17.
Maggie
I stared at him, wide-eyed and stunned silent. “You’re my what?” I asked, finally finding some words.
Jonathan checked his watch. “I really don’t have time for this right now.”
“Then give me the shortened version,” I demanded, staring at him hard. Did he think he could drop a bombshell like that on me and then dash off to work?
My hands were trembling, my pulse jack hammering as I tried to comprehend his revelation. Was it really happening? Jonathan was at least forty. That put almost a decade between us. It was very possible his dad impregnated two different women nine years apart, but …
My eyes raked over him while I continued to recover from the shock of his statement. If he were my brother, then there would be some resemblance between us, but I couldn’t find any, at least not at first. Then I noticed the shape of his nose, which was a slightly larger version of mine. His eyes were blue like mine, too. The very same shade. I always thought my eyes were my mother’s, but perhaps they weren’t. Perhaps …
“You never met your birth father, did you?” he asked, breaking my train of thought.
I shook my head, narrowing my gaze as my initial shock faded slightly. “Are you saying we have the same dad?”
“His name was Gerard Murphy,” Jonathan replied, and something strange burned in my chest just hearing it. “I never took his name because my mother raised me. About a year ago, I was notified he’d died, and I was also informed his name was on the birth certificate of a child born in the early nineties.”
“Me?” I breathed, realising I’d never actually seen my own birth certificate. I just didn’t expect my father’s name to be on it. Mam said she barely knew him, and then he disappeared before she discovered she was pregnant.
“Yes, Maggie, you. I did some research, found out who you were and that you worked as a housekeeper.”
I let out a flabbergasted chuckle, my voice full of disbelief. “So, you decided to hire me? I mean, who does that?”
How was hiring your possible half sibling a rational response to finding out about them?
“I thought it was the best way to get to know what sort of person you were from afar first before I introduced myself. Surely, you must’ve had your suspicions. I paid you to clean two penthouses I keep virtually spotless.”
“But you were never around. You wanted to get to know what sort of person I am, but I never saw you. I’ve worked for you for over a year, Jonathan. That’s just … strange.”
He dragged a hand down his face, glancing at the ceiling a moment before returning his attention to me. “Well, I’m a strange man. I’m also a very wealthy one. When I found out who you were, I still knew next to nothing about you, except you were poor and were once homeless.”
“Hey, now—” I began, but he cut me off.
“My apologies. I don’t mean poor, per se, I just mean, well, working class.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being working class, Jonathan. It doesn’t make a person any less trustworthy. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’ve cleaned for rich people for over a decade. Their money doesn’t make them better people, believe me.”
“Fucking hell, I’m messing this up,” he swore, looking stressed before he continued, “Look, I completely agree with you money doesn’t make people better. I might be a prime example of that, but the fact of the matter remained I didn’t know you or your character. So, I hired you, and I observed you. I saw how reliable and trustworthy you were. It was admirable, truly. Have you any idea how many cleaners I’ve had who’ve stolen things from my apartment over the years? I even had one who began living there while I was away for several weeks on business. Your work ethic and the way you conducted yourself was commendable, so I concluded you were the sort of sister I’d be honoured to have in my life.”
His last words caused a rush of emotion because I had a brother, an adult one who didn’t need me to look out for him. I’d never experienced having family like that, but it didn’t change the fact his method of getting to know me was highly questionable. It was sneaky and downright infuriating to be honest. “Maybe you’re not the sort of brother I want in my life. When exactly were you going to tell me the truth anyway?”
Jonathan blew out a breath, his eyebrows drawing together in consternation. “Honestly, Maggie, I don’t know. I kept putting off coming clean, and then it just got to the point where I’d left it far too long. I didn’t know how to break the news. I thought if I offered you a better job, then maybe you’d be more amenable—”
“For someone who was so worried about me being after your money, you seem to use it as a solution a whole lot,” I stated.
“Yes, you’re right. I do use money to solve problems. It’s an issue of mine, but I’m working on it. I just hope you can forgive me. I’ve never had a sibling, and I’ve lived a life focused solely on work. As I said, it would be nice to have a sister.”
“Well, I already have two sisters and two brothers.”
Jonathan’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, are you saying our father had more children than just you?”
I shook my head, amused. “Don’t look so worried. They came along a lot later and have a different father. They’re still kids, actually.”
“Ah, I see.”
A moment of silence fell. I was still working through my shock. I didn’t know what to think. It was all so much to get my head around. “We have a lot to talk about,” I said and folded my arms.
