Chapter 11
eleven
JONATHAN
Jonathan’s phone started pinging with notifications the moment he exited a meeting at Three Wolves Distillery and switched his phone off silent.
He glanced at Daniel, who was getting the same notifications. He pulled up his texts and saw that there were already about ten messages in their mutual friend group, with more coming. The first was from Mags. Why the hell did his chest squeeze uncomfortably?
He’d felt her distance before, but ever since their get-together at Murphy’s, he was positive her emotional distance was personally directed at him.
Mags: Don’t panic, friends. I’ll still make it to the charity tonight. I will be sporting a few bruises, unfortunately.
Jonathan felt ghost fingers gripping and squeezing his throat. It hurt to swallow, and his ears and cheeks felt hot.
Images of how she might have gotten hurt flashed behind his eyes—a car wreck, she tripped over a loose cobblestone and face planted, she cut off a finger with sewing scissors, hit by a revolving door, or a dog attack. The possibilities were endless.
Bébhinn: What happened?!
Blair: Start talking.
Gray: The hell?
Mags: I accidentally tripped on my way home last night and fell down a set of outdoor basement stairs. My ribs – Ouch! At least my money makers (my hands) escaped a tragic end.
Gray: Oh my God, Mags! No way!
Daniel: Tell me you went to the hospital.
Bébhinn: I can’t believe that happened. I’m sick. Were you alone? Where are you? I’m coming now.
Blair: Not taking no for an answer. Where are you?
Ciar: Answer now, or I’m calling your parents and your Uncle Colly.
Mags: Fuck off, Ciar. I’ve had your back more than once, and you bloody well better have mine!
I was alone, yes, but I called a friend, and he came and carried me up the stairs and made me go to the hospital.
Drugs for pain and bruising. I took a long, hot bath last night at his house, took all the meds, and feel much better today.
I’m going to work soon. I promise to see everyone tonight.
Stop worrying. My friend threatened to out me if I didn’t fess up to my clumsiness.
Blair: Nice story. Where are you?
Gray: Were you in the bath alone, or did your friend, that we haven’t met yet, garner a spot?
Bébhinn: Dagr likes to get me in the bath too. Did the bath soothe some bits but make other bits tender?
Ciar: Dagr. Control your wife. No one wants to hear your half-assed version of romance.
Jonathan was so tense by that point that he was still sitting stiffly in the passenger seat of Daniel’s car. They were both reading texts and answering emails before they got on the road. Thank God, he wasn’t required to navigate a vehicle after reading that shit.
Blair: All joking aside. Where are you?
Mags: I’m staying with my friend until my workspace above the gallery is finished and livable.
Bébhinn: Address.
Gray: Address.
Blair: Address. Now.
Mags: Fine, but you three are being ridiculous. I’ll send you a pin.
Jonathan watched the chat like a jungle cat stalking prey. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. And then…
Bébhinn: Damn, girl. Better put my Sunday best on before I enter that zip code.
Gray:
Blair: My, my, my. See you in thirty. Don’t even think of not being there.
Dagr: Hey, just seeing this. Don’t even think of coming tonight if being pampered in bed by your friend helps your recovery.
Jonathan would strangle his new cousin the next time he saw the insinuating asshole. Did they all know who the mystery friend was? Daniel didn’t, or he would have said.
Mags didn’t send her address to the group. Why? “Message Blair and see where Mags is staying,” Jonathan demanded of Daniel.
Daniel gave him a sharp look before putting the car in reverse and backing out of the parking spot. “Mags sounds fine. If you’re so concerned, call her and find out whatever it is you want to know. Don’t involve me.”
Jonathan practically bit his tongue in two he was so pissed. Mags called a “friend” to help her when she’d been hurt. Mags’ “friend” took her to the hospital. Mags stayed at a “friend’s” house last night. Mags was staying at a “friend’s” house for an indeterminate amount of time.
He wondered if the “friend” would be at the charity event that night. It was ridiculous to be angry with Margaret for having friends outside of their group or even a boyfriend, especially when he’d never given her any reason not to.
It was childish. He knew it was. He sighed and leaned his head against the headrest.
“Listen, Jon, far be it from me to give out relationship advice, but I think you need to admit that you have feelings for Mags, and you do feel something. Lie to yourself, but don’t try to bullshit me.
I don’t think you’ve liked any of the women you’ve taken out since secondary school.
It’s like you’re waiting for something or someone else. ”
Daniel emphasized “someone,” and maybe he was right. And maybe he was just a prick who’d been satisfied knowing Mags had crushed on him for years. Knowing she felt something more than friendship for him had been enough.
But she’d taken away the “something more,” and he wasn’t handling it well. He’d never felt so undeserving of Mags’ affection. When had he become such a prick?
She thought their New Year’s Eve kiss had meant nothing to him, when the frightening reality was that it had meant everything. If he were honest, he hadn’t had a moment like that with a woman since that night. Mags had shaken him that night, turned him inside out.
He hurt her that night. The horror of it was that he’d done it purposefully and had kept doing it with every woman he’d forced her to endure.
Had she given up on him? Did he want her to finally let him go?
No.
He unclenched his fingers from around his phone and pulled up his contacts. She answered on the first ring.
“Hey, babe,” the woman purred.
“Sheri. Tonight’s off. Sorry about the late notice.” He hung up before she asked any questions, foolish or otherwise.
Daniel opened his mouth, but Jonathan quickly cut him off. “Don’t.”