Chapter 69

CHAPTER 69

RYLEE

I walked into work with a little extra pep in my step. I was officially moved into Simon's house. Our house. We had spent a ridiculous amount of money picking out new furniture, appliances, and bedding. It was pretty fun setting up a home when a budget didn't exist. I had fun doing it. We both did. Simon had been a bit like a kid in a candy store running around pointing at this and that and declaring he wanted it.

Now, as I made my way behind the bar, I couldn't help but notice the knowing looks from my coworkers. Everyone knew about Simon and me moving in together. They were expecting me to quit now that I had a rich boyfriend.

"You're here," Mike said.

"I told you I would be," I said.

"I thought Mr. Millionaire would have you set up in your fancy new house, drinking pink champagne and ordering your servants around."

"Very funny," I said dryly. "I'm still a working girl, Mike," I replied with a smirk. "Besides, Simon wouldn't be caught dead drinking pink champagne."

Mike chuckled. "Well, I'm glad you're still slumming it with us common folk."

I rolled my eyes playfully and started setting up for the evening shift. "Yeah, yeah, make your jokes. I'm still here and I'm still the best damn bartender this bar has ever seen."

As the night went on, the bar filled up with regulars and new faces alike. The atmosphere was buzzing with laughter and chatter. I loved my job. Of course I was going to keep coming. Despite living in a beautiful mansion and dating a very wealthy man that spoiled me rotten, I was still me. I liked to make my own money.

Suddenly, a group of rowdy customers caught my attention. They were getting louder and more disruptive by the minute. I shot a quick glance at Mike, who nodded in understanding. He was my backup for the night. Phil was off and the other ladies tending the bar weren't exactly the backup I might need.

I made my way over to the group. "Hey folks, let's keep it down a bit, okay? We've got other customers trying to enjoy their drinks."

One of the guys, clearly drunk, turned to me with a sneer. "Who are you to tell us what to do, sweetheart?"

I felt a rush of adrenaline as I stood my ground, refusing to back down. "I'm the bartender," I said firmly, my voice steady. "And if you can't respect the other customers here, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

The man's friends started murmuring among themselves, but he just laughed in my face. "You think you can kick us out? We're paying customers!"

I knew I could be a hothead and I didn't want to make this worse. "Last warning and then we'll see what I can and can't do. Trust me, I'm not the one you want to mess with."

The sober one in the group looked at me. "I'm sorry. We're on our way out."

"Thank you."

They left a few minutes later.

"Good job," Mike said with a laugh.

I looked around at the half-full bar. Working a shift at the bar on a slow night wasn't my favorite way to spend a Friday, but I did my best to stay upbeat. The place had a nice hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses, but it lacked the usual rush of bodies that kept me busy. Maybe I shouldn't have kicked out the rowdy guys. We could have used the business.

Simon was out of town for the weekend. Normally, I would have been happy to get off early and go home to him, but I didn't want to go home to an empty house. I tried to stay busy, but when Phil came in and looked around, I knew what was coming.

"It's your turn to go home early," he said.

"I know," I sighed.

Really, I knew it was the right thing to do. I had a stable house that I didn't have to pay rent at. The other people needed the hours. I texted Karen and asked if she was up for hanging out in a while. I was going to order a beer and eat some wings and then I'd be there in an hour. Her response was immediate and strange.

"Can you just come right now?" Karen texted back.

"Is something wrong?" I texted her.

Her reply was evasive. "We can talk when you get here."

Concerned, I hurriedly gathered my things and left the bar. The drive to the Big House felt longer than usual as my mind raced with possibilities. What could be going on? Was Karen okay? Did something happen to one of our friends?

I pulled up to the house and quickly walked through the front door, only to be bombarded by the loudest, most joyful chorus of "Surprise!" I'd ever heard. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze in the doorway, confused. My birthday was still a week away!

"What the hell!" I gasped. "Did I just ruin someone's surprise? Is this a bridal shower for Lauren?"

But no, Lauren was standing there with a bright smile.

Mary Ellen laughed, stepping forward with a mischievous grin. "This is how you pull off the best surprise."

I looked around, taking in the décor. It wasn't birthday themed. There was a huge banner hanging in the archway to the living room. "The Big Mixology House," I read aloud. I was confused. Beyond confused. My heart started hammering in my chest when realization started to dawn. Was this what I thought it was?

