Chapter 44
Chris
“Well well, look who’s here,” Vic says, gesturing behind me.
I turn around suddenly to see Ryan walking into the café.
“I’ve seen him around a lot lately…has he been over to yours, too?”
“Not now, Vic.”
“You never tell me anything about him…”
“Hey,” Ryan says, filling the whole café with his stunning smile.
“Hey.”
“Hey, Ryan,” Vic interjects.
“There are some tables over there that still need to be cleared,” I tell her moodily. I don’t want Ryan to become our next topic of discussion – I’ve learnt from experience. Vic is one of my closest friends, but when it comes to my love life, she can be really cynical.
She raises her hands and walks away in a huff. It’s fine, I’ll apologise later, probably with a glass of wine or two.
“Are you busy?”
“Always.”
“I just came by to see if you wanted to give me a hand with… something.”
I look at him quizzically.
“I have to get a present for Riley. Well, actually, it’s for the baby…”
“Oh… sure.”
“And I have no fucking clue about babies.”
I smile at him. “I’m sure I can take a break.”
“Good. I’d feel better knowing you were there.”
My heart fills in an instant.
“I’ll wait for you outside. Your friend is… really staring at me.”
I turn around to see Vic shamelessly ogling Ryan. She’ll need more than just that glass of wine to sort her out.
“I’ll be right there.”
A few minutes later, I step out of the café with two takeaway coffees.
“Is this for me?” he asks, taking one.
“I never go out without caffeine.”
“Is that why you’re always so energetic?”
“Maybe…”
“So…” he steps dangerously close to me. “What is it that makes you so sexy?”
I immediately flush bright red.
“I don’t think I’m sexy.”
“You’re really fucking sexy,” he murmurs into my ear, sending all my senses into overdrive.
He stayed over last night. He didn’t try to get between my legs even once – and I was actually a little disappointed – but he needed something else, and I was there to give it to him.
We kissed literally all night, lying next to each other in my bed.
We laughed, joked, relaxed – it was just nice.
I know that there are still loads of things that he isn’t ready to share with me just yet – he isn’t ready to completely let himself go – but the sweetness of his unexpected speech moved me.
I don’t want to think about the other stuff right now.
We walk side-by-side down the high street, heading towards Santry’s shopping centre, where I’m leading him to a kids’ supply shop to get something for the baby.
“Riley’s organised this baby shower. It’s just for women, but I felt like I had to get her something anyway.”
“Sure, that’s a nice idea.”
“And I didn’t want to ask my mum, or the others would’ve teased me for weeks.”
“It’s no problem, Ryan. I’m happy to help.”
We go into the shop and I can see right away that Ryan is uncomfortable.
He looks around, lost, shocked and on-edge.
I realise that babies really aren’t for him, and his mood turns immediately sour.
I try to choose something, so that we can just get out of there as quickly as possible without making a scene.
I grab a onesie, with a matching hat and booties, and pay at the till. We step out into the fresh air.
“Better?” I ask, as soon as the air brings some colour back to his cheeks.
“Thanks.”
I smile at him.
“I felt so uncomfortable in there.”
“It’s okay, we were quick.”
“Luckily.”
“Did you want to get something for Riley, too?”
He looks at me, a terrified expression on his face, and I start to laugh.
“Maybe some flowers? What do you think?”
“Yeah, flowers. I can do that.”
We head towards the flower shop back on the high street, a few shops down from my café. I help him pick out a beautiful bunch of purple tulips, and we step once again onto the street.
“All good?” I ask. I can see that he’s still agitated, and I don’t understand why.
Ryan sighs, stopping still in the middle of the street, when he grabs my arm and pushes me against a wall.
He leans in and takes my lips between his.
He kisses me.
Ryan O’Connor is kissing me in the middle of the street.
And it isn’t just any kiss. His mouth is making love to mine, a cocktail of sweetness, seductiveness and desire that makes my legs tremble. I could almost fall into his arms.
He pulls away from me and smiles, satisfied.
“Yep. Much better now.”
I look at him, tilting my head.
“I just needed some air,” he sighs, brushing his lips against mine again.
Now I’m the one who needs air.
“After yesterday, I needed to do it again… I can’t think of anything apart from your lips,” he says, tracing my lips with his thumb. “I should go now, or I’ll start wanting more.”
He takes my hand and leads me across the road, outside my café.
Our fingers are entwined, our palms pressed together; my heart is doing a hundred somersaults a minute.
I am walking through my neighbourhood, hand in hand, with Ryan O’Connor. Just two steps away from my café.
Oh my God.
I think I might pass out.
I feel dizzy, drunk on emotion, addicted to him and everything he’s giving me – maybe without even realising.
We stop on the pavement, waiting to cross. Ryan glances at me, setting all my senses alight. It makes me believe in something that, until yesterday, I didn’t think was possible – now, it’s right within my reach.