“Yes, we do,” Jonathan agreed. “What about the job, though? It’s still yours if you want it, but I completely understand if you don’t.”
I chewed my lip, conflicted. I desperately didn’t want to go back to my clients with my tail between my legs and withdraw my resignation. But I was also wary of taking the job now that I knew I’d been offered it under false pretences. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“I’ll accept the job, for now,” I said. “Therese is outside waiting to start my training and it would be rude to waste any more of her time. But I reserve the right to change my mind. I need to think everything through.”
A faint smile curved Jonathan’s lips. My half-brother. It was for sure the most surreal thing to ever happen to me. I was reeling, my thoughts racing a mile a minute. If my dad’s name was on my birth certificate, then that meant Mam had lied about him. No big surprise there. She’d said he was gone before she found out she was pregnant, but that couldn’t have been the case. He was at least around when I was born. And now, he’d passed away. I felt strangely bereft at the thought. Because he’d been out there all those years, and I could’ve known him, but I was never given the chance. Just another thing to resent her for. It was a long list.
I was still a little disoriented when Therese returned and began my training after Jonathan had a quick word with her. Thankfully, she didn’t seem too put out after being told she would have to take things a little bit slower with me.
“How long have you worked for Mr Oaks?” I asked her after she’d shown me the folder where a list of independent contractors could be found to carry out repairs.
“Oh, going on about eight years now,” she replied as she clicked the mouse, moving between folders on the computer screen. I’d managed to take in everything well enough so far. It seemed very straight forward, and whenever I was confused about something, Therese was patient in pausing and explaining.
“And do you like it here?”
“Mr Oaks is a strict boss,” she said. “A lot of people who come to work here find it hard to keep up to his standards, but I’ve always appreciated a fast-paced, busy environment, so yes, I do like it.”
“But you can’t say the same for others?”
She pursed her lips. “No, I suppose I can’t.”
“Has he told you I’m his half-sister and that’s the only reason he’s hired me?” I blurted.
My head was still in a scramble, still trying to make sense of everything. It was only after I asked the question I realised maybe I shouldn’t have. Therese might be Jonathan’s assistant, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t go spreading gossip about the office.
“Yes, he has confided that to me, though you can rest assured I won’t be telling others of your family connection. Jonathan … I mean, Mr Oaks, he’s not been very close with his mother in recent years. She married a man he didn’t approve of, and it drove a wedge between them. A sense of family has been sorely missing for him, which is why he’s wanted to get to know you, I think. He’s not a man who lets new people into his life very often,” she continued, and I frowned. Cleaning Jonathan’s apartment led me to believe his life was rather lonely, and it seemed I’d been correct on that front.
“Now,” Therese said, breaking me from my thoughts. “It’s time for the tour.” She clapped her hands together and rose from the swivel chair.
“The tour?”
“Of the building you’re going to be managing, dear.”
Right, that made sense. I would need to know the layout of the place. We didn’t discuss Jonathan being my brother for the rest of the day, but I was still eager to talk to someone about it, and the person I wanted to talk to most of all was Shay. I wanted to know his opinion; what he thought I should do. If he considered it a bad idea to keep the new job. But it wasn’t like I could just text him. It was much more of a long, in-person conversation. And besides, I’d just end up misspelling half of it if I put it in a text anyway.
At five-thirty, lots of the office workers began leaving for the day, and Therese instructed me about the keys and how I was to lock up once everyone was gone. Supposedly, the team of cleaners had their own keys and let themselves in later in the evening.
It was ironic I now had to get to my own cleaning job. I missed being able to head to the bus stop to see Shay, but I reminded myself it was only temporary. Two weeks and I’d have lots more free time to spend with him.
When I got home that night, I was ready to collapse onto my bed, but I needed to grab something to eat first. I couldn’t remember what I had in the fridge, but just as I was slotting my key in the lock, Siobhan appeared carrying a small bag, a delighted grin on her face.
“I met your new boyfriend,” she announced, and my eyebrows shot up.
“Excuse me?”
“Your boyfriend. He turned up with a handwritten note asking if I’d give this to you when you got home,” she said, holding up the bag. I glanced at it, then took it when she handed it over.
“Oh, you met Shay? He’s not quite my boyfriend. At least, we haven’t had that conversation yet, but—”
“He’s very handsome,” Siobhan said. “For a second, I thought it was a young Richard Burton risen from the dead to come and seduce me.” She fanned her chest, chuckling away, and I fought a smile. “How sad he’s deaf. The poor thing.”
