Chapter 12
POV: Maeve?
I hadn’t seen Liam in two days. I purposefully hadn’t stopped by the bar since then.
After all, it would just make things more complicated if I did.
Like I said before, I was bargaining for more than I could chew off, and I knew it.
So after a few days of reasoning with myself that even sleeping with Liam would be a bad idea, I decided to accept another date with Declan.
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. The man who you have no chemistry with. The man who is kind and sort of…boring. The man you know is not for you. At all. Yes, that man, I accepted another date with that man.
But as some say, maybe love, or even attraction takes a while to develop.
I hoped that the romantics were right, that feelings could develop…eventually. Because otherwise, this wouldn’t help my ‘Liam’ problem, you know, the one where I can’t stop thinking about him.
Declan insisted that we meet early, so that we could attend another dancing event at the festival.
Dancing was a big part of the festival, and huge for the Irish apparently.
Declan wasn’t light on his feet, not really, and neither was I, so the proposal of joining him in dance again wasn’t on the top of my list, but it would be a nice way to have fun and to stop myself from thinking constantly about Liam.
A good distraction. Or so I hoped.
And there he was, standing near the bar tent, his smile basically taking up half of his face and waving at me, cheerfully. Declan looked happy as a clam.
I couldn’t help but smile and wave back.
He sort of had a touch of charm to him, dorky yes, but his happiness brought me happiness, too.
“Hello Maeve!” he called out from a distance as he still waved at me.
“Hi, Declan!” I called out back.
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” he asked in his usual cheerful tone.
I nodded, as I continued towards him. “Lovely.”
And it felt that way, that was until I saw him.
Liam.
He was standing at the bar tent and his face was stiff. Completely stiff. He didn’t even offer a nod or acknowledgement as our eyes connected with each other.
I decided to offer him the same.
God, he made me angry. So angry.
What was with him?
Then it hit me.
I could play his game, maybe even better than he did.
The lightbulb popped up in my head as I decided my next move.
Make Liam jealous.
I grabbed Declan’s hand, intertwining our fingers together and squeezing.
Declan seemed taken back by the gesture but smiled anyway as his cheeks reddened.
And that’s when I saw Liam’s eyes flare. I could’ve swore they were almost black, but that’s the author in me, with my overreactive imagination.
“Let’s go dance,” I told Declan, just loud enough for Liam to hear.
And believe me, he heard. I knew he had to, though I didn’t turn around to see.
The dance must’ve gone on for a good ten minutes. Declan and I swayed to the music, laughed, even stepped on each other’s feet a few times, but we actually were having fun.
And I couldn’t help but notice, out of the corner of my eye, or maybe even entirely straight on, since I couldn’t help looking at him, that Liam was having anything but a good time. He was having a horrible time and he couldn’t stop watching us. His gaze tracked like a hawk, watching his prey, watching his competitor dance with his claim. And I enjoyed every second of it.
Call me twisted, call me cruel, call me whatever you want—but I know men like Liam, and I had him exactly where I wanted him.
Though, I didn’t know if I was doing this for mere sport, or because I was bored, or because I needed to get laid, or because I liked having the upper hand, or because I was genuinely interested in him.
I considered the reason as Declan and I continued to dance away, and I knew he was thinking about me when I was thinking about another man.
And it almost made me feel guilty.
But guilt slowly washed over me and was replaced by a different emotion as soon as the song ended and I saw Liam’s heavy gaze searing a hole through me.
I was bored. And I probably wanted to get laid. But most importantly, I was interested in Liam, and I couldn’t stop myself from my preoccupation.
“Are you thirsty?” Declan asked, bringing me from my thoughts.
I nodded, unable to get the proper words out as I tore my gaze away from Liam’s and down to my feet.
We walked over to the bar tent, Liam’s bar tent and I felt heat flush my cheeks.
Declan didn’t notice, he just offered Liam a wide smile, and ordered us two Guinnesses.
Liam didn’t even speak or do as much as grunt, instead he looked over Declan as if he was sizing him up before offering me a glance that made me feel like I was completely naked. Eventually, he walked away, leaving me to writhe in the uncomfortableness with an unsuspecting Declan.
“Seems like he’s having a bad day or something,” Declan said.
I nodded, trying to hide the look on my face.
When Liam returned, he placed the beers down in front of us, without speaking once again.
“Thank you,” Declan replied, smiling and placing the cash down onto the countertop.
I almost looked up, almost, but I knew it would just cause Liam to say something he didn’t mean and Declan to become even more confused than he probably already was.
Declan and I walked towards a small standing bar table, approximately 20 feet away from Liam’s bar tent.
Though Declan hadn’t noticed, I did.
I knew Liam’s gaze never left us, not when we walked away, and definitely not now, and out of the corner of my eyes, I could see him staring at us still.
“Did you have a nice time?” Declan asked.
I turned my head towards him, “yes, thank you.” My smile was kind but it was strained.
I was faking it. I was faking this all, and I knew it.
Declan was a nice guy, a genuine guy and I was pretending like things could workout when I knew the truth. They wouldn’t. Because I didn’t want them to, not with him.
I let out a rushed breath and turned towards Declan, finally ready to admit the truth, and stop wasting his time. “Declan, I—”
But as soon as I turned towards him, his lips were on mine.
I quickly broke the kiss.
Declan’s face flushed red with embarrassment. “I just thought—”
I paused, unable to get the words out properly, then, “It’s not you, Declan. It’s me.”
He nodded, as if understanding silently, but he looked disappointed. “I understand, Maeve.”
“I had a nice time today. Thank you for inviting but I need to get going.”
Declan offered me a strained smile.
But as I turned away, ready to walk out and stop this game of pretend, my eyes met his.
Liam’s. Dead on.
He saw it. He saw Declan kiss me. And he didn’t look happy at all.
Well, too bad.
I didn’t belong to him. He made that clear. He made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with me, in fact.
I broke the connection and stomped off towards the exit.