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Ciarán’s jaw clenches, his eyes darkening with frustration. “It’s not about being a burden, Tinks. This world we live in is dangerous, especially for someone like you. We’re just trying to protect you.”
“Protect me?” I scoff, shaking my head and ignoring thesomeone like youcomment. “I don’t need your protection all the time. I’ve survived this long on my own, and I can still take care of myself.”
“Tinks,” Ciarán snaps, losing his patience. “We know you’re strong, but there’s so much at stake here. We can’t risk losing you.”
“Jesus, Ciarán,” I exclaim, my anger boiling over. “I’m only going to work, not walking into a war zone! I need to have some control over my own life.”
“Damn it, Summer, I just want you to be safe!” he shouts, his eyes blazing as he matches my intensity. “Why can’t you get that through your head?”
“Fuck you! You need to trust me to make my own decisions and let me live my life!”
A tense silence fills the room as Ciarán stares me down, his chest heaving with the weight of our argument.
Cathal’s gaze flickers between Ciarán and me, his jaw tense as he processes the situation. “Look. We’re not trying to control you, Summerbell. We need to know you’re safe. You’re putting us in a difficult position here, love.”
I sigh, knowing deep down that their concern comes from a genuine place. “I don’t mean to do that. However, my desire to regain some semblance of normalcy is too strong to ignore. I can’t keep living like this. Hiding away and relying on you two for everything. I need to do this, Cathal.”
He regards me with a pained expression before turning to Ciarán, who still looks ready to argue. But after a moment, Ciarán’s features soften, and he lets out a defeated breath.
“Fuck,” Ciarán mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This goes against every-fucking-thing I know is right.”
“No one will come for me in the middle of a busy department store,” I argue. “Drop me off and pick me up, whatever, but I need to do this.”
His glare makes my mouth go dry. He is furious, and he isn’t afraid to show it. But if I back down now, I will never win an argument with them, ever. They both need to know that I’m not someone they can push around. That’s not how this works.
As the seconds tick on and Ciarán’s jaw gets tighter, I falter.
I take a deep breath, my head swimming. “I’ll stay in the store until you come for me.”
Ciarán and Cathal exchange a glance, their expressions unreadable, but I can sense their relief in the air.
“Fine.”
With an awkward nod, they each turn away, leaving me to carry on getting ready for work on my own.
The argument still lingers, casting a dark cloud over what should have been a simple morning ritual.
Giving myself one last critical look in the mirror, I wince. My face is pale, my eyes rimmed with dark circles, but I’m determined to push through this day. As I step out of the room, I catch sight of Ciarán leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, jaw clenched. He doesn’t say anything, but his presence alone is enough to remind me of the strain our disagreement has caused.
“Let’s go,” I mutter, grabbing my bag and pushing past him, trying to ignore the way his eyes bore into me, cold and unyielding.
Minutes later, the three of us walk side by side, the tension between Ciarán and me a horrible fog despite our shared silence. The protectiveness from both brothers, their bodies poised and alert, ready to guard me from any potential threat, is sweet but a bit suffocating.
As we approach the store, I notice how Ciarán and Cathal subtly position themselves closer to me, their body language screaming that they’re on high alert. It’s a stark reminder of just how much my life has changed since becoming entangled with these two dangerous men.
My heart aches, torn between wanting to be close to them and the need to maintain some semblance of my old life.
“Thank you,” I say softly, not sure what else to add when we reach the entrance to the store, and the reality of what I’m about to do settles heavily on my chest.
“Remember, stay inside until we come back for you,” Ciarán reminds me, his tone firm but not unkind. I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“Okay,” I agree, knowing that this compromise is necessary.
“See you later,” Cathal says, his voice laced with concern.
“Take care, Summer,” Ciarán adds, his eyes desperately searching mine for a moment before I turn away.
As I begin my shift, I sigh and make a decision that will make them happy. This will be my last shift here. The need for routine and independence is strong, but my attachment to Ciarán and Cathal is even stronger. I must find a way to reconcile these two sides of my life and learn to navigate the treacherous waters that come with loving them. Deep down, I know it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for them—for us.
