Becoming the Whiskey Princess by Toni Aleo

seems as if it’s in fast-forward mode and we have no idea how to slow it down. We’ll be married in a couple months, we’ll be living in his home, and he’ll be running a company while I bust my ass during school. It kind of scares me. I’m not saying I’m having second thoughts because I’m not, but I am nervous.
    To my core.
    “When you gonna tell Ma and Da?”
    I look over at Fiona and shrug. “I was gonna ask you the same thing.”
    Her brows come in before taking a step toward me. “What’s wrong?”
    I let my shoulders sag and shake my head. “I wish I had time like you and Kane do,” I say quietly, turning to face the bottles of alcohol so no one can hear me. She comes to the front and nods.
    “If you want it, tell someone.”
    “No,” I say, shaking my head. “He’ll lose the distillery—”
    “And you won’t let that happen. Yeah, I got that, but you have to think of you too.”
    “But it isn’t just about me. It’s about both of us.”
    “Sure, I get that, but you are being rushed.”
    “Yeah, but it’s my choice,” I say, shaking my head. I turn and reach for a rag. “I shouldn’t have said anything. No worries.”
    I tear away from her gaze and notice we need more beer. “I’m gonna go get some more beer.”
    She tries to stop me, but I head to the back to get the beer. With each step I take, I hate that I said anything. I knew what I was getting into when I said yes. I knew that this would be fast, that things would change, and that my life wouldn’t be just mine, but Declan’s too. I want this. I do. So much, I can feel it in my bones. I want him for the rest of my life. And while, yes, some time to just be us and not worry about everything that is going on would be ideal, we have the rest of our lives for that. Once we get married and all that is behind us, it will be us. We will fall more in love with each passing day. It will be great.
    It will be everything my mom ever wanted for me.

“R ubbish, is what it all is.”
    I look across my desk at Kane, who nods in agreement. Looking back down at the newspapers, I want to scream. Each one is nothing but trash, but still, the people of this town read it. This is one of the parts I hate about being who I am. The part that comes with having the name O’Callaghan. A part of me wants it all to stop, but this is who I am. It worries me, though, because I’m bringing Amberlyn into this. I can’t shield her from these people, hell, I can’t even shield myself, so I have to ignore it. But it’s so fucking hard.
    Reading each one, I shake my head. It’s complete bollocks!
    Will Casey Burke go away for life or will his plea of insanity break him free?
    What will the O’Callaghans do if that happens?
    Will the Whiskey Prince be there to support his bride?
    When is the wedding?
    Will she marry the man she took a bullet for?
    The Whiskey Baby due early next spring!
    Glancing back to Kane, I say, “I’m so tired of it all. I wish they’d all go away.”
    “Ah, it’s been like this since you were born,” he answers and then he laughs. “Remember when we took your car and went joyriding? We were drunk, drugged up, and had the devil in us according to the papers.”
    I smile. “The devil part might have been true.”
    Kane laughs. “Yeah, for sure, but still, it’s all shite. We know the truth. Casey is going to go away for life. Amberlyn will make sure of that while you are there, and no one, outside of who was invited, will find out when the wedding is. No baby is coming though, right?”
    “Be real. No. We haven’t even done it yet.”
    He smirks. “Oh yeah, can’t close, huh?”
    I glare. “Not when my ma is walking in every five seconds.”
    He laughs as he shakes his head. “Eh, it will happen. But in the meantime, ignore all this shite, yeah?”
    I nod. “Yeah, it makes me nervous though.”
    “What does?” he asks, his brows coming together.
    Meeting my best mate’s gaze, I ask, “What if he does get