“M’kay,” I say and straighten his tie.
It’s strange being here in this office, the place I paced weeks back worrying Ray was outside with a gun.
“We’re going to have drinks, open gifts, have food, and then head down and play some games. Work for you?” Susanna asks. “I wanted to book a room but it’s busy around here this time of year and this is even better, your man’s cushy office with the private bathroom.”
“You did a great job pulling this together.”
“I had help.” She gestures to Alana, who smiles big.
“Thank you, you guys.”
I get hugs from everyone that’s here. Mom, Aunt Sara, cousin Colleen. Patricia. Brit. Susanna’s mom, Lorena. Also Cammy, Esther, Tara, Tennille. Debbie. There’s also my old high school friends, Kate, Lauren, Leslie, and Michelle. I get a little choked up after hugging everyone and catching a better look at the table filled with gifts.
Susanna gets me a ginger ale and nearly everyone else gets wine or cocktails. Brit questions that choice and I announce that I’m pregnant, which garners more excitement.
And it’s a fun evening with lots of food, laughs, and gorgeous lingerie, a beautiful bed-in-a-bag from my mom, as well as a couple gift cards to lingerie stores. And then we head to the arcade floor and play games and several of the girls as well as Mom are kind of tipsy and it’s fun to watch them have such a good time.
More than once I catch sight of Killian who has been around but staying out of the way, though his eyes have been on me a few times.
***
Most everyone has left by shortly after ten o’clock, except me, Susanna, and Brit. And I’m finding I’m wishing Brit would go, too. I enjoyed hanging out with her that other time here, but today she’s been getting under my skin. She’s acting possessive over Susanna. Like she’s jealous of me. Which is annoying. But it’s not just that. She’s made a couple remarks that made me grit my teeth. An innuendo that I got pregnant to trap my rich and sexy husband. Joking about me not having to work because I get to live a lush life. Asking me about my prenup and then being outlandishly loud when I told her there wasn’t one. Drinking too much, ordering top shelf booze since my rich, hot hubby is “footin’ the bill”, being more than a little crass in front of my mom about the lingerie and what we’ll get up to while I wear it while I can because I’ll soon be “fat”.
When she made the ‘fat’ comment, she looked to my curvy friend from high school, Laurie, and said, “no offense.”
Laurie’s face went red.
“Don’t be a cunt, Brit,” Susanna said. “Laurie’s curves are gorgeous and she has a hot hubby who loves them. Sorry, Mrs. Daphne,” Susanna added because my mother was in earshot.
Brit laughed it off and downed another shot. And then pretty much everyone left while me, Susanna, and Brit hung out in the karaoke bar because Brit wasn’t ready to leave, and I was waiting for Killian to finish up his night.
***
Killian comes into the bar, which hasn’t got karaoke going tonight, just the jukebox, and heads right to me at a pub-height table with Brit and Suse.
“Have a fun night?” He kisses me.
It has been a fun night, except for the Brit factor which was mildly annoying at first but has gotten progressively more irritating as she’s gotten sloppy drunk.
“Definitely. Thanks, baby,” I say.
He lifts me off the chair by my hips and sets me on my feet. I wrap my arms around his middle and snuggle in.
“You two make me sick,” Brit says. “All lovey-dovey. Blah.” She opens her mouth wide and sticks her finger in, then downs the rest of her drink. “Susanna, let’s go pick up some hot men in the bar. Lookin’ at Violet’s hot hubby has my undies all wet. Ooh, who is that?”
I feel Killian straighten up and there’s surprise on his face at her comment. I’m over it at this point and ready to go. But my eyes swing to the direction Brit and Susanna are looking and I see it’s Killian’s employee Guy that is getting the attention. As usual, he’s dressed in a nice suit and looks good.
“Oh my. I want a piece of that,” Brit says not even under her breath with her eyes on Guy.
“Well, hello, Mrs. Coulter. Congratulations on the marriage! I need to steal her for a hug, Kill.”
Killian releases me and takes a step back. Guy wraps his arms around me.
“A quick one,” Killian mutters good-naturedly, “And I’ve got my eye on you.”
“Marriage agrees with you,” Guy says and gives me a squeeze.
“Thank you. How come you’re here tonight? Don’t you work at Genesis?”
“I bounce between locations now and knew you two would be here tonight and it’s my last working day until the new year. I’m off on vacation, so made sure I bounced here to drop Kill a little Christmas gift.” He smiles. “Congrats on the wedding. My boss is a lucky man.”