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I turn my head, refusing to look at either of them.
“If Hugh is MIA, then maybe he had something to do with last night, Saoirse,” Sean says. “I don’t know. We’re going to find him and figure it out.”
“Did you speak with him last night? After the attack?” I ask.
Sean nods. “Yeah. He sounded fine. He mentioned you drank a lot at dinner without eating and was concerned you weren’t yourself. That you and Corbin were arguing in the car.”
“All of that is true. I drank too much because I couldn’t eat anything there.” I scoff, shaking my head and crossing my arms. “How hard is it to find a damn place that offers vegan options? I’m sick of everyone acting like I starve myself on purpose.”
Declan draws a brow. “No one is saying that, Saoirse. We’re just concerned about you is all.”
“Well, sounds like you should be concerned for Hugh. He’s the one missing.” I turn my death stare toward Sean. “And I don’t want Scotty following me around. Find someone else.”
Sean laughs, shaking his head. “No way. We’re not playing musical guards. We’ve been through this, Saoirse. You get who I choose.”
“And you chose Scotty?” I ask, giving him a pointed look.
“What’s your beef with him, anyways?” Declan asks. “He’s the only guard you’ve never complained about. The only one that you’ve never attempted to lose. So why are you being difficult about it?”
I grind my teeth, not wanting to have this discussion with my brothers. Actually, not wanting to have it at all. That would involve delving into feelings that I don’t want to dissect right now. So, I come up with a lie. Anything to get them to drop it.
“He is a dick to Corbin. And that’s not okay. I’m supposed to marry Corbin. I don’t need the guards being an asshole to my boyfriend.”
“He’s never met Corbin, Saoirse,” Sean says, raising a brow.
“Last night he did,” I say.
Sean tilts his head. A grin spreads across his face. One that turns into an evil smirk that only Sean has.
“What?”
“Nothing. Forget it. Anyway, Scotty is here. He’ll be on day shifts, and we’ll get you someone to stay outside, too, until we figure out what the hell happened last night.”
I glare at my brother. “Or, Scotty can take the night shift and I can avoid his ugly ass.”
Declan snorts. “Jesus. Just fuck him and get it out of your system, Saoirse.”
I scrunch my nose in disgust. “Gross.”
“Why does everything come back to sex with you?” Sean asks, his mouth gaping. “I’d rather not imagine her fucking anyone.”
Declan grins, shooting me a wink. He turns back to Sean. “You’re a prude.”
The front door opens, heavy footsteps approaching. Scotty enters the living room, wearing his usual black suit and tie. He didn’t shave this morning, so he’s got a bit of blonde scruff coming in around his cheeks and chin. His brown eyes meet with mine, and I turn my attention away, not wanting to speak with him.
My chest tightens, a familiar pang of pain hitting me. He’s here because he has to be, not because he wants to be. He’s made that clear enough since I’ve been home from Washington State. I grind my teeth, refusing to give into the urge of acknowledging him. He doesn’t fucking deserve it.
“Hey, Scotty,” Declan says. “Thanks for coming over on short notice.”
“Sure,” Scotty says, his voice rough. It shoots an arrow through my heart.
Hearing him inside my head all these months has been one thing. But to have him standing here with me, so real and present, makes my chest feel raw and exposed.
“Hey, Saoirse.”
I inhale a sharp breath, then, without looking his way, I leave the room. He can suffer in silence. I didn’t deserve his treatment, didn’t deserve for him to decide for me that I shouldn’t have his friendship. And now he has to stick to that. He can’t come back and pretend everything is fine.
It’s not. Not when I have no one in my corner anymore. I make my way to the kitchen, making myself a cup of coffee with almond milk. Scotty isn’t far behind. He leans against the frame of the entrance that leads from the living room to the kitchen, hands stuffed into his pockets.
