Elliot stood with his beer in one hand and shook mine with the other. “You’re almost not late,” he greeted.
“I’m turning over a new leaf. I told you that.”
Weston chuckled as he leaned in to brush Saoirse’s cheek with a kiss. “Did you two find each other on the way up?”
Her eyes slid to mine then back to Weston. “No, actually. We came together.”
His brow winged. “Did you?”
“So that’s why you’re on time.” Elliot brought his beer to his lips. “Good job, Kelly.”
She huffed. “Thanks so much, Levy. You know I live and die for your approval.”
Weston was still eyeing her. “Why did you come together?”
“Why not?” Saoirse shrugged and walked over to an empty chair, swiping the menu left there. “Oh, yum. Are we ordering food? I missed dinner, and I’m starving. There’s no way I can drink unless I eat something. Where’s the waitress?”
Her manic display caught both Weston’s and Elliot’s attention. Weston stared at her with a crinkled forehead. Elliot’s expression was less discernible, but he was studying her just as intently. Maybe because her hands were fluttering and she was reciting her favorite things from the menu—which seemed to be all of it.
She hadn’t exaggerated. Subterfuge and Saoirse didn’t gel.
Elise threw her arms up. “Yes! I told you I was good at this.”
Miles kicked a beanbag. “Why do you have to be good at everything, Lisie?”
“I’m terrible at convincing you to stop calling me Lisie.”
They joined our group, Elise tucking into Weston’s side, Miles shaking my hand then pecking Saoirse’s cheek.
“What’s happening over here?” Miles asked, peering at the menu in Saorise’s hands.
“I’m trying to decide what to order.” She studied the menu like it held deep, meaningful secrets.
“Saoirse and Luca came together,” Weston informed his girl and brother.
“You did?” Elise stole the menu from her friend. “You and Luca drove together?”
Saoirse nodded. “We did.”
Elliot tipped his beer at her. “Care to elaborate?”
I’d noticed at brunch the two of them had this thing, which was continuing tonight. He acted like he didn’t like her, and she baited him to drive him nuts, then they called each other by their last names. Cute to some, but I wasn’t much of a fan.
I curled my arm around Saoirse’s shoulders. “It’s Rossi, actually.”
Elliot’s brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”
“Exactly what I said. She’s not a Kelly anymore. She’s a Rossi.”
Saoirse crossed one leg over the other and wiggled her fingers in front of her. “Surprise.”
Our friends glanced at each other, then all eyes were on us. Miles took charge.
“Either you adopted Sersh, or you got married. Since marriage would be crazy, I’ll be the first to say congrats on your new hot blonde daughter.” Miles winked at me and patted his pockets. “Sorry, I’m fresh out of cigars, otherwise I’d offer you one.”
Saoirse let out a wobbly laugh. “Can we sit down? I would love to sit down.”
“Sure. In a minute.” Elise tugged away from Weston to round on Saoirse. “What’s going on with you and Luca? And why are you being so manic?”
“Well…” she curled her arm around my back, gripping my shirt, “it’s been kind of a crazy day. The past few weeks have been, really.”
I had to put all of us out of our misery, especially Saoirse. Her nails were seconds away from shredding my shirt from how hard she was digging into me.
“We’re married.”
Elise’s hand flew to her mouth. Miles chuckled. Weston and Elliot stared at the two of us. Like they were waiting for me to drop the punch line.
Elise was the first to act, picking up Saoirse’s left hand and rubbing her thumb over her ring. “You don’t believe in marriage.”
“I didn’t. Until Luca,” Saoirse whispered.
“But—you didn’t even tell me you were together.” Elise rolled her lips inward. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hide it from you. Like I said, it’s been a whirlwind. But you guys are the first to know. We haven’t even told our parents yet.”
“But married?” Elise was stuck on that. I guessed Saorise had been truthful when she’d told me she didn’t believe in marriage.
“Married,” I confirmed. “We kept things quiet in case it didn’t work out between us.”
Saoirse nodded. “We didn’t want any awkwardness in the group.”
Just as Elise seemed to accept that answer, Elliot interjected. “Is this because of the consultants?”
“What consultants? What are you talking about?” Elise demanded of her brother.
He raised his chin toward me. “Rossi’s board hired consultants to go over Luca’s image. They wanted him to get married. And lo and behold, he’s suddenly married to Kelly, who’s adamantly against the institution but also has a dire habit of saying yes to shit she shouldn’t.”
Everyone went quiet, even the background noise. I glared at Elliot, annoyed at him for challenging me. If I’d expected him to flinch, I would have been disappointed. Luckily, I knew better than to expect Elliot Levy to back down.
Fucking Elliot and his logical, suspicious mind. I should have known he’d question us down to the bone. That was him. He’d had to grow up fast with only himself to rely on. He never took situations at face value.
Still, it pissed me off he was questioning me after all the years he’d known me.
But hell, maybe that was exactly why he was questioning me. He knew me too well.
Saoirse laughed the motherfucker right off without a beat of hesitation. “Did you really think I would buy a stranger a cheese board? That’s such a ‘couple’ gift. I’m surprised you didn’t guess right then and there. Luca and I were already together the last time we saw you.” She snuggled into me and laid her hand on my chest. “We met at a party and haven’t spent any time apart since. I apologize again for keeping it a secret, but we are married, and we hope you’ll support us. It would mean a lot if you did.”
She slid her hand up my neck to my jaw, turning me to face her, and pressed her lips to mine. The connection was soft and almost chaste, but she lingered so long I pulled her against me and wrapped her in my arms.
Her eyes fluttered open, locking on mine. We were too close for me to see her lips curve into a smile, but the glint in her eyes gave her away.
A loud clap interrupted the moment. “I’m convinced.” Miles rushed over and hugged us both at the same time. “Congrats. I wish you nothing but the best.”
Saoirse broke away from me to hug Miles fully, and I had to stop myself from yanking her back. Elise did the job for me, stealing her friend from Miles to embrace her. They whispered to each other, rocking back and forth. I left them to it, moving closer to West and Elliot.
“Prick move,” I gritted out.
Elliot blinked. “You have to agree the timing is suspect.”