Right. So maybe Alec was a little drunk.

And by a little, he meant the room was spinning sideways and he tried to cheers a fire extinguisher thinking it was Casey.

“Oi, Alec.” Podge leaned across the sticky table. “What are you smilin’ at? You look like a man who’s just had a spiritual experience or a wank.”

“Same difference, really,” Joey muttered into his pint.

Alec slapped his hand on his chest like some drunk, lovesick pirate. “Lads,” He said, wobbling only slightly, “I’m in love.”

Dead silence.

Aoife paused mid-sip. Casey turned to stare. Podge squinted like Alec just said he was pregnant.

“Who,” Joey said slowly, “Did you trap into that?”

Alec grinned. “Wouldn’t you love to know.”

“No, really, we would,” Aoife deadpanned.

Alec leaned forward, voice dropping to what he thought was a whisper but probably sounded like a foghorn. “It’s a secret. Massive, top-level MI5 shite. No one—and I mean no one—can know.”

“Why not?” Casey asked, amused.

“’Cause,” Alec said, gesturing wildly. “Her da thinks I’m a menace to society. Her friends think I’m a walking red flag. Her lecturer once gave me detention just for lookin’ in her direction.”

“Was that the time you were caught smoking in the toilets?” Aoife asked.

“That is beside the point, Aoife.”

“Just say who it is,” Podge grinned. “Come on. We won’t tell.”

Alec hiccuped. “You literally will.”

“We promise,” They all said, lying straight through their teeth.

And Alec, in his infinite tequila-soaked wisdom, said your name. “Aurora.”

Everyone gaped.

Joey laughed so hard he nearly fell off the bench. Aoife clutched her chest like she was having a religious awakening. Podge shouted, “No fuckin’ way,” and Casey immediately pulled out her phone like she was ready to text the whole parish.

And that’s when the door opened.

You walked in, all soft hair and cardigan and those eyes that made his brain melt into soup. You didn’t even see Alec yet.

“Oh fuck,” Alec whispered. “There she is. There’s my girl.”

He stood too fast, knocked over Podge’s pint, ignored all four of them shouting, *”Alec, don’t you fucking dare.” and practically sprinted across the pub like an off-lead golden retriever.

“Angel face!” Alec called, arms wide.

You blinked, confused. “What—”

Alec scooped you up. Full lift. Spun you in a circle like in some twisted romcom set in rural Longford.

Everyone was staring. Obviously.

“You are,” Alec said, eyes wide. “So beautiful, I might have a stroke.”

Your brows knitted. “Alec, are you—are you drunk?”

“Drunk on your love, baby.”

She glanced over my shoulder.

Your eyes landed on Joey’s horrified face, Podge’s open mouth, Casey whisper-screaming, and Aoife mouthing oh my God like a soap character.

Your whole body froze. “What did you do?”

Alec beamed, forehead pressed to yours. “Told ’em everything.”

“You what?!”

Alec kissed your nose. “Oops?”