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The last one has a toothy grin splitting my face again.
A Mhuirnín:
I can’t believe how damn much I miss you already. I’ll call you after dinner.
I pack up my briefcase and laptop for the day so I can get home before Hadley calls me. What I wouldn’t give to have her in my arms tonight. With my phone in hand and key fob in my pocket, I head to my car. Once I get in and start the car, I dial Alannah. She picks up after two rings.
“Brother,” she answers.
“So, you like her?”
I know she can hear the smile in my voice when she scoffs in response.
“You never could resist gloating. Go ahead, say ‘I told you so.’”
I stifle a laugh. “Have you and Sean had dinner? I’m just leaving the office.”
“Of course we did. It’s after seven p.m. Would you like to come over for leftovers?”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Thanks, Alannah.” I smirk as I end the call.
I made it to my sister’s in less than twenty minutes since I got lucky and hit every green light. I pull up to her two-story colonial, lights shining through the windows of the first floor. I let myself in to find Alannah and Sean sitting on the couch watching reruns ofWill and Grace.
“Do you two ever watch anything else?” I laugh, walking past them toward the kitchen, where Alannah has a plate of shepherd’s pie waiting for me.
I grab a drink before taking my plate and a fork out to the living room to join them.
“Uncle, just because you wouldn’t stand a chance with Debra Messing doesn’t mean you have to disrespect a classic.” Sean’s response has me choking on my first bite of food.
Alannah is smiling at him with pride. We sit there for a few hours enjoying each other’s presence watching the old sitcom.
“Can we at least all agree that Sean Hayes carried this series?” I look back and forth between the two of them for confirmation.
It’s eleven p.m. before I get home, and I realize that Hadley hasn’t called me. I send her a text to check on her.
Connor:
Mo ghrá, did you make it home safe?
I lie there for a few hours staring at the ceiling, worried that something is wrong since I haven’t received a reply before sleep finally takes hold.
Chapter Twenty
HADLEY
Kat, Ryan, and I meet at Finley’s at five p.m., the table once again covered with all the favorites that we share. A few drinks down the hatch, and Kat and I grind on each other while Ryan sways back and forth near us. The jukebox is playing “Low” by Flo Rida, and Kat and I are living our best 2009 lives while Ryan watches us, laughing and shaking her head. I grab her wrist and get her sandwiched between us so we can dance together. She’s stiff at first, but eventually loosens up so that we’re all in sync with the music.
We get lost in the drinks that people keep buying us at the bar. The night passes so quickly that I lose track of time. At some point, it clicks to change to water so that I can drive. After my fourth glass of water, I tell the girls it’s time to go, and we pile into my car so I can drop them off.
I’m finally pulling into the driveway at midnight. We shut down Finley’s, which is a first for a weeknight. I put my car in park and pull out my phone to text Connor to see that I have no service.
What the hell?
I step out of my car, pressing the button on the remote to lock and arm it. I stride slowly toward the house, not in the mood to see Andy. When I reach the front door, I notice it’s unlocked. Of course Andy would forget to lock the door.
Jackass.
I make it to my new bedroom and change into Connor’s t-shirt, which is still on my bed. It doesn’t smell like him anymore, and I give out a pouty huff. I really should trade it out for a fresh one. Still, I put it on and revel in the fact that it once touched his perfect physique. I climb into bed and curl up under the covers. Checking my phone one last time before I crash for the night, I notice I still have no signal. I send a goodnight text in case whatever the issue may be is resolved while I’m sleeping.
