by J. Sterling
“I didn’t even know I liked gin,” Number Three said, and I laughed. I’d heard that more than a handful of times since I started making this particular drink.
“I’ll start a tab for you ladies.” I picked up the credit card one of them had placed on top of the bar and tucked it in a glass near the register.
Business picked up, which meant our ability to talk privately was pretty much over for the night. I noticed Frank still standing in the same place where I’d left him. I wandered over, about to give him shit for not doing something useful, when Nick joined us.
“So, I was thinking,” Nick said, then stopped short. His brow furrowed like he was deep in thought as Frank and I waited for him to continue. “If we’re going to lose this location, I kind of want to do something special for Jess here.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I want to propose.”
Nick’s smile took up his whole damn face, and I couldn’t even give him shit for it. He’d had Jess’s ring sitting in the bar safe for almost as long as he’d been working here.
“Here? In the bar?” Frank asked. We used to tease Nick about actually putting the damn thing on her finger, but neither of us ever contemplated that he’d choose the bar as his setting to do it.
“Hell yes, here. It’s where I brought her after formal. It’s where I came to talk to you guys when I almost lost her forever. It’s where we both came back to. This bar holds a lot of memories for us, and I’d like it to hold one more.”
Nick was adamant. He couldn’t be talked out of this idea, not that I planned on trying.
“Okay, when?” I asked.
“The day before the deadline.”
Frank coughed and slapped his chest. “That’s in five days. Seriously? Of all the days, you want to do it then?”
“What difference does it make? Plus, it’s Jess’s birthday.” Nick shrugged, and we had nothing to say back. Truthfully, it made no difference.
“We’re in.” Frank gave our youngest brother a small grin, and I slapped him on the back in congratulations.
“Excuse me?” the triplets sang out in unison. “Can we get three more Happy Endings?”
I turned toward them, surprised they’d polished off their first round so quickly. A few more of those at that rate, and the girls would need to be carried out.
I went to work making the drink that I’d created with my brothers and me in mind. It was supposed to represent the love that we’d found and the happiness we had in our lives. But I was starting to worry that maybe I’d inadvertently made a drink that represented the end of our bar and our life as we knew it.
A Happy Ending indeed. Maybe I should have named it Happy Days instead.
One Last Surprise
Ryan
I taped the laser-printed sign to the front door of Sam’s that said we were closed for a private event and would reopen to the public at eight p.m. Hoping it wouldn’t blow away with the ocean breeze, I slapped on one more piece of adhesive, just to be sure.
In less than twenty-four hours, we would potentially lose the bar and everything we’d worked so hard to create. I knew the three of us were thinking the exact same thing, but we did our best to hide it.
Today was a celebration, and Nick had been right. If we were going to walk away from this place, we might as well have one last amazing memory made inside these walls.
Nick had invited all of our families and a handful of our friends here for Jess’s birthday celebration. He left out the majority of her coworkers, telling us that there was a difference between Jess’s friends in the office and her real-life ones. It made perfect sense to me, but as usual, Frank complained. I think he just wanted something to take his frustrations out on because his argument had been less than logical.
“Door locked?” Frank asked a few moments later as he joined me behind the bar.
“Yep.” I looked over and watched as Nick wrapped an arm around Jess and pulled her in for a kiss.
I’d never seen them fight, which was saying a lot because of their age. Younger couples tended to argue over stupid shit, petty jealousy and whatnot, but not those two. It seemed like what they went through in their past was enough for both of them to stay appreciative and respectful of one another. They were so completely comfortable in each other’s presence, it put everyone else at ease. That’s how solid they were.
“We have a lot of family now,” Frank said, giving me a meaningful look.
I surveyed the room again, this time paying more attention. It was filled with mostly extended family . . . from Sofia and Claudia’s parents to Grant and Mariana. Our small Fisher clan had grown exponentially once we added the girls to it. It felt good. Right.
“I like it.”
“Me too.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder.
I searched for Sofia, spotting her off to the side in a yellow sundress that hugged her perfect curves, holding Hope. Matson, as usual, was practically glued to Jess’s side. You had to hand it to the kid; he was loyal. He had drawn Jess a birthday picture earlier that he was excited to give her. I couldn’t wait to see Nick’s face when he realized that the prince in the picture was Matson, and the dragon had Nick’s features. I laughed softly just thinking about it.
“Why do you have to ruin every moment by turning into such a girl?” Frank groaned. “What are you even laughing at, anyway?”
I rolled my eyes, which I knew would only irritate him more. “You’ll see later. Go annoy your wife, and let me make everyone some drinks.”
When he begrudgingly left me alone, I went to work making a tray full of Happy Endings and a few No Bad Days. Slipping out from behind the bar, I made my way through the crowd to distribute the drinks.
Claudia’s best friend, Britney, stopped me first. “What’s the purple one?”
“It’s gin, soda, and lime. You’ll like it.”
“What’s it called?” She grinned at me as she reached for a glass.
“Happy Ending.”
“Well, isn’t that just fitting,” she teased.
I played dumb. “How do you mean?”
