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“And I’m wearing a condom,” the big bastard chimed in.
“Oh Jesus,” I whimpered, gagging at the mental image.
“You need to learn how to knock,” Shannon strangled out breathlessly. “Now go.”
“Are you seriously going to keep going?” When she didn’t deny it, I shuddered in repulsion. “I can’t believe you’re actually doing that.”
“Joe, we’ve been doing ‘that’ for months now.”
“For fuck’s sake, Shannon, why’d you have to tell me that?” I hissed, stomach churning in disgust as I staggered blindly for the door. “I only wanted a spin to Aoife’s place, not another reason to be in therapy.”
______________________
“About what you saw back there…” Kav finally addressed the elephant in the room, much to my dismay. “About me and Shan.”
“Listen, lad, all I need from you is a spin to my girlfriend’s house,” I replied, still feeling queasy as he drove me into town. “Not an explanation.”
“I love her.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“No,” he said, tone serious. “I love her, lad. I’m in love with her.”
“Good for you,” I muttered, unable to look at him anymore without seeing the image of… Jesus, I couldn’t even think it. “I know you love her,” I decided to add. “It’s the only reason I’m not losing it right now.”
He was quiet for a moment, clearly absorbing my words before he spoke again.
“I’m going to take her with me, Joey,” he said quietly. “When I leave Ballylaggin? Wherever I end up, I’m taking her with me.”
“Good,” I replied. “At least she’ll have a fighting chance.”
“She already has a fighting chance,” he replied gruffly. “Because of you, lad. Not me.”
My phone rang then, distracting me from our conversation, and I quickly snatched it out of my pocket and clicked Accept. “Hello?”
“Hello? Joey love, it’s me, Trish. I was just wondering what time you would be here?”
“Hey. I’m on the way over now.”
“Oh, thank god.” She sighed heavily down the line. “She’s having a bad day, pet.”
My heart sank. “I won’t be long.”
145
Daddy’s Here
JOEY
My heart was thundering in my chest the rest of the way to her house, and that thundering sensation only increased when Trish opened the door to me.
“How is she?”
Her mother’s eyes were full of concern when she stepped aside and gestured for me to come in. “I think she could use her partner in crime.”
I could hear AJ crying the minute I stepped inside, but that crying only intensified with every step I took to her bedroom door. I didn’t knock, because I didn’t see the point. Instead, I quietly slipped inside and closed the door behind me.
Sitting on the bed, cradling the tiny blond head of curls, Aoife rocked and sobbed. “Mam, I can’t do it.”
