Chapter Wednesday, November 23rd #8
I guess we’re doing this. “You’re one to talk. I’ve heard Tori beg you to ‘go harder, Daddy’ more times than I can count,” I say with a wicked grin, imitating Tori’s voice.
Shane shrugs, unbothered. “She likes what she likes.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, well, how about you don’t comment on Cat enjoying herself and I won’t mention Tori? Especially not the daddy stuff.”
“Deal.” He laughs, then claps me on my shoulder. “I’ll see you at home.”
Only ten minutes later, the front doors to Murphy’s open and my brother walks in with Vada, Zack, and Summer, along with some guy I’ve never met. But my eyes are instantly drawn to Cat, who has the ability to make my entire world zoom in on her.
“Holy shit,” I laugh when I approach them.
“Ran!” Vada throws her arms around my neck. I bend to hug her back. “I’ve missed you so much. I’ve missed everyone so much!” She squeals and lets go of me. “Ran, this is my boyfriend, Brady,” Vada says with a huge, mushy smile on her face.
I throw the tiniest glance at my brother.
Steve and Vada dated for almost two years before they broke things off earlier this year.
But Steve appears unaffected by Vada’s new beau, which is further confirmation that Steve has someone in his life.
I’ve been suspicious for a few weeks now, but he’s been tightlipped.
I will get it out of him sooner or later.
I shake Brady’s hand. “Hey, what’s up, man. I’m Ronan.”
“Nice to meet you,” he says.
I let go of his hand, then hug Summer and Zack in turn, before finally pulling Cat into my arms and softly kissing her lips. She smells delicious and tastes even better. God, this girl is everything.
“How are you guys?” I’m elated to see everyone here. It’s been months since we’ve all been together.
Zack smiles widely. “Really good, man. Summer and I are just here over Thanksgiving; we fly back to L.A. on Sunday,” he says, holding Summer’s hand. Summer followed Zack to California, though she attends USC while Zack is at UCLA, still in pursuit of becoming a director.
I sigh. “Man, Shane just left.” I know he’d love to hang out with everyone, too.
“We actually ran into him in the parking lot,” Steve says. “He just went to pick up Tori and then he’ll be back. We figured we’d hang out here and watch you work. Just like old times.” Steve chuckles, nudging me with his elbow.
I nod appreciatively. “Works for me.”
I look around Murphy’s, take Cat’s hand into mine, then lead everyone to a large table. They begin throwing food and beverage orders at me, making me smile. I love how familiar this feels. By the time I return to serve their food, Shane and Tori have joined the party.
I’ve always loved having Cat, my brother, and my friends around me while I work, giving me the opportunity to stop and chat with them and get my fill of the people I need most in my life.
Honestly, I don’t think I would’ve made it through any of it without them.
They were there when I was in the hospital fighting for my life, attended every day of that god damn trial earlier this year, and have been by my side—steady as rocks—every day since then, even over a distance.
I know I can always count of them when the going gets rough.
In fact, I’m pretty sure Shane would help me bury a body while my brother gave me an alibi.
The evening passes quickly with how busy Murphy’s is, and I don’t have as much opportunity to stop by my friends’ table as I’d like, but it’s nonetheless calming to have them here with me.
***
I’m making my rounds through the place, checking on patrons not only in my table section but around the pub, when I notice Cat standing at the bar counter.
She’s chatting with Jack when some dude approaches, his eyes dragging up her long legs, lingering on her ass, her bare midriff, then her chest, before finally reaching that beautiful face framed by her long, blonde hair.
If she wasn’t already mine and I’d spotted her here at Murphy’s, I’d be prowling toward her exactly like that dude is doing.
I know Cat can handle herself, as became evident when she put Drew in his place last February when he made a not-so-subtle move on her while I was in Montana. I heard from Shane that Cat broke Drew’s nose when he tried to kiss her even though she had made it clear that she wasn’t interested.
Still, I move toward her just to make sure boundaries don’t get crossed. I recognize the guy—he’s in my English class at Columbia and actually pretty nice. He notices me and nods his head in my direction, causing Cat to look over and smile at me.
I come to a stop next to her.
“Ronan, what’s up?” the guy asks.
“Not much, Brandon. How about you?”
“Not much. Just hanging out with some friends.” He nods in the direction of a table occupied by a group of five guys, who I also recognize. “You work here?” he asks, his eyes on my black long-sleeve with the Murphy’s logo printed on my chest.