“He isn’t deaf. He’s mute from a bad surgery he had as a child,” I said, opening my door and stepping in.
Siobhan’s amusement faded, and she looked suddenly mortified as her hands went to her face. “Oh, God. I just assumed he was deaf. And there I was over enunciating so he could read my lips. He must’ve thought I was a right loony.”
“He’s been mute most of his life. I’m sure people have mistaken him for being deaf plenty of times,” I said to reassure her because she really did look embarrassed. “Honestly, Siobhan, I doubt he was offended. Shay has a tough skin. In fact, I assumed the same thing when we first met, and it didn’t bother him in the slightest.”
“Okay, that makes me feel a little better. Please apologise to him for me when you see him next. I feel like such an idiot.”
“It’s fine, really,” I said. “Now, I’ve been working all day, and I need to get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow, pet,” she replied before heading upstairs to her own flat.
I slipped off my shoes and set the bag down on the coffee table, going to change into something more comfortable before I returned to see what Shay had left for me. My chest squeezed when I found a container with chicken soup, a fresh bread roll, another container with salad and a final container with a slice of apple pie. Maybe I was just exhausted, but tears suddenly welled in my eyes.
He knew I’d been working a double shift and went to the trouble of making me dinner. Emotion threatened to drown me at the simplicity of the gesture, but it just meant so much, especially after the day I’d had. I’d found out I had a half-brother, and I barely had time to process the news, never mind tell anyone about it.
I wanted to sit down with Shay and talk it all through, but it would be the weekend before we got the chance. The morning bus was too busy and noisy for that kind of conversation.
I did need to thank him for the food, though. Pulling out my phone, I dialled his number. It was only when it started ringing I realised my error. He wouldn’t be able to respond to me. There was a click, and the ringing ceased. Silence followed, but I heard his breathing and knew he was listening.
“Hey, um, Siobhan gave me the package you left. I haven’t eaten it yet, but it looks delicious, and I just wanted to call and say thank you. Today has been exhausting, and this is just perfect. Exactly what I needed. So, thank you, again. You’re just …” I sighed. “So great.”
Silence followed, and for a moment, I wished for him to be able to speak, but it was a selfish instinct. Besides, to me, Shay was just Shay. He came as he was, and I really wouldn’t change a thing about him. His inability to speak might’ve made it difficult for us to communicate, but we found ways around it. It wasn’t that big of a barrier in the grand scheme of things.
“Siobhan asked me to apologise to you for mistakenly thinking you were deaf. She’s mortified,” I chuckled and heard him release a breath, like he found it amusing, too. I could just imagine her speaking really loudly and moving her lips with extra emphasis.
“Anyway, I better go eat and then sleep because I have to do it all again tomorrow. Hopefully, I can return the favour for you soon. Maybe when I start getting paid for this new job, I can treat you to a meal out somewhere.” I paused, my heart still shimmering. “Goodnight, Shay,” I breathed.
The urge to tack on “Love you” was on the tip of my tongue, but I managed to keep it in. I didn’t know where the instinct came from. Maybe it was my exhaustion and the fact I was feeling extra emotional because the food was such a kind gesture.
I hung up, my heart racing. I’d almost said it. It was a quick save I’d clamped my mouth shut. Saying those words might’ve freaked Shay out. I knew he liked me, but love? It was far too early to tell. And it worried me my feelings might be stronger than his. I didn’t want that, didn’t want to be more attached to him than he was to me, but there was nothing for it now. He was nestled right there in my heart, and there was no wrenching him out, not without significant pain and suffering.
That was exactly what I’d spent years avoiding. I just had to keep reminding myself the potential for heartbreak was better than never taking a single chance and being lonely for the rest of my life.
Pulling myself together, I went about heating up the soup when my phone buzzed with a text.
Shay: It was no trouble, honestly. I knew how tired you’d be working for sixteen hours straight. Also, I already know how you can pay me back.
I replied with a single question mark, and his response came fast.
Shay: There’s a work Christmas party Rhys invited me to attend, and I was wondering if you’d come?
My chest fluttered. He wanted me to be his date.
Me: *thumbs up emoji*
Me: When?
Shay: This Saturday. It’s okay if you can’t come. I know you’re going to be exhausted from working double shifts all week.
Me: I’ll b der. x.
I put down my phone and dug into the food, which was delicious, especially the apple pie. I wondered if Shay made it, or if it was another of his father’s culinary delights.
