Page 101 of On The Rocks

“Color theory at its best,” he said, giving me a satisfied nod. “I love your glasses, they’re sooo Zooey Deschanel in herNew Girlera, but I think for the party, we need to change it up.”

Layla walked to the coat rack, took a clothes hanger off it, and walked back toward us. “Don’t wrinkle it, Tristan. Here, I’ll hang it up, and we’ll keep it in the back storeroom. I assume you’re getting ready here with us tomorrow, Maeve.” She carefully hung the dress, ensuring it was secure on the clothes hanger, and I got a proper look at it at last.

“Yeah,” I whispered, unable to tear my gaze away from the beautiful satin-like material. “Do you think I can pull it off? It’s giving Disney Princess vibes.”

“SexyDisney Princess,” Tristan corrected. “And, of course you can pull it off. You’re our quintessential modern-day Cinderella.”

I burst out laughing. “Hardly.”

He leaned his hands on the back of my chair and dipped his chin, meeting my eyes in the mirror. “Our princess's beautiful mother passes away young. Check. Her guardian’s married to an evil cow, and she gets stuck with two wicked bitch stepsisters. Check and check. Evil cow and wicked bitches dress her in rags. Check.” He leaned his face toward mine and waggled his eyebrows. “One day, her hair genius Fairy Godfather waves his magic wand, gives her a keratin treatment, and helps her bring out the beauty she always had within. Check. Then, her FairyGodfather turns her rags into a beautiful princess dress using his magic color theory wheel. Check. The handsome playboy prince falls madly in love with her and is instantly reformed. Check. She lives happily ever after. Check, check, check.” A smug look washed over his face. “See? Cinder-fucking-rella.”

“As absolutely ridiculously cheesy as it is, Maeve, it’s totally giving Cinderella,” Cara agreed, flicking through her magazine.

“It so totally does,” Layla agreed.

“Not Cinderella,” Tristan argued. “Cinder-fucking-rella. Our princess has an edge.”

My lips tipped up. “Thanks!”

“I can’t wait for tomorrow.” He clapped his hands together excitedly. “Cruise is coming down with Pagan and Bootneck.”

My smile widened. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Meh.” He waved nonchalantly. “It’s casual. I think he’s more of a good-time boy than a long-time boy, but I’ll take it.”

“We thought that about Callum,” Cara pointed out. “But look at him now. All wifed up and from what I’m told, not hating it at all, so don’t write Cruise off just yet.”

I sat forward, nodding my agreement. “If Cruise sees what we see, you may find he wants more than just a good time.”

“Hmm. We’ll see,” Tristan murmured, not sounding at all convinced. Then, he leaned down to my eye level. “But in the meantime, let’s knock Callum’s socks off tomorrow. We’ll show him how our Cinder-fucking-rella has turned from a princess into a goddamnedqueen!”

I smiled, suddenly caught up in Tristan’s infectious excitement, and all my doubts from earlier suddenly melted away until I was left with one word floating through my mind.

Squee!

CHAPTER 21

CALLUM

Istudied myself in the full-length mirror, eyes sweeping from top to bottom.

Maeve had picked out my button-down shirt, and I had to say, it looked great. It was the same sage-green color as our new branding and, according to Tristan, would complement Maeve’s new dress perfectly.

I let out a quiet snort.

Who’d have thought just a few months ago I’d be dressing to match mywife?But here I was, doing just that and totally unbothered about it. I didn’t give one solitary fuck if I looked like an eejit. As long as Maeve was content, then I was, too.

The term happy wife, happy life, had never had any meaning to me before. I’d heard it, of course, but actually living it made me appreciate it all the more.

Maeve was happy; I could see it in the spring in her step, the way she smiled and laughed. I even saw it in the way she communicated with others. The happier she was, the happier it made me, which was strange, considering I never thought anything would bring me the same joy I felt when Da was alive.

Losing somebody so pivotal to my life was a blow I felt deeply—but there was joy in my life, too, albeit a different kind. It tooka while, and I wasn’t quite there yet, but I had light in my life in the form of Maeve.

Da may have left me a huge debt, but he also left me a legacy more important than money or my bar.

He left me her.

And for that, I’d always think of my aul fella with a smile and raise a glass.

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