Page 24

Twenty-Four

NAT

“Oh you know what, I heard there was a, um…big drug ring operating out of that neighborhood, actually,” Hattie says about another rental I’d found. I would rather just buy something, but I’m short on time, so I figure I’ll grab a rental for a few months and then really figure everything out. Dad hasn’t given me a date certain to be out by or anything, but I want to get this done and over with. In fact, we haven’t spoken at all. I guess when I move out I’ll just have the keys delivered to his office via courier and that’ll be that. My whole relationship with my dad down to a stranger delivering keys. I try not to think about that too hard or I’ll start crying and maybe never stop. Despite everything, he’s my fucking dad . I don’t what this to be how we end up.

I narrow my eyes at her. She seems to be trying to find things wrong with every single listing I’ve shown her and I don’t really understand why. I think maybe she’s trying to protect me, like if she stalls me long enough, I’ll change my mind and try to work things out with my dad and not have to leave this house that she knows holds such a big place in my heart. I love her for it, but I’m not going back. My decision has been made. I’ve had a few really good cries about it and I’ve come to realize that a house is just a house. It’s the memories that matter and nothing can take those away. So, I’m ok with it. Really.

“Drug ring, huh?”

“Oh yeah. Huge. Tons of meth.” I arch a brow and give a look that makes it clear I’m not buying a word of that, but she merely grins a dimply grin at me and I can’t help but laugh. “So, what about this one?” she asks, changing the subject and holding up a gorgeous emerald green satin cocktail dress with beading along the sweetheart neckline.

“Oohhh,” I say, reaching out to run my hands over the material. “But are we sure this isn’t too fancy for a St. Patrick’s Day party?” I realized when we set out to go shopping that I never confirmed with AJ on dress code—well, the dress code everyone else sees anyway. I’m all good on the one that only he gets to ogle after everyone else leaves—and he’s in some important meeting right now, so I’ll have to rely on Hattie and Shep’s word for it.

“Nah, Connor said it’s always like New Years Eve Party attire, but just, ya know, in March.” AJ throws his famed St. Patrick’s Day party every year, this just happens to be the first year he gets to host it as his own place. I know he’s really excited about it, but stressed too. He’s really thrown himself into the planning, talking and texting with Lucy constantly to get all the preparations done just right. It’s kind of adorable actually and my heart twists a little remembering what he told me about St. Patrick’s Day when he was a kid, how special it was for him and his mom and their little celebration they’d do every year. I love that his love for the holiday has stayed with him over the years and though the way he celebrates now is quite a bit different, the fact that it’s still so important is really sweet when you think about it.

And I’ve got green Kool Aid, shamrock cookies, and decorations made out of construction paper (thanks to some help from Ollie, of course) ready for a little celebration of our own that morning. I think he’s going to love it. Might even cry a little. Ray and I are betting on that actually.

“Hmm, well I think I have the perfect heels to go with this, then.”

I pull down AJ’s long drive, marveling at the thousands of green and white twinkling lights hanging in all of the trees lining the road on either side all the way down the quarter-mile stretch. I pull around the circular part of the driveway that wraps in front of the house, and Jax is waiting with a giant smile. He opens my door for me and helps me out.

“Wow, you look beautiful, Nat.” It had taken weeks for me to finally get him to stop calling me Ms. Morgan.

“Thanks, Jax. Everything looks amazing. Lucy did fantastic!” More lights are tucked within huge, elegant flower arrangements lining the wide stairs leading up to the front porch. It’s like something out of a fairy tale. Not quite what I’d envisioned for a St. Patty’s Day rager, but still gorgeous. AJ had loved our little celebration this morning and though I lost the bet and he didn’t end up crying, there were definitely some unshed tears in his eyes, so Ray decided we could call it a draw.