“I never thought you’d top Adios Pantalones, but then you go and name your next creation Happy Ending? You little perv.”
“It’s not my fault your mind’s always in the gutter, Brit.”
“I bet I’m not the only one.” She smirked and took a sip. “Crap. This is good.”
Grinning, I moved through our family and friends, tapping them on the shoulder to offer up drinks. I reached Rachel, Jess’s best friend, with only one cocktail left on my tray.
“I wanted one of the purple ones,” she said with a whine.
“I’ll go make you one,” I said, and her face instantly broke out into a huge smile.
“Thank you. But in the meantime, I’ll take this while I’m waiting.”
Britney reached for the last No Bad Days and took a giant gulp like it was filled with juice instead of premium vodka. I started to warn her to slow down, or maybe not to mix liquors, but stopped myself.
“It’s adorable the way Matson loves Jess.” She motioned toward him, and my gaze followed. He was still glued to Jess’s side, and she had her arm wrapped around his shoulders.
“He’s been obsessed with her since the minute he first saw her.”
“Must run in the family.” Britney nudged my body with her hip, and my heart swelled at her words. I often forgot that Matson wasn’t my flesh and blood. It was nice hearing that someone else did too.
“I’ll be back with your drink, slave driver,” I teased, then headed toward my beautiful angel.
“Hi, baby,” Sofia said as I bent down to give her a long-overdue kiss.
“How are my two angels doing?” I placed a gentle kiss on top of Hope’s head.
I’d been concerned at first that Hope barely had any hair, and but Sofia acted like it was totally normal. It took a few days, but she finally convinced me that the baby’s hair would eventually grow in and she wouldn’t be bald for
ever.
“We’re good,” Sofia said as she swayed back and forth, rocking Hope.
“I have to go make some more drinks. You don’t want anything, do you?”
She shook her head, and then her eyes widened. “Wait! Can I get a Diet Coke?”
“You can get anything you want.”
Her voice turned playful. “Well, in that case . . .”
I cocked a brow in her direction, baiting her to finish that sentence. When she didn’t, I sighed and headed back to the bar to mix a few more drinks.
After filling the tray four more times, I decided to take a break. As I was behind the bar washing some of the glasses we’d used tonight, Nick gestured for me to meet him in the back room, where the cake was waiting in a small refrigerator.
“What’s up?” I dried my hands and tucked the towel into my back pocket where it seemed to live during shifts.
He blew out a long, dramatic breath. “This is it.”
“Nervous?” I asked as he spun the combination lock on the safe and pulled down the handle.
The sound of the lock disengaging echoed in the small room, and the door creaked open as he reached inside. After pulling out the black ring box, he flipped it open, making sure the pear-shaped diamond still sat inside. It did. Of course it did. It had been sitting there for forever.
“I’m excited more than anything, but yeah, I’m a little nervous.” Nick smiled at the ring, then closed the box and tucked it into his pocket. “What was I thinking, planning to propose in front of everyone we know?”
I shook my head, debating whether I should answer him honestly or give him some brotherly advice. “You were thinking that you wanted to make one last good memory here. And you wanted to do it in front of everyone who cares about you and Jess. This is a good thing, Nick. It’s going to be amazing.”
He nodded, his gaze bouncing everywhere but meeting mine. “Yeah. You’re right. Okay.” He turned to walk out of the room, but I stopped him.
“Bro, the cake.”
“Shit.” He stopped and turned back toward the fridge, and I laughed. I’d never seen him so flustered. It was amusing.
“You good?” I asked, and he nodded.
I left him unsupervised, deciding that if he didn’t emerge from the office in less than five minutes, I’d go back in and get him. But Nick walked out a moment later, the cake topped with unlit candles in his hands.
I jogged into the office to be sure he hadn’t taken the ring out of his pocket and left it behind. It would ruin his whole plan if he had. Scanning the room and finding no ring box in sight, I hustled back out into the bar, not wanting to miss a moment.
Finding Sofia, I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her against me. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” She snuggled into me as I reached for my cell phone and aimed it toward Nick and Jess, zooming the camera in closer.
“What are you doing?” she asked, looking confused.
“Just pay attention,” I whispered, and her mouth dropped open.
“Is he? Oh my gosh, Ryan, is he going to propose? How could you keep this from me?” Her voice rose, and as a few people turned to look at us, I gave her a look that begged her to be quiet.
“Nick will kill me if we ruin this,” I whispered to her. “Just watch.”
I focused my attention and my camera phone back on Nick as the final candle on the cake was lit. Our parents stood next to Jess’s, fully aware of what was about to happen.
Nick had asked Jess’s dad for permission to marry his daughter over a year ago, but recently asked him again to make sure he hadn’t changed his mind. Jess’s dad had pretended like he wasn’t sure, and Nick told me later how he’d freaked out and wondered what the hell he’d do if her dad didn’t give his blessing again. Thankfully, he said yes, but warned Nick to hurry up already, because none of us were getting any younger.
After an off-key rendition of “Happy Birthday” was sung by everyone in the bar, Nick held up a hand for everyone to be quiet. Turning to Jess, he said, “Close your eyes and make a wish. It won’t come true if you don’t close your eyes first.”
