“I have one final rule. Well, a request.”
She giggled. “Lay it on me.”
“Marry me.”
Dixie gasped and pulled back. She studied my face, her eyes instantly wet. “Are you for real?”
At whatever was in my expression, she laughed. “Of course I will.”
I hugged her. Held her close.
Mine, forever.
This rule, we’d never break.
Epilogue
Molly
The party wound down, the married couple long gone to bed to whoops and hollers, and the rest of the crew living it up almost until dawn. I was a night owl through and through, so the late hour didn’t bother me.
The extra cash for overtime hit just right.
Two women approached my bar, Cassie with Dixie. Both wore the same cautious expression. My stomach tightened.
Dixie gestured for me to come to the bar entrance, lifted from where I’d been collecting bottles and glasses from Divide’s dance floor. She leaned in. “I wanted to talk to you this evening.”
“Me, too.” Cassie sidled up with her. “To apologise, on my part.”
Heat rose to my cheeks. “There’s no need.”
“Naw, there is. I was a dumbass.” She jacked a thumb at Dixie. “I was so scared when Dixie’s name went public that I temporarily lost my mind. I jumped to a conclusion and it was wrong.”
My shoulders went down an inch. “I would never spill someone else’s secrets. I gave you my word and I meant it.”
Dixie smiled. “We know. It was a horrible experience all round.”
“And my fault that ye were brought into it.” Cassie stuck out a hand. “I’m sorry. Accept my apology?”
That tightness inside me unravelled. Badly, I wanted friends here. Despite the fact I should be keeping to myself. I hated being the island my sister said I had to be. Something she’d never failed at.
I shook Cassie’s hand.
Dixie took a turn next and pulled me into a hug. “If you’re finished, have a drink with us? Last one before Arran sends everyone home.”
Inside, I lit up. Found myself at a table with a cocktail, being introduced properly to a large group of men and women, some on the crew and others who worked the clubs.
Cuddled up next to her massive, terrifying boyfriend, Lovelyn eyed me. “You owe me a story. You said that once, Dixie gave you advice for handling an ex. I’ve been wondering about it ever since. Spill the details.”
Dixie laughed softly and arched an eyebrow at me.
I took a sip of my drink, rolling the glass between my palms. “Right, but it wasn’t exactly an ex, just some guy I’d been nice to in the course of my job. Don’t judge me. I was not at my finest.”
They begged me to continue.
“This man, a customer in another bar I worked at and an absolute walking red flag, wouldn’t take a hint. I’m cursed with enjoying chat, and he took this as meaning I was interested. He kept waiting for me outside and getting loud at any other customer who smiled at me. Weird, right?” But sadly far too common. “I told him straight, had the bouncer warn him, and even threatened to throw a pint over his head if he showed up at my work again. Did he stop? Nope. He kept hanging about, acting like we were a thing and I was being difficult.”
I glanced at Dixie who wore a pretty smile. “So I told Dixie in passing when I was delivering water to Divine’s dressing room.Right after I started here and was working between the two places. She considered it then told me that men like him only listen to one thing. The bark of a bigger dog. I thought she meant yell at him louder. No. She advised me to invent a new boyfriend. Not just any boyfriend. An unhinged one.”
