I laughed nervously. “Nope. Legal. Signed. Witnessed. Kissed the groom.”
Gwen sat back, gobsmacked. “Orla. You married a man you’ve known for two months. You’re not pregnant, are you?”
“For fuck’s sake, Gwen. No.”
Kate finally dropped her hands, fixing me with her psychologist stare. “Walk us through it, patient zero. How the hell did you convince Tyler Reed to marry you?”
“It was his idea.” I shot back, offended by the assumption.
Their twin jaws dropped.
“Really?” Kate said.
“Yeah. After he got my name tattooed on him.” I replied, as if it were totally normal and casual.
Silence.
“Oh Jesus,” Gwen muttered, slumping back. “This keeps getting worse.”
Kate pinched the bridge of her nose, lips twitching like she wasn’t sure whether to laugh or stage an intervention. “Orla. This is… I don’t even know what this is.”
“I know it’s mad,” I said quickly. “But that photo the tabloids ran, the one that made it look like he was cheating? It was his sister-in-law. His brother was right there in the cab, cropped out of it. I spiralled. Wouldn’t even let him explain. He broke down my hotel door.”
“He WHAT?!” Gwen nearly spun off her seat.
“Word got round the tour fast about that one,” Kate muttered. “It wasn’t his finest moment.”
“No,” I admitted, “but that night he poured his heart out. Showed me a side of him nobody else gets to see. He was there for me when I saw Josh’s Instagram too, didn’t even flinch.”
Something in Gwen’s face softened at that, and she reached across to squeeze my hand, knowing how hurt I was that night.
“Yes, we were drunk,” I said. “Yes, it’s reckless and bonkers. But he’s honest. He’s brave. And I love him more than I thought I could.”
They just stared at me. My lip wobbled. “You both think I’m mental, don’t you?”
Kate’s grin finally cracked. “Babe, you’re talking to someone who got pregnant after two months, quit her job, and followed her racket slinging baby daddy across the world. You’re in excellent company.”
Gwen laughed, shaking her head at both of us. “Honestly? You’re nuts. Both of you. But, Orla, you’re happy. And I’ve never seen him like this. It only has to make sense to you and him.”
I sighed, my shoulders lowered from the relief of telling these two. My absolute lifelines.
“I love you, guys.” My throat caught as I pulled them both into a hug. They were both shaking their heads, but neither of them looked as worried as when they’d arrived anymore, just proud. Like I wasn’t alone in the madness despite how terrified I had been about telling people.
“And…look.”
I fished the perfect, emerald cut Tiffany ring from my pocket, sliding it onto my finger alongside the slim wedding band.
Kate’s jaw dropped. “Oh my Christ.”
“Jesus,” Gwen whispered. “He really isn’t playing around, is he?”
I shook my head, grinning like a fool.
“Your brother is going to hit the roof,” Gwen added.
I groaned, snapping out of my blissful newlywed bubble. “Don’t I bloody know it. I’ve basically been in witness protection at Tyler’s hotel suite since we got back.”
“He knows you’re back together right? Afterthatphoto?” Kate asked cautiously.
