We’d just come from their favorite restaurant, a divey one-room Thai kitchen in the Village. The food was fantastic, the laughter loud. And it only increased as we moved on to the natural location for the wedding’s afterparty — the bar where fate had pushed Beck and Sam together again, leading them toward the kiss that spelled the beginning of the end to their ‘professional’ relationship.
It was also, coincidentally, where Mac had punched Daniel in the face and ruined my Saturday night. That was so long ago. As I entered the Black Shade with Mac’s hand in mine, I could hardly believe how much I’d changed since that night. And how much Mac had too.
We went back upstairs to that same VIP table and gathered around, still talking about the wedding, about the trip, giving play-by-plays of the rehearsal dinner again and again. Mac, Twain, and I regaled the others with the very true story of the disaster in Tuzas, and, with the danger long gone, I could actually look back and laugh at the memory of Twain screaming behind the wheel of a stolen car.
As the others talked, moving on to giving Keegan shit about Jules, I leaned closer to Mac.
“Remember the last time we were here?” I asked.
He gave a soft chuckle. “Barely. But I know I hardly gave the best first impression.”
“I thought you were a crazy drunk. Though a ridiculously attractive one at that.”
He looked down at me. “And I thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.”
I rolled my eyes, but grinned at the compliment. “Yeah, you made that pretty clear.” I paused. “Was there a reason you were so trashed that night when everyone else was sober? Going into this week, I kinda expected you to be a full-blown alcoholic.”
Mac bit his lip and I was afraid I’d gone too far, that he’d close up again and change the subject. But then he glanced at the others to make sure nobody was paying attention, gave a deep sigh, and said, “That night I’d learned an old friend of mine had died.”
I put a hand over my mouth. “Oh my god, Mac. I had no idea.”
He nodded. “I didn’t tell anyone, but I’ll admit I went a bit overboard.” He hesitated again, and then said, “His name was Sammy Dedric and he was my best friend in Ireland before he got bogged down with a girl. We fell out and lost touch. I hadn’t talked to him in close to a decade.”
I didn’t know what to say. “I’m so sorry, Mac.”
He pulled me closer to him. “Don’t worry about it, love. The boys chose their path. I’m not going to let them affect mine anymore.” He said it more to himself than to me. There was a story there I didn’t know, but hopefully one day I’d find out. We had a lot to talk about, Mac and me. But all that mattered now was that he sounded content.
He pulled back and looked down at me, his handsome face examining mine. Then he pecked me on the lips and said, “I’ve got to go for a moment, love. Just for a bit.”
I nodded and he stood, waving to Sam to join him. Sam whispered something to Beck, and the two went off to conspire.
Beck had gotten up to let Sam out of the booth and instead of sitting back down, she joined me, taking Mac’s empty place.
“So,” I asked, “was this everything you wanted?”
Beck looked over our friends, having a heated debate about strippers again for some reason, and then out over the dance floor and the bar that held so many memories. She had the trace of tears in her eyes when she turned to me. “Alice, this was the best day of my entire life.”
I did a fist pump. “Mission accomplished. In a really roundabout way.”
“You did great, Alice.” She put an arm around me and pulled me into a hug. I squeezed her back. “Thank you,” she whispered in my ear.
“You deserve the best,” I replied.
Just then, the dance music slowed to a low beat, and the DJ came on the mic. “All right, all right, people. Tonight we have a special request from one of our favorite regulars. So we’re going to slow this down a bit and clear the floor.”
Our tables’ attention diverted to the dance floor. What was going on? We didn’t have to wonder long. Sam appeared at Beck’s side and offered his hand.
“May I have this dance?” he asked.
She smiled up at him and took his hand. He led her away, down the stairs, and on to the cleared dance floor. The group stood at the balcony and cheered.
The DJ said, “Give it up for the newly wed Sam and Beck Callahan!”
The Black Shade exploded into applause and cheers as Sam whisked Beck onto the dance floor. A light guitar began to play as the couple began their first dance. When the singing started, I gasped and jerked around to look at the booth.
The singing was live, and the singer? Mac. He stood shadowed in the darkness, but I recognized his shape instantly. He sang into the microphone, deep and smooth and beautiful.
* * *
Since first I saw the love light in your eyes
I dreamt the world held not but joy for me
And now that I hold you to my heart
I never dreamed but what I dreamed of thee
* * *
I love you as I've never loved before
Since first I met you on the village green
Come to me e'er my dreams of love are o'er
I love you as I loved you when you were sweet
When you were sweet sixteen
* * *
Last night I dreamt I held your hand in mine
And once again you were my happy bride
I kissed you as I did in Auld Lang Syne
As to the church we wandered side by side
* * *
I love you as I've never loved before
Since first I met you on the village green
Come to me e'er my dreams of love are o'er
I love you as I loved you when you were sweet
When you were sweet sixteen
* * *
When he finished, the room applauded again and Beck and Sam waved and gave short bows. An upbeat song began to blast again and the floor filled up. Our group left the VIP area and joined Beck and Sam on the floor.
I hung back a bit though, waiting for Mac to finish with the DJ. When he saw me waiting for him, he smiled sheepishly.
“I haven’t sung for people in a long time,” he admitted. “That’s an old Irish love song.”
“It was amazing,” I said. “I knew I’d get to hear that voice eventually.”
We only had a moment though because Beck and Sam had left the dance floor and come over. Beck gave Mac a big hug, whispering something in his ear. He laughed and murmured something back to her before shaking Sam’s hand.
“The best of luck to ya both,” he said.
I stood next to him, our arms pressed together, as Sam went to join Mason and Keegan at the bar and Beck joined Kylie and Sarah on the dance floor. The girls started dancing in a group, jumping and singing with the music. I watched them and marveled at how lucky I’d been, to have these friends and this moment.
And, of course, the guy beside me.
“You want to get out of here?” Mac asked in my ear.
I glanced up at him, staring into those piercing green eyes, memorizing every shade and pattern. I took his hand, and then I gave it a soft kiss and let it fall. “With you? I’m sorry, stranger, but I’m here with my girls.”