But as much as he loved that, I know he’s so excited for tonight. He was practically vibrating with it all day and could barely sit still. I take in the decorations again, ready to get this thing started…but I frown. Something is off. Shouldn’t there be music blaring from inside already? Voices raised in cheers and debauchery? It may be semi-formal attire, but the vibes are most definitely going to be frat party on steroids. As they should be. I’m ready to kick Jules’ and Bobby’s asses in beer pong and later do drunken, unholy things to AJ.

My brow furrows a bit.

“Am I the first one here?”

“Nah, I’ve parked a dozen cars down at Mr. Shepherd’s already.” I know he got a couple of other guys to help run the valets back and forth from Shep’s place to here with the golf cart, but I don’t see any of them. They must be down at the other end. He gives me a winning smile and gestures for me to head inside, his honey eyes sparking with…something. Maybe just excitement for the party. I smile back and head around the car while he slides into the driver’s seat.

My heels clack loudly against the stone porch and when I push open the door, I’m…confused.

It’s dark in the entry. The overhead lights are off and the only illumination is provided by candles burning on small pillars lining the hallway, draped with more flowers. Now I hear that there is music playing, but not at all the music I expect. It’s Michael Bublé crooning softly instead of the Best of 2000s Club Mix that we’d spent hours coming up with yesterday. There are no other voices, no drunken singing, or people toasting, or hell, even someone puking already.

“Uh, hello?” I call as I take a few slow steps through the foyer. What in the hell is going on?

“In here,” AJ says from around the corner in the living room. I take the last steps past the wall and freeze.

AJ is standing in the middle of the living room in a sharp deep gray suit with a green tie. All of the furniture had been moved out for the party—or what I’d thought was a party—and now the entire giant room is filled with flowers and more of those soft, twinkling lights. Zamboni sits at AJ’s side, a green bowtie on and smiling that golden smile. He wags his tail and barks at me in greeting, pushing back on his hind legs and pawing at the air like he’s waving. I smile, though my heart is galloping like a racehorse.

“AJ, what’s happening?” My eyes are already watering at what I think is happening, but…no, it can’t be…that’s crazy, isn’t it?

He smiles and he looks so damn gorgeous that it takes my breath away.

“You look absolutely beautiful, Nat,” he says in a low voice as his eyes travel down my body and up again. He traces his tongue over his bottom lip, biting it gently before grinning. He arches a brow and cocks his head, clearly asking me why I’m still all the way across the room. I walk towards him on somewhat numb legs, my heart in my throat, and when I’m just a foot or so away, he sinks down to one knee.

“Oh my God,” I whisper.

He pulls out a box and holds it out towards me. I hold my breath as he slowly opens the lid?—

“ Holy shit ,” I gasp when I see the stunning ring within and he huffs out a quiet laugh. It’s an absolutely massive solitary cushion cut diamond in the center, with smaller diamonds lining the two thin bands that split to cradle the larger stone. I can’t even begin to guess how big the thing is or how much it cost. It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. This has to be a dream. I have to be dreaming…right?

“I know that this is crazy fast and that we haven’t been dating all that long, but they always say when you know, you know. And I know , Nat. Deep in my soul and beyond a shadow of a doubt, I know that you are the only one for me. From the second I heard you squeak when you first met me…” My eyes fly wide for a second.

“Oh God you heard that?? ” He’s never brought it up before, so I always assumed he didn’t notice. His smile somehow gets even broader and I groan, covering my face.

“Of course I did and it was fucking adorable. Even in that moment, I knew that you had me. I’m not going to lie and say it was love at first sight, but you caught my eye in every possible way that day, caught my attention like no one else had, and when we all started hanging out, everything in my life just shifted without me even realizing it. Everything was pointing me to you, Nat. You became one of my best friends, and now, I love you more than I ever thought I could love anyone. You make me feel like me in a way no one else has, like I’m more than just a hockey player or a thirst trap or whatever else. To you, I’m just AJ and it feels so fucking good to have that in my life. I never knew how much I needed it until you. And, yeah, it’s a little scary, but if there’s anyone that I want on this crazy, terrifying, amazing ride with me, it’s you. You’re my best friend and the love of my fucking life, and I can’t imagine not spending every second of every day of forever with you. So, will you marry me?”

