Rushing off, I shower, dress, fix my hair and makeup, and head to the kitchen to get some snacks and the bar ready.
Fiona arrives first, smirking around the apartment when I let her in.
“I would have thought the Reaper would have had a different color scheme.” She eyes all the white and chrome and gray. “Like, black and red.”
I flip her off, opening the door as Tiggy and Lauren arrive at the same time.
“This place ismuchnicer than I thought you had,” Tiggy admits with a gasp.
“This is Niall’s place,” Liam grunts from behind her.
Fiona is busy scowling at Ronan, who came with Liam and Tiggy, but Tiggy and Lauren start squealing excitedly. I roll my eyes at them, crossing to the bar.
Connor steps inside the front door, his arms crossed over his chest, frowning at me. Why is he here? I didn’t invite him, and he doesn’t guard Tiggy.
Fiona strolls over to Niall’s wet bar as I hurry over, and we pour out some shots, water for Tiggy, of course. The door opens before we can hand them out, Seamus and Paddy strolling in. Why the hell are they here? This is less like a girl’s night and more like a weird work event.
“We heard you were having a party in Niall’s absence.” Seamus raises his eyebrows at me. Excuse me? Ilivehere. I can do whatever I like, including inviting people over for drinks.
“No.” I roll my eyes at him. “I was having the girls over for dancing. You lot invited yourselves. You can leave whenever you feel the urge.”
Turning my back on the annoying Irishmen, I hand out the shots, and we down them. The men move to the kitchen, and I catch Connor sneaking one of my snacks.
“Those aren’t for you! If you want to eat, make something yourself or order in.”
Grinning, Connor holds my gaze as he picks up another snack, cramming it into his mouth. Asshole. I flip him off, turning back to the girls where Fiona is handing around more shots. Yes, please.
We’re getting severely drunk, having a little dance party while the men gather in the kitchen, drinking beer and watching us when Niall walks through the front door.
I stare at him, my heart thudding in my chest. He wasn’t supposed to be back for another two days. This is the best surpriseever! He freezes, blinking in surprise as his eyes trail over everyone in his space.
Shrieking, I launch myself across the room at him. He catches me, his hands coming under my thighs to hold me as I wrap my legs around his waist. His lips meet mine, and he kisses me hungrily, ignoring the drunken cheers from the girls.
“Ye’re having a party,amhuirnín?” he asks, lifting his head from mine.
“I’mtryingto have a girl’s night,” I grumble at him. “Buttheywon’t leave.”
I jerk my thumb over my shoulder at the men in the kitchen, who salute Niall with their beers as he nods to them.
“They’re nosy feckers like that,” he agrees with a grin, and I wink conspiratorially at him.
“Now that you’re here, I can share my news!” I squeal excitedly, which captures the attention of the room.
“And what news would that be, lass?” Niall laughs, dropping his duffel bag beside the door and carrying me back into the main area.
“Hart’s dead!” I beam at him. Niall blinks, his face suddenly impassive. “Car accident.”
I hug him tightly, jumping down. Niall lets me go, staring after me as I pour another round of shots. Tiggy and Lauren look confused, but Fiona fist pumps.
“Woohoo!” she cheers. “Good riddance to rapist trash!”
She clinks her shot glass with mine, downing it as I down mine.Before Tiggy or Lauren can ask the question I can see is on the tips of their tongues, Niall strides across the room, smashing his fist into Seamus’s jaw.
Seamus staggers back, Connor steadying him as Paddy and Ronan grab Niall and hold him back. We stare in silence at the lot of them. It all starts to make sense when Niall roars at Seamus.
“He wasmyfecking kill, ye meddling cunt!”
I stare at Seamus in shock because he doesn’t deny it. He stands there and lets Niall rage at him like he feels he deserves it.