Irish Oxytocin

Touch | 27

                           ❁ Chapter 27 ❁

                 Cora's Point of View

The barbecue was a complete success. Hailey got along with all my friends and everyone chatted together about memories from both countries to unite us all with one person.
Nolan.

Shawn, Aaliyah, Jacob and Ethan eventually came to the party shortly after my talk with Hailey, and everything only improved from there. I hate to admit it, but I like her. I really like her. She's one of the sweetest people I have ever met in my life. Most importantly, I could tell that she truly loves Nolan.
She told me multiple stories from their childhood, and I felt like I should've been intimidated. Yet, I wasn't. It was refreshing to hear about Nolan's past from other people's perspectives. It showed me that he really is way too hard on himself.

Today was Nolan's day, and we made sure he knew it. We were gathered here to celebrate him, after all. When the night was coming to an end, Ronan brought Riley to bed before Gran poured us all cocktails. We sat around the fire in Nolan's backyard as the sun started to set.

"Today was great, guys. Thank you," Nolan blushed, putting his drink up in the air.

Ronan smiled at him with a soft gaze before standing up from his chair. We all stared at him while taking sips of our drinks.

"I'd like to use this moment for us all to make a toast to my brother: the man who has united us all here today for a good cause. The beginning of his adulthood,"
He looked at me and winked.
"...and his beginning with Cora Pierce."

Nolan and I blushed as everyone clinked their drinks and cheered.

"I'll go first since it was my idea."

Everyone laughed as Ronan turned to his clearly embarrassed brother.

"Nol', you are easily my bestest friend in the whole world. Life was never easy for you, but I'm so incredibly proud of the life you built here for yourself. You aren't the man our father has made you out to be. You're so much more, and you have no idea how much I truly love you," he purred.

Nolan smiled as they clinked their drinks.

"I love you, brother."

Everyone cheered and clinked at his toast.

"Okay! My turn before I have to get my old ass to bed," Gran interrupted to stand out of her chair.

We all laughed as Daniel and Hailey protested at Gran's comment to herself.

"Nollie," She cooed.
Nolan closed his eyes with a big smile.
"I'm so proud of you my boy. You are the son I never had. I see a bit of my beautiful Sophia in you and your wonderful little sister every day and you make it so much easier to live in a world without her. She blessed me with three of the greatest grandbabies I could ever ask for. And even if your brother isn't mine my blood, I love you both just as much. Sophia ould've been so proud of you both."

Ronan and Nolan grinned at each other widely.

"I know this move wasn't easy on you, but I'd do it a hundred times more if I knew how much you would've grown into the person you are right now because of your friends. You're so important to me and I promise I'll protect you forever; even when I'm gone."

Grab choked on her voice and we all awed. Nolan stood up to give her a big hug as we all took sips of our drinks.

"Dani'," Gran called, wiping her tears. "I nominate you."

Ella and I cheered loud as Daniel stood up from his chair.

"Alright, alright," he laughed.

"Gallagher, I know I haven't made these months easy on you out of love for my sister, but it'll never change that you are just as much as my family as everyone else in this circle. You moving here was the change we all needed, and I genuinely think you made our senior year the best it could've been. I'm very excited for you to be my brother one day, even if I'll kick your ass if you hurt my sister."