The next few days were a blur. I saw Shay only briefly on the bus, and he’d been leaving me dinner packages, which Siobhan delivered promptly every time I arrived home. Honestly, if I wasn’t already falling for Shay, the dinner deliveries would’ve sealed the deal. Food was the way to my heart, for sure. I also discovered Siobhan had invited Shay into Bob’s flat for tea, and he’d been using his text to speech app to chat with them. I imagined they’d grilled him about our relationship big time, and I was dying to know how he responded, but I hadn’t had the opportunity to quiz Siobhan about it.
Siobhan and Bob were my neighbours, yes, but they were also the closest thing I had to friends, so Shay being polite enough to share tea with them warmed my heart.
I hadn’t encountered Jonathan since the big reveal on Tuesday, but he’d left me a message saying he’d schedule a lunch for us soon, so we could talk. The building manager job was demanding, and Therese was still training me, but I was finding I quite enjoyed it. Not only because it meant not cleaning anymore, but also because it was a new challenge. My brain was taking in all this new stuff, and it was invigorating.
On Saturday, I didn’t wake up until well after midday. I didn’t feel guilty about it, though, because I deserved the extra sleep after the week I’d had. Remembering my plans to go with Shay to his work party, nerves and anticipation filled me. I was excited to spend some time with him, but I had no idea what to wear. A Christmas party required something a little glitzier and more stylish than what I was used to.
I owned a grand total of two dresses and a very minimal collection of make-up I wore so seldom most of the tubes were probably out of date. Remembering how much Vivi loved make-up and fashion, I did something I rarely did and called up my baby sister to ask for help. Normally, it was the other way around.
She sounded excited when I explained the situation.
“I’ll hop on the bus now,” she said. We hung up, and I wondered if I was making a huge mistake asking for fashion tips from a fourteen-year-old. No more than an hour later, the buzzer to my flat went. I answered the door, and Vivi stepped inside, eagerly looking around. She’d never been over before. It was always me coming to see her, so I braced for her reaction. It wasn’t at all what I expected.
“Oh, Maggie! I love your place. It’s so cosy and cute.”
I smiled. I guessed my flat would seem cool to her because she’d had to share a room with Shelly almost her entire life. She went to sit on the sofa and put down the backpack she carried with her. Unzipping it, she began pulling out all sorts of accessories, as well as a small make-up bag.
I watched as her eyebrows drew together and worried something was up with her. Then she asked, “Did Delia call you about visiting Mam? She arranged for us to go on Christmas Eve.”
“Yes,” I replied, my gut twisting at the reminder. “She left a voicemail.”
Vivi didn’t meet my gaze as she continued, “It’s okay if you want to change your mind. I know you don’t really want to go.”
My heart clenched because she was far too astute for her age. “I haven’t visited Mam since she was sentenced, but I’ll go for you and the others. Just because I won’t benefit from seeing her doesn’t mean the same goes for you.” Vivi frowned before I went on, “Besides, it turns out I actually have a few questions I need to ask her.”
“What sort of questions?”
I exhaled and sat down on the couch. “Questions about my birth father. I found out this week I have another half-brother.”
Vivi’s hands went to her cheeks. “Oh, my goodness, Maggie! You have another brother? How?”
“We share the same dad. His name is Jonathan. He was born about ten years before me.”
“That’s crazy. What’s he like?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t had the chance to get know him yet.”
“Well, if he’s anything like you, I’m sure he’s amazing,” she smiled, then turned to sort through the items she’d unpacked.
“So, who’s this friend you’re going to the party with?” she asked, and I found I was relieved for the subject change.
“His name is Shay,” I replied evenly before going to sit down beside her.
Vivi held up a bottle of foundation. “It’s lucky we’re basically the same shade.” A pause as she pressed her lips together, then said, “You can tell me if he’s your boyfriend, you know. I’m not a kid. We can talk about stuff.”
“Yes, you are a kid,” I countered. “And I guess it’s too new to call him my boyfriend.” Even though you’re half in love with him, a small voice in my head piped up.
“Hmm, well, can I look in your closet? Do you have anything dressy?”
“I have a black shift dress that could work,” I replied and went over to retrieve it from my wardrobe.
Vivi tapped a finger to her lips and started to smile. “Yes, we can definitely do something with that.”
Later, I paced from my sofa to my kitchenette, waiting for Shay to arrive. He’d said he’d pick me up at eight, but he seemed to be running a few minutes late. I peered at myself in the mirror one last time.
