Chapter Forty-Three
Rowan
Today’s PT went exceptionally well, if I do say so myself.
Not only was I cleared to do warm ups with the team, but I was given the okay to drive again.
Bridget and I grabbed dinner together, where I learned that I’m officially old and cannot speak teenager, but was still a good time.
We ordered Alicia her favorite sushi roll and are going to surprise her at O’Nelly’s.
It’s a Tuesday night, so I know the pub will be slow. Sure enough, when we walk in, there’s not a soul in the place, not even behind the bar. I set the take-out on the shining surface and motion for Bridget to take a seat.
“Oy!” I holler out. “What’s a bloke gotta do to get some service in here?”
“Hold your horses, Gallagher!” The muffled voice of my leading lady calls from the kitchen.
Chuckling, I climb up onto the bar stool next to Bridget.
It’s been a while since I’ve been here, so I take a moment to look around.
The same mahogany surfaces gleam under the light from the sconces spaced throughout the pub.
The same tables, booths, and chairs are arranged just as they’ve always been.
Not much has changed since the first time I came here.
In fact, I think the only noticeable difference is the new register system.
Alicia finally made Paddy replace the ancient cash register with a touch screen and tap-to-pay.
The aul man grumbled about it for a while, but eventually came around to the idea.
He still makes her handle the majority of card payments though.
The doors leading to the back swing open and out comes Alicia. The first thing I notice is how splotchy the skin on her face is and how red and swollen her eyes are. I’m immediately out of my seat and rounding the bar, cupping her cheeks in my hands.
“A chéadsearc, what’s wrong?” My eyes dart between both of hers frantically.
Her fingers wrap around my wrists and she grins widely, joy lighting up her face. “I have something to tell you.” Her eyes flicker over to where Bridget is sitting, watching us with a worried expression. “B, hi! I’m so glad you’re here!”
Alicia releases my wrists and pulls from my grasp, making her way toward her sister. She crashes into Bridget, almost knocking her from the stool.
“What the…?” Bridget gasps. “Are you drunk, Li?”
“No!” She laughs, stepping back. “I just am so happy that I get to share this news with two of my favorite people.”
Joining them, I lean against the bar and fold my arms over my chest. “Well don’t keep us waiting, hen.”
Glancing back and forth between me and her sister, she covers her mouth with both hands and her eyes fill with tears. “Paddy is giving me the pub!”
“What?!” We both blurt out.
Alicia giggles and nods her head rapidly. “He’s marrying Sondra and retiring and said he’s handing the pub over to me.”
I stare in shock. There is so much to process in that one sentence. “Stall the ball,” I say, unfolding my hands and raking my fingers through my hair. “He’s retiring?”
“He’s getting married?” Bridget asks, equally as shocked.
After Alicia fills us in on the entire conversation she had with Paddy, I pull her into my arms, kissing her temple. “Ah, love, that’s incredible! You deserve it.”
“That’s what I told her,” Paddy says, stepping around the bar, hands stuffed into his pockets.
“Ach, Paddy! Congrats, aul man! Sondra’s a lucky lass,” I tell him with a wink.
“Nah,” he says, shaking his head. “‘Tis I that’s the lucky one.”
“Aye, you’re probably right about that,” I tease, stepping toward him and extending a hand. When he grasps it, I pull him in for a hug. “When’s the big day?”
“Sooner rather than later, I hope! I’m anxious to start this new chapter with my bride.” He pulls back from the embrace. “You’ll understand soon enough, lad.”
Glancing over at Alicia, I see her cheeks flush. The term blushing bride flashes in my mind and I think Pat might be right.
“Happy for you,” I tell him sincerely. “And as for the pub, I don’t think you could have chosen a better replacement.”
“Aye, I don’t think so either. She’ll do great things.” He claps me on the shoulder. “And I’m glad she has you to support her along the way. I knew once you got your wild ways out of your system, you’d be exactly what she needed.”
“It’s more like she’s what I needed to pull my head out of my arse,” I admit.
Paddy laughs, squeezing my shoulder. “Well, you may not be too far off on that one, lad.”
* * *
Sondra and Pat decided to have a small ceremony at Airlie Gardens just two short weeks after getting engaged.