Tears track down my cheeks and I hold his gaze.

“You’re serious?”

“As a fucking heart attack, baby.” He grins and waits. “So, is that a yes, or…”

“Yes,” I say, laughing through the tears. “Yes, yes, yes!” Zamboni barks again and spins around in circles when AJ slides the ring on my finger. He stands and cups my face between his hands, leaning in and kissing me like there’s no tomorrow. I wrap my arms around him and he picks me up, spinning me around and I can feel him smile against my lips. He sets me down and then voices erupt from behind us.

I turn to see our friends pouring into the room, all smiling and clapping and, in Hattie’s case, crying.

“You knew??” I ask. “You all knew!?”

“We did,” Howey confirms.

“ I didn’t until about 5 minutes ago,” Jules complains.

“That’s because you can’t keep a secret for shit,” Shep says, tugging AJ into a bear hug while Hattie strangles me in one of her own. I catch Jules and Bobby sharing a quick look before they both tear their gazes away and join in the congratulations.

I eye Hattie with a narrowed gaze. “So this is why you were deliberately shooting down every housing option I found?” She smiles a little sheepishly.

“Well, I didn’t want you to lose out on a deposit and first months’ when you already had a place waitin’ for you—assuming you said yes, of course. If you hadn’t, or if you aren’t ready to live with this knucklehead, I’ll really start helping you look for places tomorrow.” I look over at AJ, laughing and smiling with the guys, and my heart just can’t fucking take it.

“I think I’m just fine here.” She squeals and jumps up and down.

“Wait, so there was never any St. Patrick’s Day party? But it’s your tradition.”

“Oh there’s still a party. A huge one. But this was more important to do first.”

I wrap my arms around him again while Hattie pours everyone champagne.

“I’m more important than St. Paddy’s Day? Wow.”

“It’s a close second.” He kisses me and then grasps my hand, bringing it to his lips as well. He kisses my finger, just above the diamond. “I’d planned to give you a Claddagh ring, actually, but, well, I couldn’t find one with a big enough rock attached to it to be honest.”

I throw my head back and laugh at that, kissing him again and assuring him that I would have been happy with a piece of string tied around my finger if it meant I got to be engaged to him.

“Oh in that case, we’ll just take this baby back tomorrow then…” I yank my hand away, cradling it to my chest protectively and he grins.

“I said I would have been happy with the string. You chose otherwise and well, no take backs, sucker.”

“Alright y’all, hush!” Hattie calls over the din. It’s a small group, but the Sin Bin—plus Jax, who has become a new honorary member in recent weeks—aren’t known for our inside voices. We all quiet down. “Ok, everyone got their champagne?” We all nod and she raises her glass, all of us mirroring the motion. AJ slides one arm around the small of my back, holding me close to his side, and I snuggle in just a bit closer. Her eyes water as she meets his eyes and then mine. The big softie , I think as I blink away my own tears.

“To two of the best people I know. I’m so happy you both got over being complete idiots and figured your shit out.” Everyone laughs and Shep leans in to kiss her on the temple. I know one day they’ll be where we are and I’ll be giving the toast to them. “I cannot wait to see you spend forever together. We love you. Sláinte!”

“Sláinte!” we all echo, and hearing the word first in Hattie’s southern twang and then in Jules’ thick Bostonian accent, has us all dying laughing.

“Murphy MacManus said it best: It’s St. Paddy’s Day—everyone’s Irish tonight! Drink up, assholes!”

We all cheers again, chugging the rest of our drinks.

“So, where’s this other party?”

“At The Bowery,” AJ says, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “But it’s up to you if you want to go, or if you’d rather celebrate… privately .” He leans in and whispers the last word directly into my ear and I shiver violently.

Just when I’m about to tell him that the answer is definitely Option B, I notice someone else standing just inside the room from the foyer and I freeze. The surprises just keep on coming tonight apparently.

“ Dad? ”