“Nora won’t answer any of my messages.” I take a big gulp of the scotch, and Mick frowns at me.
“Slow down, that’s the good stuff.”
Liam laughs. “Yeah, you’re supposed to get drunk slowly, with style.”
Mick flicks a thumb at him. “See, he gets it.”
“I told her I have feelings for her.”
“No shit,” Mick says. “You’ve been talking about her for weeks. It didn’t go well? Was she weird about it because she’s kind of your sister now?”
Liam laughs and shoves his shoulder. “She’s not his fucking sister. Cool it with that.”
I set the cup down and burrow my head between my hands. “I think I said something really stupid.”
“No doubt,” Liam says. “Did you apologize?”
I look up, feeling like an idiot. “What?”
“Holy shit, he didn’t apologize,” Mick crows, laughing.
I feel like the stupidest man alive. Earlier this week, I told Nora she should apologize to her mother, and on the very same night, I failed to apologize to her.
I’ve sent her plenty of texts, and none of them have included anything approaching an apology. While I don’t think I was wrong, necessarily, I was definitely a dick. I can apologize for that, at least.
“Should I text her?”
Liam snorts. “Why don’t you send her a gif?”
“Really?”
“No, not really. Put your gloves away. We’re going to The Ginger Station.”
“Hey, you think her cousin will be there?” Mick asks.
“Who?” I say, already focused on our mission.
“Hazel.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t seen her since the wedding.”
“Me neither.”
He looks perturbed, which is amusing since Mick never loses his cool over women. He always seems to know exactly what he’s doing—or he’s very good at pretending to know.
“Shouldn’t we change first?” I glance down at my gym shorts and sweaty T-shirt.
“She’ll think you’re more sincere if you look like shit,” Liam insists.
He’d know, I suppose.
“What’re we gonna do with the scotch?” Mick asks, eyeing the cups. “That’s good scotch.”
“Drink it. I’ll drive, you maniac. But Cormac should have his own car.”
I agree, and a few minutes later I’m driving out of the parking lot, tailing Liam.
I turn on the radio, hoping it’ll help settle my nerves, and a talk show is playing. Two seconds in, I nearly plow into Liam’s car, because the guy introduces himself as Vernon Leigh.
