Pulling out my phone, I texted him. Two letters.
OM.
I wasn’t at all surprised when the two of them walked in a half hour later.
“Were you guys coming anyway?” I asked as Mason greeted us. Pia had made a beeline to the bathroom, something she seemed to do a lot of these days. As a matter of fact…
“Nope. What’s up?”
“We’re celebrating. Round of shots,” I said to Beck.
“What are we celebrating?” Mason asked.
Delaney and I exchanged a glance. We were celebrating a lot. The two of us finding each other, getting over our mutual fear of commitment. Her father making a full recovery. But this drink, this particular celebration, was for our futures as business owners.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Go ahead,” I told her. “Say it out loud.”
Mason and Beck watched. Waited. Delaney looked for Pia, who was still gone. “I’ll tell her when she gets back. So, Parker and I are co-leasing the old wine bar building on Mechanic Street. He’s using it as an office for his new construction company and I’m…”
She took a deep breath. Looked at me.
I nodded.
“I’m leaving the pharmacy business behind to open an art studio.”
Her eyes shone with tears. It was as scary as it was exciting. I knew the feeling all too well. But Delaney’s talent and diligence would make her successful. She had everything to gain, and I couldn’t wait to see what she did with the place. To share in her journey.
“Holy shit,” Mason said. “Cheers to that.”
“Congratulations,” Beck said as he cheered and took a shot with us.
“I can’t believe I just said that.” Delaney did appear to be in a bit of shock.
“Said what?” Pia asked.
As she told Pia what was happening, Beck put his hands on the bar as he and Mason both looked at me.
“What?”
“Another one down,” Beck said. “This is why we said to never stay the night.”
“It was a good rule.” I shrugged. “Looks like it’s up to you and Cole now to keep the pact alive.”
“That we can do. With Mae being engaged, looks like we didn’t need rule number three.” Beck tried to keep his voice light, but I knew better.
“At least we can count on the two of you,” Mason said. “I saw you eying up that pretty blonde, but am fairly certain she isn’t long-term material.”
I glanced down the bar to the woman in question. She was, unsurprisingly, staring at Beck. “Being that she’s barely legal?”
“Hey,” Beck said. “She’s twenty-two.”
“You guessing or did you card her?” Mason asked.
Beck smiled. “What do you think?”
He would never change. No worries about him breaking a rule. Or Cole either, for that matter. I was almost nervous to tell him about the studio. He’d be happy for me, but there was a part of Cole that wanted all of us to really stay single with him, forever.
“I think you are a man-whore and will never change,” I said, to which Mason barked out a laugh. It was true enough, though, and both of them knew it.
