Aideen (Slater Brothers 3.5)

I adjusted a few of the ornaments on my Christmas tree then refocused on Alannah and frowned at her.

“You okay?”

She lightly shook her head and winced as if the action hurt.

“No, me head is bangin’.”

I went back into the kitchen and grabbed the packet of painkillers from the counter and returned next to Alannah, holding the packet out to her.

Her shoulders sagged with relief as she offered me a pained smile and accepted the packet.

I chuckled. “You’ll be fine in a few hours.”

She popped two tablets from the packet, placed them in her mouth then reached for her tea and took a few test sips before gulping some down.

“Hmmmm,” she moaned. “You make a mean cuppa, Ado. It’s really good.”

My chest swelled with pride. That was practically the best compliment an Irish person could ever receive.

“Thanks.” I smiled, feeling a little smug.

Bronagh copied Alannah’s actions and swallowed down some painkillers with her tea and moaned with delight when the liquid slid down her throat.

“She’s right, these are even better than Ryder’s and Branna has taught him well.”

I was pretty proud of myself as I sat in Kane’s one seater and watched the girls eat their food.

“I’m so embarrassed about last night,” Alannah mumbled before chowing down some of her hash brown.

I smiled. “You were drunk.”

“We were legless,” Bronagh corrected. “I can’t even remember some of the shit we did. I don’t care what that waiter said either, they weren’t just fruity cocktails.”

Alannah mutely nodded in agreement then flicked her eyes to me. “I remember certain parts, but not everythin’... how bad was I?”

I rubbed my jaw. “The truth?”

She nodded.

“You asked us all to strip naked for an orgy, then you got mad when no one did and proceeded to ask someone to have sex with you and said that you were really good at it. It went on for a bit.”

“Oh, Christ,” Alannah whimpered and covered her face with her hands.

I gnawed on my inner cheek. “You also were in just your knickers and everyone saw your tits. You asked Dame if they were bigger than the last time he saw them.”

“Oh, fucking hell,” she shouted but quickly grabbed ahold of her head.

I looked to Bronagh and found her looking at me.

“What did I do?” she asked, her expression fearful.

I snorted. “Tried to rape Nico in the elevator, asked him to shimmy with you … oh, you titled yourself MC Hammered, too, which was pretty funny.”

Bronagh flushed crimson. “I’ll never live this down.”

“You won’t?” Alannah grumbled. “I can never look the Slater brothers in the eye ever again.”

Bronagh was quiet as she ate some food and did some obvious thinking. I saw her eyes well up with tears just as she said, “Do you think I hurt the baby with the alcohol?”

“Honey,” I sighed. “You only had a few glasses; the baby will be perfectly fine. Don’t worry yourself, do you hear me?”

Bronagh nodded her head, wiped her eyes and continued to eat her food. I lowered my hand to my belly as the baby began to move around, but I quickly snapped my gaze back to Bronagh when she gasped. I watched her knife and fork fall onto her plate as she flung her hands over her mouth.

“What is it?” Alannah asked, panicked.

“I asked Dominic to marry me!” Bronagh hollered.

I erupted with laughter. “I forgot about that.”

Bronagh growled. “How could you forget somethin’ like that?”

I shrugged. “I was thinkin’ of all the funny shit you both said and did.”

Bronagh’s eyes were wild. “I can’t believe I asked him that. I can’t fuckin’ believe it.”

I raised a brow. “Do you want to marry him?”

“What do—”

“Do you want to marry him?”

Bronagh blinked. “Yes, I love him.”

“Then it’s a done deal. He said yes anyway.”

Bronagh gasped again. “Did he really?”

I nodded. “Yep, you asked him to marry you and he said yes.”

She scrambled off the chair and practically dove for my house phone. She grabbed the phone, pressed on the buttons and placed it to her ear.

After a few seconds she said, “Did you say yes to marryin’ me last night? ‘Cause Aideen said you did.”

No hello, just straight to the point.

I watched as Bronagh suddenly burst into tears.

“Are you playin’?” she asked Nico.

Nico’s response caused her to squeal.

She spun to me. “He was serious, we’re engaged.”

I got up and gave her a big hug followed by Alannah doing the same thing. Bronagh hung up the phone after Nico promised to come right over for her.

Bronagh turned to me and swallowed. “You don’t feel like I stole your thunder, do you?”

I blinked. “Come again?”

“You and Kane just got engaged, and now me and Dominic. I’m sorry I asked him so close to Kane askin’ you—”

“Don’t say another word, you eejit. I’m delighted for you both.”

Bronagh relaxed and gave me another hug. We sat back down after clearing away the girl’s food and putting the plates into the dishwasher.

“Do you want to see it?” I asked.

“See what?” Bronagh and Alannah replied in unison.

I took my phone out of my housecoat pocket and wiggled it in their faces.

“The video I recorded of you two last night.”

The look of terror that passed over both their faces caused me to laugh, loudly.

“You... you recorded us in that state?” Bronagh asked, both annoyed and shocked.

I nodded my head. “I couldn’t help it, you were both hilarious.”

“I don’t want to see it,” Alannah grunted.

Bronagh folded her arms across her chest. “Me either.”

I playfully rolled my eyes. “I’m not goin’ to show it to anyone... except—”

“Except?” Alannah cut me off, her brows drawn together.

“Except I may have sent it to Gavin last night, but he deleted it after he watched it because he said you were both his friends and he wouldn’t be involved in slaggin’ you both.”

“For God’s sake,” Alannah grumbled and put her face in her hands.

“Delete the video.” This was from Bronagh.

I frowned. “But it’s funny—”

“Aideen.” Both girls cut me off.

I huffed as I tapped on the screen of my phone and brought up the option to delete the video. Before I tapped delete, I looked to both of the girls one more time and said, “You both sure?”