s eyes meet mine, a mischievous glint dancing in them as she edges closer, whispering, “Behave yourself.”
“This is me behaving.” I kiss the side of her neck. Katie smiles at me, offering me a bite of her pasta. I take a mouthful. “Nope,” I say with a swallow. “Still not as good as you.” I capture her lips in a soft, lingering kiss, then move to pull her closer, knocking my unused knife from the table.
“Oops,” I mutter, breaking the kiss with a chuckle. Katielaughs and reaches down to pick it up, her hand brushing against mine.
When her head pokes back up, she all but falls off her seat when she spots me on one knee, holding a small velvet box. “Katie,” pulling the lid back to reveal the champagne diamond ring inside, “you’re my addiction, my unrelenting obsession, my soul mate.”
Katie’s hand covers her mouth in disbelief.
“Will you make me the happiest man alive and become my wife?”
Her breath catches in her throat as she nods vigorously, unable to form words through her tears. I slip the ring onto her finger, and she throws her arms around me, burying her face in my chest.
The room erupts in cheers and applause as our lips fuse in a soul-destroying kiss.
I catch Éabha’s baffled expression out of the corner of my eye, but I am too lost in the moment to care.
“Mmm, come here.” I grab her, snapping a picture to send to my mam and Robbie. My thumb barely comes away from the screen when the phone starts buzzing.
“That was quick,” Katie smirks, wiping away the tears staining her cheeks.
“It’s Keith.” My brow furrows, he never calls unless there is something seriously wrong. “Sorry, bug, I better get this,” I mutter, excusing myself from the table to take the call.
“This better be good,” I growl into the phone. Wait, are those sirens in the background?
“AJ!” He shouts, out of breath. “You need to get down here.”
“What the hell is going on?”
“There’s been an accident,” Keith says, his voice shaky. “It’s Robbie.”
33