“Yeah.”
“Huh, good to know. Might need to make this place our regular spot. The food is bomb here” — Brandon nods approvingly—“and so are the girls,” he adds with a smile at Cat.
Smooth.
I grin. “This one’s kind of impossible not to look at, huh?
” I say with an admiring glance at Cat, who’s so god damn sexy in a pair of low-rise, ripped jeans and an emerald-green, cropped sweater that shows off her tight stomach and that belly button I want to kiss so damn badly.
I’m honestly shocked there’s not a line of guys waiting their turn to hit on Cat right now.
I might have to beg her to stay the night with me instead of at her parents’.
I’m greedy when it comes to her. I miss her in my sleep, even while she lies right next to me.
And I detest waking up without her, especially now that I’ve gotten a taste for having her by my side at night.
Brandon nods like he’s very much in agreement with my statement. I recognize that look in his eyes—like he’s about to sink his teeth into a perfectly cooked piece of meat. I smile to myself, knowing I’m about to pop his bubble.
“Brandon, this is my girlfriend, Cat.” I move my left hand to her bare lower back, grazing her soft skin.
Disappointment crosses his bearded face. Cat smiles at him, the faint pink hue in her cheeks making her hazel eyes pop.
“That’s your girlfriend?” he asks incredulously.
I get it, man, I’m incredulous, too, that this goddess chose me.
I nod, smiling, as Cat leans back to rest her head against my shoulder.
“Yeah,” I say with a chuckle at the envy lining his brow. “I’m a lucky son of a bitch, right?”
“Hell yes you are,” Brandon says, making Cat blush.
Fuck, I love it when she blushes like that.
The way the heat creeps up her neck to her cheeks, flushing even her lips.
It’s sexy as hell. “And on that note, I’m going to just grab my drink here and go back to my table,” he chuckles.
“I’ll see you later, Ronan. It was nice to meet you, Cat.
” He leaves me standing with the most beautiful girl in this world.
“Hey there,” I say when she turns to face me, the flush ebbing from her cheeks. I glide my right hand to meet my left on her lower back and pull her toward me to kiss her forehead.
“Hey there,” she giggles. “Thank you for rescuing me from evil guys who want to talk to me.”
“Don’t get me wrong, baby. I know you don’t need rescuing. You’re a badass.”
“You just want to mark your territory. I get it,” she laughs.
“I consider it to be more of a gentle advisory to guys to keep their hands off you. Just trying to keep the evening free of bar brawls and broken jaws,” I say with a grin. “Did you need anything from me?” Obviously, she left our friends and came to the bar for a reason.
Her expression turns serious as she analyzes my face. “I just wanted to check if you’re okay. We didn’t really get a chance to talk before you left for work. And I know what your grandma said rattled me, so I can’t imagine it was easy for you to sit through that.”
Walls. Up they go. “I’m fine.”
Cat’s face instantly sours. “I don’t like it when you say that.”
I chuckle even though I’m not amused. “Why?”
“Because it’s evasive, and I’ve known you long enough to know that you usually say you’re fine when you’re not actually fine.”
Jesus Christ, this girl knows me too well.
“Really, baby, I’m okay,” I say, turning serious.
I mean, I’m not really, but I’m even less willing to get into it with her right now.
I’d just as soon forget about my grandmother’s visit, because thinking about it—contemplating the things she said, the implications of it all—will to take me down a rabbit hole that I have absolutely no desire to go down.
Cat studies me for a long moment, her delicate, usually soft features tight, and I can tell she’s unconvinced. “Ran, you know you can talk to me.”
“Yes, I know, baby.” I tug her toward me, then move my mouth to hers. But she resists me, taking a decisive step back.
My brow creases at the distance.
“Don’t try to distract me, Ran,” she says, her words laced with frustration. “I don’t want you to bottle this up like you do everything that’s uncomfortable or painful.”
“Cat, please don’t push this right now. This is neither the time nor the place.”
Her lips press into a thin line, her nostrils flaring.
“Fine. But be honest with me, Ronan. Are you alright?” she asks, her eyes locked on mine.
It’s startling as hell when she calls me by my actual name instead of “Ran” or “sweet boy,” the latter of which always makes my heart skip a beat; only she calls me that.