Jess smiled up at him and did what he asked.
The moment her eyes closed, my little brother pulled the ring box from his pocket and dropped to one knee. Sofia gasped softly next to me, but I refused to look at her, terrified I’d mess up the filming. Nick would never forgive me if my video turned into shots of Sofia’s feet instead of his proposal.
Jess’s eyes opened as she leaned over to blow out the candles, but she must have caught sight of Nick. Instead of blowing them out, she gasped with surprise.
“You made me ruin my wish,” she choked out, her voice tight with emotion.
Laughter erupted as Nick said, “By all means, babe, blow them out first. I’ll just wait here.”
More laughter as Nick stayed on bended knee, and Jess blew out the candles quicker than I’d ever seen anyone do it.
As the room quieted, she focused her attention back on him. “What are you doing?”
“I let you go once,” Nick said, “and it was the biggest mistake of my life. I knew it then, and I know it now. I’ll never forget what not having you in my life felt like. I never want to know that feeling again. And if you’ll do me the honor of marrying me and becoming my wife, I’ll never have to. I love you more than anything, Jess. Say yes. Say you’ll be mine for the rest of time.”
She nodded, tears streaming down her face, and he stood. She threw herself into Nick’s arms and buried her head in his shoulder, then answered his question between peppering kisses all over his face.
“Yes. Of course yes. Always yes.”
“Yes?” he asked, as if he wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly.
“Yes!” she shouted.
Nick released her and slid the ring on her finger, then she attacked him with kisses again.
Everyone in the room dabbed at their eyes, wiping away happy tears. Frank and Claudia were wrapped in each other’s arms, and I pulled Sofia to my side so tightly, I thought she might complain, but she didn’t.
I stopped recording and faced her. “How do you think Matson is going to take this news?”
She pondered the question, spotting her son as he made his way toward us. “I guess we’re about to find out.”
“Hey, buddy,” I said as he walked over and stood between us. “Are you okay?”
“I’m happy they’re getting married, but . . .” Matson stopped and took in a deep breath, then let it out in an exaggerated sigh.
“But what?” Sofia asked.
I reached for Hope so she could give her attention to our boy. Tucking Hope into my arms, I started rocking the same way Sofia always seemed to do without thinking.
“Does that mean I can’t ever marry Jess?”
Matson was so serious, it almost broke my heart, and Sofia looked up at me for help.
“You’re going to find your own girl to marry someday,” I said, but it seemed like little consolation.
“I don’t want to find another girl.” His expression clouded as he folded his arms and stared at the floor.
Sofia reached for his chin and tipped it up, then pulled him into a hug. “I know you don’t. But one day you will. Jess will always be your favorite aunt. Okay?”
“I guess,” he said sadly as he wriggled out of her arms.
I wanted to help, but wasn’t sure how. “You like Nick, right?”
“Not right now,” he answered honestly, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Okay, well, you usually like Nick, don’t you?”
He nodded and shrugged his shoulders simultaneously, still looking down.
“And you want your uncle Nick to be happy, right?”
Matson stayed quiet, and just when I thought he wasn’t going to answer, a small yeah came out.
“Jess makes Nick happy,” I said gently, trying to explain, but afraid I was totally blowing it.
“She makes me happy too. So maybe we can both
marry her?”
Matson’s face lit up like a Christmas tree, and before either Sofia or I could stop him, he turned and ran off, headed straight for Nick and Jess.
Sofia looked at me with a worried expression. “I should probably take him home and put Hope to bed.” She reached for the baby and took her gently from my arms.
“I need to clean up and stay for a little while longer. You sure you want to leave without me?”
“I never want to leave without you, Ryan. But I’m exhausted.”
I pulled her close and kissed her as passionately as I could with our baby girl between us. “I’ll see you at home. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She rose up on tiptoe to kiss me again, then blew out a long breath. “Here goes nothing.”
She headed toward Matson, who was animatedly discussing something with Nick. I could only imagine what was coming out of that kid’s mouth.
Eavesdropping Old Man
Ryan
Once we’d closed the bar and only a few friends and family were left, I gathered up the last of the cocktail glasses. As I was washing them in the sink behind the bar, both Frank and Nick joined me to help dry and hang them up.
“Uh, thanks for whatever that was with Matson, bro,” Nick said, and I pretended like I had no idea what he was talking about.
“Huh?”
“The kid is in love with my girl. He said that the only fair thing is if we share her. We both get to marry her, and she lives with each of us off and on throughout the week,” Nick explained, and I burst out laughing.
“At least he had a plan,” Frank said, sounding impressed. “Nice proposal, by the way. You did good.”
“Thanks. And thanks for getting the whole thing on video, Ryan.”
“Of course. She was surprised, yeah? Didn’t see it coming?”
A wicked grin crept across Nick’s face. “She had no idea.”
“That’s the best,” I said as I kept washing. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I realized we had a little over forty minutes until we reopened to the public.
“Think he’ll show up tomorrow?” Nick reached for a clean glass from my hand and started drying it.
