Kane laughs. “Yeah, for sure, but still, it’s all shite. We know the truth. Casey is going to go away for life. Amberlyn will make sure of that while you are there, and no one, outside of who was invited, will find out when the wedding is. No baby is coming though, right?”

“Be real. No. We haven’t even done it yet.”

He smirks. “Oh yeah, can’t close, huh?”

I glare. “Not when my ma is walking in every five seconds.”

He laughs as he shakes his head. “Eh, it will happen. But in the meantime, ignore all this shite, yeah?”

I nod. “Yeah, it makes me nervous though.”

“What does?” he asks, his brows coming together.

Meeting my best mate’s gaze, I ask, “What if he does get off?”

I can see in Kane’s eyes he has thought the same as I have. Casey is claiming that my family caused his distress and that we drove him to do what he did. My da says it’s all crazy and he doesn’t have a leg to stand on, but it does worry me a bit. My da had offered to pay him to leave, every time we were in a room together I was ready to kick his arse, and Kane did hit him. I don’t know much about legal stuff, but nonetheless, I’m a little nervous.

I just want it all to go the fuck away.

I don’t want Amberlyn to have to sit in the courtroom and testify against him. I don’t want to be there either. I want to be far away from that gobshite for the simple fact I’m not sure I can keep my cool. I know I’m supposed to forgive him, but it’s bloody hard. He almost killed the one I am devoted to. That’s not something I can forgive. Who could forgive that? Yeah, Amberlyn has, but she’s a fucking angel!

Kane shakes his head and waves me off. “No, he’s gonna go to jail. He won’t get away with this.”

“Yeah, hopefully, you’re right.”

He scoffs. “I’m always right.”

I chuckle as a knock comes to the door, and it opens to reveal my ma. I want to make a face of distress, but that’ll upset her, so I smile instead. “Howya, Ma.”

“Hey, honey. Kane.”

“Hey, Mrs. O’Callaghan,” he says as she kisses the top of his head.

“What are yous two up to?”

“Reading rubbish,” I say, throwing the paper in the trash. “Don’t want to speak about ’em though. What brings ya by?”

“That it is,” she agrees, shaking her head. “Everyone wants to know the date, but we are being very tight-lipped.”

“Fantastic.”

“Yeah, so anyway, I wanted to talk about the engagement party.”

Fuck me.

Kane hides his grin, probably due to my expression as my mother goes on.

“Everyone is coming, and I mean everyone. Everything is pretty much taken care of, but we need to get with you and Amberlyn about the cake.”

I make a face. Amberlyn is working as much as I am. I doubt she cares about a damn cake. So I tell my ma that, despite her dismay. At this point, we don’t even want the party. We just want to get married and be done. All this hoopla is getting to be a bit much. We want to start our lives together, not prance around for people to make up more rubbish about us.

“Well, I need to know what you want.”

Letting out a long breath, I say, “Kane, what kind of cake?”

“Chocolate, of course.”

Looking at my ma, I say, “Chocolate it is.”

I can tell she doesn’t approve of my decision-making but I don’t care. I am over everything. I am stressed out about work, about this fucking party, and then most of all, having sex with my fiancée. I know it’s dumb to be stressed out about something that everyone does, but it gives me the willies. What if all the interruptions are a sign that I’m not supposed to be with her, or even be inside her? Ugh! It’s completely mental, but still, it’s got me a tad nervous. Okay. A lot nervous.

“Fine, chocolate,” she says and I smile. I fully expect her to leave, but no such luck. Looking over at me, she says, “Also, I need to tell ya something.”

My brow cocks up. “Yeah?”

“You know that I’m good mates with the O’Malleys, yeah?”

My stomach drops. Please Lord. No. “Yeah, why?”

She laces her fingers and looks away, which tells me that my suspicions were correct. “Well, I invited them to the engagement party, but they RSVP’d back with Keeva as a guest too.”

Kane shakes his head as I lean on my forearms. “Well, tell them she isn’t invited.”

She makes a face. “I can’t do that!”

“Why not? It’s my party! I don’t want her there.”

“Declan, son, please, it’s been years since you dated her.”

“She used me for my money, Ma! She’s the scum of the earth!”

She waves me off. “Please, I doubt you’ll see her. Just wanted to let you know. Warn Amberlyn about her, maybe.”

Pinching my brow, I say, “No, you disinvite her. I don’t care how that makes ya look with the O’Malleys. I don’t want Keeva at my engagement party.”

She lets out a breath, and when I look up, she nods. “Fine.”

“Thank you. I got work to do, Ma, anything else?”

She sets me with a look. “Yes, when is Amberlyn moving in?”

“After the engagement party.”

She nods. “And when is she quitting the bar?”

I make a face because I haven’t thought about that at all. “I don’t know? Probably after we marry.”

She again doesn’t like my answer. “Hm. Well, people are saying we have no money and that she has to work to help you get by.”

Kane and I let out loud hoots of laughter. “Ma, if we were poor, would we be throwing these lavish parties? Be real. I am done with these fucking papers and people talking shite,” I say, and then I throw my arms up. Looking up at her, I point at her before saying, “New rule. No one from the media is allowed at any more of my parties.”

“Attaboy! Fair play,” Kane exclaims in agreement.

“Declan, be real. And don’t encourage him, Kane.”

Kane smiles up at my ma and says, “But it’s true. They are all causing so much drama. It isn’t about anyone but Declan and Amberlyn, yeah?”

“Yes, that is true, but still, they are needed so that we make the papers.”