The crowd was small. The Kennedys, Teagan and Layla, Isaac, and Bridget, Alicia, and I.
After the officiant announced them as husband and wife, Pat dipped his bride and kissed her soundly.
The fellas and I made enough noise to properly embarrass him, while our lasses blotted at their eyes.
Afterwards, we convinced the newlyweds to come back to the pub, where Alicia and the girls set up a small reception.
They had food catered in from the restaurant where Pat and Sondra had their first date and a miniature wedding cake from a local bakery.
When the meal had been cleared, we pushed the tables and chairs out of the way to make room for a dance floor.
I’ve been waiting for this all day. Even though they insisted it was casual, we all dressed to the nines.
When Alicia walked out of our bedroom wearing the dress she wore to Eamon and Norah’s wedding, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor and remind myself that Bridget was in the room.
It’s been bleedin’ torture keeping my hands to myself… or at least, keeping them appropriate.
But now I have an acceptable reason to put my hands on her as I pull her to the dance floor. She loops her arms around my neck as I settle my palms on her lower back, right above the curve of her arse. The back of the dress sits so low, I can slip my fingertips just underneath the fabric.
“Don’t get handsy,” she murmurs, pressing herself into me.
I brush a kiss to her cheek. “Can’t help it. I fucking love this dress.”
“I know,” she sighs happily. “That’s why I wore it.”
“Tease.”
Alicia laughs softly and lays her head against my chest.
“It looks fantastic in here,” I compliment her as I take in the simple, yet elegant decorations strung about. “You did a great job putting this together, love.”
Paddy hasn’t officially signed the pub over to Alicia yet, but he’s slowly been pulling back from running the joint so that she can get a feel for what it’s like without him. As happy as we all are for him, not seeing him regularly will be different, for sure.
“Thanks, baby,” she murmurs. “I’m going to miss him.”
“Aye, me too.”
We continue to sway to the music in silence, oblivious to everyone else around us.
It feels like it’s been ages since I was able to just hold her, and I’ve missed it.
She’s been working more hours, and I’ve started traveling to Charlotte for training with the team.
While I haven’t been given the go ahead to play yet, I still need to practice with them.
Getting used to this new routine has been harder than I thought it would be.
Waking up with Alicia every morning and going to bed with her at night is my new favorite pastime.
Seeing Bridget when she gets home from school is a close second.
Even hanging out with Lou during the day has been enjoyable.
He won’t do it while Alicia is home, but when it’s just the two of us, the wanker curls up on my chest and falls asleep.
If not for the pictures and videos I’ve taken, my girls would never believe it.
I squeeze Alicia a little tighter, and she pulls back to look at me questioningly. Reluctantly moving a hand from her back, I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear then lay my palm on the side of her neck.
“I love you.”
Her eyes soften and cheeks darken slightly. “I love you, too.”
* * *
Paddy and Sondra left the party a couple of hours ago, and the rest of us are sitting around drinking and picking at the leftover food and cake.
We’ve spent the evening reminiscing about the early days at UNCW and Paddy’s, recounting the drinking contest that introduced Eamon and Norah, then the other drinking contest that led to us modeling Norah’s costume designs for a drag show.
She may seem meek and mild, but she earned the nickname Fire Sprite for a reason.
Teagan and Layla had a great time reminding me of the time I broke up their almost first kiss outside of the UNCW library.
What they don’t know is that I had been observing them for a while and could see the sexual tension building.
Had I not intervened, they likely would have fucked against the brick wall in front of the entire student body. I did them a favor, really.
Eventually, the conversation dies down and the lasses start yawning.
They all offer to help clean up, but I assure them we’ll be good.
Eamon and Norah offer to take Bridget home since she’s basically dead on her feet.
Once they’ve all gone, I double check that the front door is locked before turning to see Alicia placing some empty crates on the floor by the bar.
She takes the top one and begins filling it with the decorations adorning the bar’s facade.
That fucking dress is hugging her body and I’ve had just about enough of that, so I step into her, pressing my chest to her back and taking the crate from her hands.
I set it on the table closest to us then return, sliding my arms around her waist. She relaxes into me, folding her arms over mine as her arse rubs right up against my stiffening cock.
“Mmm, someone feeling needy?” She purrs, dropping her head back onto my chest.