Before I could process it all, Simon appeared, holding a cake shaped like a martini glass in one hand and paperwork in the other. My head spun as he approached me, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he handed the cake off to Archer.

"We all came together and decided we knew exactly how to make the most out of the Big House now that it was going to be empty," he said, handing me the paperwork. "It's yours. All yours. To make it your own, run your program, and give up-and-coming mixologists the experience you always wanted."

Happy tears welled up in my eyes as I looked around at my friends, all beaming at me. I couldn't believe it. They had turned the house into my dream—The Big Mixology House. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and love.

"Are you serious?" I asked on a breath.

"Very serious." Jenny nodded.

"I'm speechless," I said.

Simon kissed me. "Surprise."

"Thank you," I said, my voice trembling. "Thank you all so much."

The reality of the moment hit me like a ton of bricks, and I let out a shaky laugh. This incredible gift from my friends was beyond anything I could have imagined. The realization that they had all come together to support my dream left me feeling a mix of joy, gratitude, and disbelief.

As I walked through the house, now transformed into The Big Mixology House, I couldn't contain my excitement. Every room was filled with the equipment, tools, and decor needed to set up my very own mixology program. The bar area sparkled with new glassware, bottles of premium spirits lined the shelves, and a state-of-the-art cocktail station took center stage. It was a dream come true.

Simon stood by my side, his eyes filled with pride and affection. "I wanted to support you in following your passion," he said softly. "I know how much creating this space means to you."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I hugged him tightly, overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness. "I can't believe you did all of this."

"It wasn't just me." He laughed.

"You are the slowest mover ever," Karen teased. "We've been waiting for you to finish moving out so we could get in here and do all of this."

I laughed again. "Sorry. I was thinking you were sad I was moving out."

"Make us some drinks!" Jameson called out.

"You got it!"

I was a little overwhelmed with all of the choices. I made a few custom cocktails based on what everyone was craving. We played games and talked about the future. It was one of those nights that felt surreal, too good to be true. I couldn't believe I had a man like Simon who understood me so deeply, who knew the ins and outs of my soul. This school was something I had only dreamed about. I never really thought it would be a reality.

At one point, I needed a moment alone with him. I grabbed his hand and led him out back. The cold night air bit at our skin, but we didn't care. We wrapped our arms around each other, finding warmth in our embrace.

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me," I whispered, looking into his eyes.

He chuckled, pulling me closer. "Damn right I am," he said, playfully grabbing my ass.

I laughed, feeling a rush of happiness. "I love you so much, Simon."

"I love you too, Rylee," he said, pressing his lips to mine.

We stood there for a while, just holding each other and enjoying the quiet night. The world felt perfect in that moment. I felt a profound sense of contentment and joy, knowing that I had the support and love of the most amazing people. The future was going to be good. Great.

Eventually, we headed back inside to join the others. The celebration continued late into the night, with the alcohol flowing freely. I couldn't stop smiling, my heart overflowing with gratitude. This was everything I had ever wanted and more.

"Can I have another one of those pink ones?" Mary Ellen asked. It was clear she was feeling pretty good. I looked at Archer, who gave me a slight nod.

"Alright," I said.

As I mixed up another round of the pink cocktails, laughter and chatter filled the room. I couldn't help but feel like the luckiest person in the world. Seeing my friends enjoying themselves in the space we had grown together made my heart happy.

As the night wore on, Simon caught my eye from across the room and winked at me. I smiled back, feeling a surge of affection for him. I couldn't believe how everything had fallen into place, how he had orchestrated this incredible surprise that exceeded all my expectations.

As the night drew to a close and the rides arrived to take all of us except Karen home, I looked around one last time. I needed to make sure it was real. We said our goodbyes to our friends, promising to meet again soon for a night of fun. Simon and I went home and crawled into bed. I was tired but exhilarated. We lay in bed, holding each other.

"You've made all my dreams come true," I said softly, looking at him.

"You deserve it," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity. "And this is just the beginning."

I kissed him, feeling a surge of love and gratitude. "I can't wait to see what the future holds," I said.

"Me neither," he said, smiling.

"I can't believe the Big House is no longer our home." I sighed. "In a way, I'm sad to see it go, but happy for the school."

Simon ran a hand through his hair, his expression softening. "I know what the Big House meant to you. But now it will serve a greater purpose."

"You're right," I said quietly, reaching for his hand. "I'll always cherish the moments we all shared there."

"You'll share more moments there," he said. "They're not going anywhere."