He flashes me a wink that leaves me with butterflies in my stomach.
I’ve missed this side of Cormac so damn much. I only hope I don’t lose it again.
Cormac turns his attention back to Brennan. “It’s well deserved. You are an idiot.”
“And you’re a p?—”
“Brennan! There are enough children in this house already. We don’t need you acting like one too!” Ciara yells over the banister, making him jump in fright, which is laughable, considering the horrors he’s been exposed to ever since he was old enough to walk.
Brennan scoffs. “Now you’ve got Ciara bullying me too.”
Scout pats his arm. “Don’t worry, Uncle Brennan. I won’t laugh at you.”
“Why are you laughing at me?”
“Because you just got told off by a girl.”
“Hurry up!” I hiss under my breath at Ciara. “Before Brennan loses his shit.”
We dash into the nursery and collapse onto the floor in a fit of giggles as we hear the echoes of Brennan and Cormac’s argument from the floor below.
Riley appears a few moments later, shaking her head as she fights a smile. “I’m living in a madhouse.”
Once Aubrey has been changed into a fresh outfit, Riley hands her off to me to soothe so she and Ciara can sort through the never-ending piles of clothes that are building up in the corner of the room.
Riley sighs, holding up a pink onesie. “She’s already grown out of this. As if I don’t cry enough already.”
I gently rock Aubrey back and forth. “What are you going to do with all of her old clothes?”
Her eyes are already starting to droop, and I dip my chin so I can breathe in that new baby smell.
Ciara grins. “Pass them on to you.”
“Stop that right now,” I warn her. “No way.”
“I’m just saying…”
Riley and Ciara share a look that has me rolling my eyes.
“Can we not get ahead of ourselves? Cormac and I might have managed to survive a weekend away without killing each other, but that doesn’t mean we’re ready to procreate.”
“Who is procreating?”
I stiffen at the sound of Kieran’s voice.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see him hovering in the doorway.
He immediately clocks me holding his daughter, and I catch when the muscle in his jaw flexes and his hands curl into fists.
My stomach drops.
I know that look. It’s a silent warning that I’m crossing a line.
“Uh…” I’m unsure how to diffuse the sudden tension in the air, and Kieran’s glare hasn’t softened an inch.
Riley sets her hands on her waist. “Kieran, everyone else has forgiven Fiona, and it’s about time you did too.”
Kieran scoffs, folding his arms as he continues to scowl at me. “Clearly. I knew this trip was a bad idea.”
