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I shake my head. “Ask Isiah.”
His jaw clenches. “We will sit at another table then.” He nods toward an empty table and chairs away from James and the rest of his men.
Nina and I exchange uncertain glances, but in the end, she relents and follows him to the table. James’ eyes remain on me the entire time, watching me like a hawk. He’s no doubt worried about what I might reveal to his boss about him, but it’s not my place. Cathal will have to confront Isiah about that.
Cathal holds out a chair for Nina, acting like a gentleman, when we all know he’s nothing but a scoundrel. And then he sits next to her, too close for my liking.
“Look, let’s cut the crap,” I say, making Nina’s eyes go wide. “Why are you forcing us to sit here with you when you were a complete and utter ass to Nina?”
He runs a hand across the back of his neck. “Because I regret the way I handled things.” His eyes move to Nina. “I’m sorry, Nina. I was an idiot for ending things the way I did.”
Nina doesn’t crack as she stares at him with hardly any emotion in her expression, despite the fact she was crying in the bathroom in the mall only twenty minutes ago. “Yes, you were an idiot.”
“I’ve regretted it every day since.”
Nina shuffles, a part of her resolve cracking. “You have?”
He nods in response. “Let’s just say I’m used to being alone, and the idea of someone relying on me made me bolt.”
I glare at him. “Because you’re a coward.”
A flash of rage enters his dark eyes and his fists clench. “You are lucky, Bella, that we aren’t sitting with my men, as I don’t allow people to talk to me like that.”
Nina clears her throat. “Talk to you like what? She’s merely stating the truth.”
Cathal’s lips purse into a thin line as a waitress comes over to take our order.
“Hey, Cathal. You guys eating?”
Nina nods in response. “I’ll take one of the famous burgers I’ve heard so much about.”
She smiles at her. “Of course.”
“Make that two,” I reply.
Cathal shakes his head. “Nothing for me, as I’ve already eaten.”
“Okay, two burgers coming up.”
An awkward silence falls between us as the waitress leaves, and none of us speaks.
Cathal runs a hand across the back of his neck. “Can we talk about this?” he asks, looking at Nina.
“Talk about what?” she asks.
“You and me.”
I shake my head. “You’ve got to be—”
Nina grabs my hand and forces me to look at her. “Bella, can you give us a few minutes alone?”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
She nods. “Just a few minutes. Please.”
I swallow hard, glancing at Cathal, who I don’t trust in the slightest. “Fine.” I stand and walk toward the bar to give them their time alone, sensing it’s a bad idea. All the while, I keep my eyes on Cathal and Nina, wanting nothing more than to protect my sister from any more hurt. She’s come a long way since her low when she almost killed herself, and the last thing I want is that son of a bitch sending her spiraling back into a blackhole without me there to pull her out.
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