AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Look at me.”
I take a deep breath and turn to face him. “Say it.”
He stares at me, his eyes sad but determined. “This isn’t working.”
I nod. I don’t know what else to say or do. I want to fight, but the look he’s giving me tells me there isn’t anything to fight for. So I ask the only thing I want to know. “Why?”
“My life, it’s dark and dangerous. Being with me puts you at risk, being with me puts Maddie at risk. I can’t do that.”
“Do you not think that it’s my choice?”
He watches me, I don’t know what he’s looking for, but I don’t give him anything. It’s taking everything in me not to completely break down in front of him, but I won’t give him that kind of power over me.
“Liv…”
“Forget it, you’re right. Thank you for the lift home.” I don’t wait for a response; I climb out of the car and head straight for the elevator. He doesn’t follow and I don’t even look back.
“Thank you for taking her tonight, Mary, I really do appreciate everything you all do for me.”
“Liv, honey, you don’t have to thank me. I love this little girl; I love spending time with her. Thank you for trusting me with her. Why don’t you go relax, Maddie wants to make some Valentine’s cookies for Finn, apparently.”
I laugh. Maddie really has taken a shine to Finn. She loves all of the O’Farrell’s, including Ronan.
She’s seen him in the last three weeks, I haven’t. He’s been at Mary’s a few times when she’s had Maddie. I’ve done my best to avoid him.
“You okay, Liv?” Dan comes up next to me and dumps another box of spirits on the counter.
The club has a Valentine’s night event on and we’re expecting to be at capacity all night.
“Yeah… just, do you not think it’s a bit, I don’t know… red? Everywhere I turn it’s in your face, maybe you should have broken up the colour a little…”
“You not a fan of Valentine’s Day?”
“Oh, I have no issue with Valentine’s Day, what I do have an issue with is all the red. I feel like my eyes are bleeding.”
He doesn’t respond, he just laughs, walking away. Dick.
Three hours later and we’re slammed––we had to call in extra staff to support. The bar is two deep all the way around, and there are only four of us behind it serving. I’m handing over a customer’s change when the air around me changes, and I feel him before I see him.
I was really hoping not to see him tonight. Deciding not to look around and just to serve, I lean over to grab the next customer’s order, when I see him to the right of the couple I’m serving.
Handing over their drinks, the guy swipes his card and I place the reader back in its holder, ready to move down the bar to serve someone else, when he grabs my arm. “What, you can’t serve me now?” His tone is icy.
I take a deep breath then look up into his eyes. “What can I get you to drink, Ronan?”
“Whiskey.”
I smile, heading to the back wall to grab his drink.
“I need you working the VIP area tonight.”
Handing him his drink, I shake my head. “Sorry, Ronan, I can’t. The bar is slammed, and besides, you have Josie and Leon up there, it’s covered.” I try to keep my tone neutral, but internally I’m freaking out––having him this close is killing me. I walk away before he can say anything or before I do something stupid.
I don’t turn around, but I know he’s watching me as he heads up to the VIP section.
Chapter 33
Ronan
