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Sorcha places Lily’s dinner in front of her before going to get Eric’s.
“ Language,” Sorcha remarks as she places Eric’s plate in front of him.
“It would be bar work, but there is room to climb the ranks.”
Eric’s smile dwindles. “Like pulling pints and shit?”
I nod before I start to cut into the tender beef.
The two-story townhouse is pretty much the same as I remember it. I had spent many nights here with Lily; each memory is fresh and accompanied by a stab of pain that makes me more determined to get the information I seek.
I park on the quiet street. In the distance, I hear an electric lawn edger, but that’s the only sound that greets me. My car beeps as I lock it and make my way to the front of the house. Sun reflects off the recently cleaned windows. That’s one thing about Lily’s mother; she kept a spotless home. She took great pride in her home. Every window is open, and as I raise my hand to knock on the door, I pause; it’s been left ajar.
“Hello.” I call as I step into the hallway. Not much has changed here, either. She still has the black and gray striped wallpaper. The flooring might be different, but I don’t have time to inspect the space as Lily’s mother smiles at me from the kitchen door. A snow-white apron is wrapped around her small waist. Cigarette smoke rises from in-between her fingers.
She holds out her free arm. “You might be big, but I can still get a hug.” Her gaze stays on me as I walk to her. Sorcha may appear like a regular housewife, but I know how deeply she has fallen into a life of crime. I’m sure her house is used to stash weapons that have ended many lives. I’m sure she knows secrets that would be worth a lot to a man like me.
I step into her one-armed embrace. The smell of her favorite perfume, Charlie, engulfs me, and just like that, another wave of memories hits me, ones I had forgotten about. Mostly of being in this kitchen as we ate pancakes, and she watched us as she leaned against the counter, always with a lit cigarette in her hand and a smile on her face.
“Great to see you, Sorcha,” I say, breaking the embrace. She waves the smoke away and walks into the kitchen.
“I was shocked when Lily said you would be joining us.” Sorcha bends at the waist to look into the oven where a roast is cooking.
“I met her last night, and she insisted,” I say as I sit down.
Sorcha straightens and wipes one hand on the front of her apron. She raises a brow, and I grin.
“Maybe I invited myself.”
She purses her lips and nods her head. “That sounds more like it. Lily isn’t exactly friendly.” She stubs out the cigarette, and I suddenly want to learn more about Lily.
But speak of the devil, and he shall appearsprings to mind as Lily calls from the front door.
“Hi, Mammy.”
“Daniel is here, baby.” Her mother calls while giving me a quick glance. I’m sure she’s wondering how Lily will react to my appearance.
Lily enters the kitchen, and she is a wall of hostility and nerves. “Yeah, I know.” Lily half growls.
Lily places her bag on the countertop before shrugging out of a navy cardigan. She’s looking over her mother’s shoulder. “It smells great,” she says, and I use the moment to take her in as her mother offers her a teaspoon of gravy to taste.
The dark denim jeans are painted onto her long curvy legs. The cream sweater fits her snugly. Her dark brown hair is tied up in a high ponytail. With any other girl, they would look basic, but when Lily turns with fire in her eyes and some gravy on her lip, my cock tells me she isn’t basic. Far fucking from it.
Her tongue flicks out and licks the gravy.
“Go, sit down. I’ll start dishing out.” Her mother ushers her away. Lily is hesitant but sits down just as the front door opens again.
Music blasts from Eric’s ear pods that hang around his neck. He marches to his mother but pauses when he notices me at the table.
“Daniel.” His smile is instant as he walks to me and holds out a hand. I get out of the chair and take his hand as he pulls me into a half hug. When we break away, I ruffle his hair like I used to. “You got big,” I say.
He fixes his hair as I sit back down. “Well, you’re a fucking giant.”
“Mind your language,” Sorcha says.
Eric sits beside me. “How has work been?”
He’s too easy. I grin and tilt my head. I want to look at Lily to see her reaction, but instead, I lean into Eric. “Great.”