Vivi had done a spectacular job. I barely recognised myself. She’d blow dried and curled my hair, so it looked way silkier and shinier than normal. She also did my makeup in a way that highlighted the blue of my eyes. Vivi gave me a shiny red belt to cinch in my waist, which elevated my plain black shift dress into something a bit more festive. I also wore my only pair of black high heels.
I was so impressed with her styling job that I insisted on giving Vivi some money before she left. Her face lit up. I knew she hoped to become a make-up artist when she was older and paying her boosted her confidence.
Peering out the window, I spotted some headlights approach before I recognised Rhys’ SUV pull up outside my flat. Shay hadn’t mentioned he was coming with his cousin. The last time I saw Rhys was the night of Mrs Reynolds’ party. Self-consciousness pecked at me because I’d been a wreck that night. But no, I refused to be embarrassed.
Tonight, I just wanted to push everything out of my mind. Mrs Reynolds, Jonathan’s revelation, the upcoming visit to see Mam. I wanted to forget it all for a few brief hours.
Shay emerged, and I hurried to grab my coat and handbag. I opened the front door before he even had a chance to press the button. His eyes travelled slowly up my body, and I knew Vivi had done a good job when I saw a flicker of heat there. I swallowed nervously as his eyes burned a path from my shoes, up my legs and along my hips. I felt thoroughly seen, and it sent a thrill through me. His appreciation was blatantly evident.
“You look amazing,” he typed into his phone, and I flushed.
“Thank you. You look good, too. Really handsome.” It was the truth. Shay wore a deep blue shirt with a black tie and dark slacks. It was the fanciest I’d ever seen him dressed.
His eyes went over my shoulder as he glanced inside my flat. Then he smirked and typed, “Maybe we should just stay in tonight.”
“No,” I said, playfully wagging my finger. “I was promised a party.”
Shay smiled and pressed his hand to the small of my back as he ushered me into the car. The warmth of his palm seared through my clothing, and I momentarily regretted not agreeing to stay in. Rhys sat in the driver’s seat, but there was no Stephanie tonight. Maybe she was going to meet him at the party.
“Hi, Rhys,” I greeted.
“Hello, Maggie. Good to see you,” he replied.
Once Shay had me secured in the back, he went around to sit in the front next to Rhys. I liked that because it would be rude for us both to sit in the back and act like Rhys was our chauffeur or something. It was also good because, as handsome as Shay looked tonight, it was going to be hard keeping my hands off him.
When we arrived at the hotel, Rhys parked in the underground car park, and we took a lift to one of the function rooms where the staff party was being held. Rhys explained the part-timers were all working to facilitate the full-time staff having their party.
Shay slid his hand into mine as we entered the large room where the proceedings appeared to be in full swing. A DJ played all the usual Christmas songs, while long tables of food had been set up on one side and a busy bar on the other. I was impressed the hotel went all out for its staff, but then again, it was still a family-owned business. Most other hotels in the city were run by large corporations.
I spotted the receptionist who’d been rude to me that one time, Lloyd. He sat at a table sipping Prosecco and chatting with a few others, and I made a note to avoid bumping into him. Sometimes, all it took was one mean comment from a particular person to ruin your entire night.
“There’s Tristan and Nuala. Come, and I’ll introduce you,” Rhys said, motioning for us to follow him. He led us to where a man and woman, both in their thirties, sat sharing drinks. There was such a resemblance between them they had to be brother and sister, perhaps even fraternal twins. They had the same chocolate brown eyes, though where the woman’s hair was blonde, the man’s was light brown. Those were the Balfes I’d heard mentioned, the ones Rhys was close friends with. As far as I knew, their father owned the hotel.
“Tristan, Nuala,” Rhys said. “I’d like you to meet my cousin, Shay, and his date, Maggie.”
“Shay, I’ve heard so much about you,” the woman, Nuala, exclaimed. She then proceeded to sign something, and Shay smiled as he signed back. They shared a back and forth before Nuala explained, “I’m a primary school teacher, but I did some work with deaf children back when I was training and learned some sign language. It’s nice to be able to use it again. I’m a bit rusty.”
Shay signed something that appeared to be a disagreement on her rustiness, and she grinned bashfully. Again, I felt that pinch of discomfort. I wished I could just click my fingers and be able to use sign language with Shay. I wanted it more than anything, and I was irrationally jealous of everyone who could talk with him in that way. Perhaps once I finished the double shifts I was working, I could start taking a class. I was already attending my literacy classes. Surely, adding another couldn’t hurt.
