“You know what, kid, I’ll join Team Girl too.” I grab a pink ribbon and pin it to my cardigan.
“Hey, Liam. What team are you on?” Ava asks my man and I see him with a pink ribbon on his shirt too. I smile at the gesture. Even when we’re apart, he and I are always in sync.
Both my parents are wearing blue, and overall, it seems the party is pretty split. It’s a gender reveal slash baby shower and we’re all eager to see them cut the cake and reveal the sex of the latest Fletcher baby.
And a little while later, that time comes.
We all gather outside while Olivia and Lucas meet in the middle. Together, they cut the cake and pull out a piece of vanilla cake dyed pink. Everyone claps and Ava yells especially loud. We’re all excited for another girl in the family.
Olivia opens her presents next. Liam and I got them some new gender-neutral clothes and books because they already have everything else they need from their first kid.
As the party wraps up, I make sure to remind my family about the opening of my club next month. I expect them all to be there for the big day. I hug everyone goodbye and we head home.
We get back to our house that we’re still in the process of unpacking. I caved and let Liam pick out a house by the beach. I’ve lived here my whole life but I’m finally warming up to the place. It’s not a bad place to live after all.
We moved in about six months ago and everything has been a work in progress. With me starting a business and Liam working crazy hours during the semesters, it’s been hectic, but we’re getting there.
We settle into the couch, his arm wrapped around me, and my feet sprawled out in front of me.
“Today was a good day,” he notes. His tone is imploring and my hair stands on edge.
“It was.”
“You haven’t changed your mind about having kids, have you?” He asks. I sit up and spin to face him, my heart in my throat.
“No, I haven’t.” I generally feel like I have a good read on Liam, but right now I’m not sure.
“What about marriage? Do you want to get married?”
“Is this a hypothetical or…?”
He pulls a box from his pocket and opens it, showing a large princess cut diamond. I glance up at him, almost imagining this being some kind of cruel prank.
“It’s been four years and I’m not going anywhere. I love you and I want to marry you. I don’t need a big fancy wedding and we can go to the courthouse if that’s still what you want. Marry me, Flynn. What do you say?”
“I guess we’re going to the courthouse.” I slip the ring on my finger and kiss Liam.
My life has changed so drastically for the better over the last four years thanks to Liam. Why wouldn’t I want to marry this man? He’s everything to me.
The month goes by in a flash. I’ve been running around nonstop, and before I know it, the opening is here. The big sign hanging over the entrance is covered with a sheet, waiting for the big reveal. Before everyone arrives, I take one final walk through the space. The brick building has two French doors leading us through a hallway inside. The entryway opens up to a restaurant bar on the top level. It’s not a full-fledged restaurant, but we’ll specialize in appetizers and desserts and small table foods.
There are L-shaped couches of varying sizes taking up the floor and one U-shaped couch in the center to accommodate larger parties. Some exposed brick walls section off areas for more privacy. There’s a big bar in the back, in front of the kitchen, and the music plays on a lower level to give a more intimate and professional vibe. The lighting from the ceiling is dim and there are large windows opening up the space, looking out to a view of the city. In the back corner is a staircase leading down to the floor level. This is where the real partying happens for a different crowd. A huge DJ booth sits at the opposite end of the stairs, and as I walk down, I’m in perfect sight of the bar. Velvet ropes section off the sides where seating is optional, but the majority of the space is taken up by a dance floor. We can host shows, artists, DJs or singers and groups in the space with no problem.
As I glance around the perfectly arranged space, I take a moment to revel in how far I’ve come. I’d once thought the club was my home, my haven. In a sense, it gave me everything I didn’t know I wanted. Liam’s face flashes in my mind as I recall the night we met in another club across town. I owe a lot of this night, and of course who I am today, to him.
My sister even has some touches here. Since she was my photographer to take photos for the website, she knew exactly how to arrange everything and what looks best. Her husband, Wren, helped a lot too, using his skills as an architect and his connections to interior designers to help me set this place up.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d ever have a close relationship with Carson. I couldn’t see it before, how supportive she was of me, is of me. Plus, once she got over her aversion to Liam, things got much better for us.
Now, I’m close with both my siblings. I have an amazing and supportive man, a career, goals. I’m even on good terms
