“Guys!” she said, her beautiful face brightening.
“Do you have a minute?” I asked her. She saw the serious looks on our faces and beckoned us to a corner booth where we could chat.
“Are you guys okay? You look a little pale. Anyway, I’m really glad you came by. I have some good news to share,” she said, bubbling over.
“Well, we have something important to share, too—” Nat said.
But she kept talking. “I’m getting married,” she said with a huge smile.
Uh. What? Something crashed in the pit of my stomach, and it did not feel good.
“I know, it’s crazy. But I’m gonna marry my best friend Matty, so I’m eligible for Cordy’s estate, and we’ll all be able to stay in the mansion!” She clapped her hands in glee. I was glad she was happy, but I was clearly missing something.
“Matty?” Nat said. “Who the hell is that?”
She threw her head back, laughing. “Matty is my oldest friend.”
Nat and I looked at each other, thoroughly confused.
“He’s GAY. He’s marrying me as a favor.”
Oh. Okay.
“He won’t be moving into the house or anything. The five of us will still be together.”
Suddenly, the news we had from Rick didn’t seem so important.
“We’re all gonna be together, and I will inherit the estate!”
Holy shit. Now that was news.
“Matty and I are going to City Hall this afternoon. I was about to call Mr. Jones just when you popped in. Perfect timing!” she said, glowing.
I didn’t know who would be happier—Mr. Jones, or me.
Chapter 29
Garnet
In the two months since I’d married Matty, inherited Cordy’s estate, and moved everyone including myself into the mansion permanently, life had been a complete whirlwind. And it didn’t seem like it was going to stop.
I was sad to leave behind my beloved Drive By Saloon, but life had gotten too busy to keep working. So I got Matty’s latest boyfriend a job there. My coworker Tom said he was doing great, bringing in all kinds of beautiful women, like gay guys are wont to do, which brought in more straight guys to spend money on beer and mediocre bar food. Something for everyone.
The guys and I still met there for drinks whenever we could, since that was pretty much where it all started. We even fixed a plaque to the bar that said “Bill Cordy Sat Here.” Good old Grandpa.
I was so proud of how the five of us were putting Cordy’s money to good use. We had to think he’d be proud, too.
First, we’d started a small charitable foundation to help fund the city’s soup kitchens. That was a real dream come true for me, to really, finally be able to do a little something about a problem that hurt my heart every time I saw it.
Linc’s gym had taken off, thanks in part to the publicity we got from our charity. He was working long hours and kept promising to hire someone to lessen his load. But I doubted he ever would. He loved the gym too much. Sometimes my hunky man even spent the night there on the very sofa where we…um, well, you know.
Brose was opening his own restaurant in the city, which was sure to be a smash success. He was working day and night, so I’d usually go over there to visit and get some of his great cooking. And, well…other things.
Nat had quit his job at the accounting firm to serve as CFO for both the restaurant and Linc’s gym. No more travel, no more worrying about becoming partner, and no more wearing suits. He still dressed like he walked out of a preppy Ralph Lauren ad though, with his polo shirts and down vests. What a cutie.
Win was working on renovating parts of the mansion that had gotten a bit old and tired, that Grandpa had never wanted to spend money on. It was going to be more stunning than ever, thanks to my love.
And yes, I was working on becoming a sommelier, and if I played my cards right, I’d be working side by side with Brose in his new place. In fact, I’d grown so passionate about wine that we’d bought a small vineyard in Napa Valley, about an hour north of San Francisco. It would be a few years until we bottled our own wine, but I planned on making it the most delicious in the San Francisco Bay Area.