64. Darcy

CHAPTER 64

DARCY

"Happy birthday!" they shout, and Hayden wraps his arms around me from behind, hugging me to him.

I stand there, blinking. The entire Vancouver Storm team and their partners fill the bar, and everyone is in costume.

"We were going to do the party next week, when everyone has time off." I sound dazed, and a little breathless.

Hayden shrugs, smiling. "Wouldn't be much of a surprise then, would it?"

Most of the women are in long, flowing medieval-looking dresses, except for Hazel, who looks like Robin Hood with a sword strapped across her back and a scar drawn down the side of her face. Pippa beams at me, her long, wavy hair sprayed white and her eyelashes coated in frost. Tiny sparrows are pinned into her hair. Georgia wears a long emerald-green cloak, her hair piled on top of her head and arranged around a diadem. In the middle of the diadem, a ruby sparkles.

Wait. I know that costume.

"This is a Northern Sword dress-up party?" I ask Hayden, eyes going even wider.

Georgia's dressed like Queen Amethyst, the main character in The Emerald Queen. Hazel is clearly Ren, the kidnapped princess. Rory's in tight black pants and a black shirt, open to mid-chest, tattoos drawn on his chest, neck, and the side of his face—Weston, Ren's laconic, arrogant rival and kidnapper, who ends up being her fated mate after she stabs him in an attempt to escape. Alexei wears a black mask over his eyes and a leather harness with prop knives in it—Piers, the warrior. Jamie's knight costume is Torsten, Ren's responsible and uptight brother. And Pippa is Magnolia, the lonely, soft-hearted ice queen.

Even Jordan behind the bar wears pointed ears someone probably wrangled her into. She's Carrot, I think, the wry, all-seeing barkeep.

"Well?" Georgia gestures at her costume, hand on her hip. "Did we nail it or what?"

My lips part and I make a strangled noise, smiling. A few people chuckle.

"I don't have a costume," I say stupidly, but Hayden just grins and reaches into a nearby duffel bag before pulling a crown out and placing it on his head.

"You're Prince Cadius." I sound dazed as I stare up at him. He looks so perfect and right with the crown on top of his slightly mussed hair.

He looks just like I envisioned the character when I read the books, before Patrick Grant was cast as him on the show. Golden blond, more handsome than I thought possible, and smiling ear to ear.

"Mhm." He wraps a red cloak around his shoulders. After rummaging back in the bag, he pulls out a slinky, silvery cape.

I stand there in awe as he drapes it around me.

"And you"—he lifts another crown, this one more delicate and spindly, with sparkling gemstones—"are Aurora." He places it on my head; it's so much lighter than I would have expected .

Aurora, the Secret Queen. The loyal, brave maid who rescues her kidnapped princess. The one everyone underestimated. Pride and delight clench in my chest at stepping into the shoes of my favorite character.

His crown, his cape, my cape. "These props look so real."

"I messaged the cast and they hooked me up with the wardrobe department."

" Shut up !" My hands fly to the crown on my head. "This is the one she actually wore on the show? Shut up."

There are rumors A.R. Haddington worked directly with the props department to design the props.

"Except for Volkov." Georgia smirks, gesturing at his leather harness. "He brought those from his personal collection."

He glares at her before turning to me. "These are also props. Happy birthday."

I roll my lips so I don't laugh. Every fan of the series hopes Queen Amethyst and Piers finally hook up in The Emerald Queen. "You all look amazing. Thank you so much. I—" My words break off as I choke up. "I didn't expect this."

Someone turns the music back on, and as the laughter and conversation resume, I take in all the people gathered in the bar for my birthday. I've built a life for myself here in Vancouver. I have people. Hayden kisses my cheek, grinning against my skin, and I lean back against his chest, beaming.

The door opens, and we turn.

Luca waltzes in wearing his Storm jersey and a waist-length, wavy pale-purple wig. Everyone goes silent and stares at him.

"Sorry I'm late." He shoots me a quick, boyish grin. "Girl trouble." His gaze lifts to my crown and he smiles wider. "Birthday crown. I like it. Happy birthday, Darcy. "

"Thanks, Luca." I cover my mouth to stifle my laughter at his growing confusion as he notices everyone's costumes.

"What are you wearing?" Alexei demands.

Luca gestures at his wig. "I'm Darcy. Look." He turns, and his name on the back of the jersey is covered in masking tape, with the letters OWENS written in black marker.

Alexei stares at him. "Why?"

"You said we're dressing up as Darcy."

"I said we're dressing up as Darcy's favorite TV show ."

Georgia's laughing so hard she has to grip my arm to hold herself up. "Walker, you look like a mermaid."

Luca shoots me a quick grin, not the least embarrassed. "Sorry."

I shake my head, smiling wide and laughing. "Nothing to be sorry about, Luca. You look great."

"Right?" He bobs his head, making the wig dance. "I'm feeling this hair."

Hayden tugs me to the bar to get a drink and my gaze catches on the chalkboard with the daily specials. A pink cocktail is drawn with an umbrella and a scribbly something above it.

The Darcy - bright, sweet, bubbly, and surprisingly strong!

My heart squeezes.

"A special drink? For me?" I beam at the sign, then glance at Hayden in surprise. He just grins and winks. "Really?"

"It was Georgia's idea," Jordan says with a small smile, filling a cocktail shaker.

My heart warms with affection and I look back up at the sign. "What's the thing beside the umbrella?"

"A sparkler," she says with a defensive edge, like it's not the first time someone has asked. She tucks something on the rim of my glass, clicks a lighter, and pulls her hand back as a sphere of sparks bursts from the drink. My eyes are probably glowing .

"Like it?" Jordan asks with a wry smirk.

I lean back against Hayden, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt, as he presses a kiss to my neck. "Love it."

Later, I sit with Hayden at the bar, watching our friends enjoy the party. Between challenging people to fake sword fights, Rory keeps unbuttoning his shirt lower to make Hazel roll her eyes and laugh. Pippa's perched on Jamie's lap in the corner while he murmurs in her ear. Georgia and Alexei stay on opposite sides of the bar.

It's the best birthday I've ever had.

"I feel like I'm made of rainbows," I tell Hayden.

He shakes with laughter. "I thought you've only had two of those drinks."

"I have. I'm not drunk." I shrug and give him what's probably a very goofy smile, memorizing this moment. "I'm just happy. Thank you." I move closer so our thighs touch, then rest my hand on his.

"What makes you think I had anything to do with this?" He arches a teasing brow, and I roll my eyes, smiling wider.

With his fingers beneath my chin, he tips my mouth up to his and kisses me so soft and sweet my heart dips.

"Happy birthday, Darcy," he says against my lips.