“Please, sit down,” Tristan said. “We nabbed the best table.”
Shay ushered me over to a seat, then motioned to the bar, and I knew he was asking if I’d like a drink. “I’ll take a coke,” I told him, and he arched an eyebrow. “I don’t drink alcohol,” I explained, realising I hadn’t actually mentioned that to him yet. He nodded, unfazed, before proceeding to sign to Rhys and Nuala, likely asking if they’d like a drink, too.
“I’ll come help you,” Nuala said, and I frowned a little as she joined Shay and immediately engaged him with more sign language. It seemed to put him at ease, while I was left feeling some discomfort because she was a beautiful woman. Of course, I was going to be jealous. My feelings for Shay were deeper than any I’d had for a man before, and it was scary because we were still in such a tentative place.
“You don’t need to worry about Nuala,” came a voice, and I turned to find Rhys sitting next to me, his intelligent eyes taking me in. “She’s friendly like that with most new people she meets.”
“A golden retriever, I think, is the term for it,” Tristan said.
“Oh, I wasn’t worried,” I told them, flushing.
Both men didn’t look convinced, and I swallowed thickly. Seeming to sense my discomfort, Rhys changed the subject and addressed his friend. “You mentioned there was something you wanted to tell me?”
“Right,” Tristan replied, smacking his forehead. “I’ve been meaning to mention this for ages but kept forgetting. Guess who’s coming to work at the hotel in the New Year?”
Rhys shot him a sceptical look. “Who?”
“Charli. Remember my cousin from back in the day? She came to stay with us that one summer?”
My attention went to Rhys, who seemed to stiffen at this news. “Oh,” he said finally. “Yes, I remember Charli. Didn’t she get married?”
“Straight out of college, yeah. Never met the bloke, but it turns out, he was a bit of a shithead. She divorced him a few months ago. That’s why she’s moving over here, for a fresh start. Dad offered her a job doing payroll, and she jumped at the chance. You know she always loved Ireland.”
“Well, hopefully, the fresh start will be good for her,” Rhys said just as Shay and Nuala returned with the drinks. Shay set my Coke down, and I took a fortifying sip as he slid into the seat on the other side of me. Soon, Stephanie appeared, joining our table, and conversation turned to other topics. I wondered if Shay felt like as much of an outsider as I did because the four obviously knew each other well. They spoke of people and events that meant nothing to me.
I bent close to Shay and murmured, “I’m just going to use the bathroom. I’ll be back in a minute.”
He nodded, his eyes meeting mine as he gave my hand a squeeze. Leaving the table, I went in search of the bathroom and found it easily enough. There was a bit of a queue, and by the time I got to a stall, I was ready to burst. Maybe I shouldn’t have drunk that Coke so fast. I was almost finished doing my business when I heard a new group enter the bathroom, and they sounded tipsy, well on their way to being drunk.
“Did you see Rhys Doyle tonight?” one of them said, catching my attention. “I swear, I could eat that man right up.”
“Not cool,” another said. “Don’t you know he’s engaged to Stephanie Moran?”
“Of course, I know that. Sure, the woman barely leaves his side.”
“Marking her territory,” a third put in. “You can’t blame her. If I had a man like that, I wouldn’t be letting him out of my sight either.”
“Well, what about the cousin?” The second one said, and my belly tightened. “He’s just as handsome as Rhys, and he always looks so dark and mysterious in the security uniform.”
“Right, but he seems kind of shy. I’ve never really seen him talking to anyone.”
“Didn’t you know? He’s mute, like, can’t speak at all.”
“Really? I had no idea. Wow, that’s fascinating.”
“How is it fascinating, Monica? The man can’t utter a word. Can you imagine how life must be for him?”
“It’s just rare, I guess. I’ve never met anyone who was mute. Maybe that’s why it’s fascinating.”
“If you find it so fascinating, why don’t you go out there and ask him to dance? You don’t need to be able to talk to dance at a party. You also don’t need to talk to do other things, if you get me. Who knows, maybe you might get lucky.”
“You think I won’t do it, but I will. He’s gorgeous, and I deserve a Christmas fling.”
Panic set in as I quickly emerged from the stall, but they were already gone. I was possessive of Shay, and I hated hearing those women talk about him. But my jealousy aside, I suspected he’d hate being approached by a tipsy coworker and asked to dance. And that was why I hurried back out to the party to save Shay before that Monica lady got to him.