Chapter 18
“Rosie!” he beamed, grabbing me in a half hug, half headlock. I knew he had to be half cut when we were progressing to public hugs.
“They’re stamping anyone coming out to the smoking area - here,” he grabbed my hand and held my wrist against his freshly stamped hand, transferring the mark lightly to me.
“Fionn, you legend,” I punched him in the shoulder. “Can you do it again for Connor?”
He blinked, turning to look at Connor like he’d just noticed him. He hesitated a second, before Connor interrupted.
“Liam just text me he’s in O’ Malley’s so I might just pop into him. You go on and meet the girls, I’ll text you in a while to see what you’re at.”
I nodded as Connor leant down to brush a kiss across my cheek, “See you soon gorgeous,” and then headed back down the street towards O’ Malley’s.
The bouncer gave me a knowing look as I smiled sweetly and flashed my stamp, and he rolled his eyes as he waved me in.
The band had started so I pushed through the crowd toward the stage, sure I’d find the girls nearby.
After some discreet elbowing and foot stomping, I found myself at the edge of the dance floor quickly.
Spotting Ella and Niamh right in front of the band, jumping and singing along to Avicii’s “Wake Me Up,” I watched Niamh for a moment.
Her manic smile and wide eyes rolling like they were on stalks sent my anxiety rising.
I pushed it down and made my way over to hug them and join the dance.
Ten minutes later, Fionn shouldered his way onto the dancefloor next to us with his eyes fixed on Ella and a goofy smile on his face - his crush certainly hadn’t dimmed in the last few months.
I rolled my eyes and turned to Ella, but she grinned and gestured him over to dance.
She was always friendly to Fionn but never encouraged or led him on.
Judging by Fionn’s expression now, he was encouraged.
I pursed my lips, not thrilled at the idea of my love-struck brother shooting his shot and potentially getting his heart broken.
Just as I was about to call Ella outside for a smoke to warn her, I felt Niamh’s nails dig into my arm.
“AARRRGH, Niamh!” I yelled, trying to shake her off. I went to pull my arm free, then caught sight of her face. Pale and grimly smiling as she peered into the crowd.
I followed her gaze and spotted a tall, lanky back facing us from the bar.
He was so skinny he’d need to run around in the shower to get wet - so it could only be one person.
Fuck. It all clicked together as Dermot moved deeper into the crowd at the bar, trying to get served.
She knew he’d be here tonight. That’s why she’d been so adamant about going somewhere different.
We had been all for it, worried we’d run into Dermot if we went out in Kiltee.
“Niamh, you knew!” I glared at her.
She jerked her head to look at me. “So what? I don’t care if he's here.”
Oh my God, she’d really drifted into dulala land if she was still trying to keep up her facade with me.
She started dancing again, more purposefully, sneaking glances toward the bar.
This was going to be a complete shambles.
Ella and Fionn had disappeared into the crowd, and I pulled my phone out to text her and give the heads-up, but I spotted two messages from Ronan.
The first one was a picture of him in front of the Theobald statue on Patrick’s street, wearing a pink cowboy hat and sparkly pink sunglasses.
I blinked in shock, trying to figure out what was going on, then read the next message:
Ronan - “How far is Clon from the city exactly...? My mystery stag ended up here and I’d happily ditch them if it means I can see you.”
My heart pounded excitedly. Ronan was in Cork - and he didn’t know I was here too. The thought of seeing him made my stomach flutter as I typed a reply and felt a rush of relief that Connor had headed to a different pub for the night.
Róisín - “Maybe you won’t have to trek all the way to Clon... turns out the city is a popular spot tonight ;) What pub are you in?”
He answered instantly:
Ronan - “Ragertys! Where are you sweetheart…?”
Róisín - “Come find me ;)”
I laughed to myself, he obviously meant Rafferty’s, which meant he was here.
I turned to tell Niamh, but she was gone.
I blinked, spinning around the dance floor alone, wondering where the hell everyone had disappeared to.
Niamh clearly had an agenda tonight, and I had a horrible feeling I was about to get a front row seat.
Dermot was a heavy smoker and would likely be holding court in the smoking area out front.
The crowd thinned as I moved away from the bar and towards the smoking area exit, when strong arms locked around me from behind.
I spun to find my face buried in Connor’s strong chest. I stepped back in surprise to look at him, but he stepped with me, moving his hand from my waist to my cheek.
“You know, after watching those lips all night, I never got a kiss from you,” he purred.
I was stunned for a second since I’d thought he was with Liam in O’ Malley’s, and when I didn’t respond, he leaned in and gently pressed his lips to mine before quickly deepening the kiss, making me forget where I was for a second.
Before I could react, cold air rushed against me as Connor was ripped backwards, and his arms left me.
I gaped at Ronan standing there, gripping Connor’s shoulder and snarling.
Fuck. I hadn’t had time to process Connor showing back up when I was about to meet Ronan.
Watching Connor’s grim smile, I quickly realised he had.
He must have changed his mind about meeting Liam and spotted Ronan in here - and decided to stake his claim.
Once again I felt like a tree being pissed on.
My gut churned with anxiety as Ronan growled, “What the fuck are you doing with your hands on my girlfriend?”
Wait. What? I was no one’s girlfriend. And while seeing Connor plaster his lips on me can’t have been fun, I was still not his to claim.
Connor laughed. “Your girlfriend? Keep dreaming, lad. Róis and me just came back from our date.”
Connor was certainly seizing his moment to be a massive prick, knowing Ronan was his main competition and doing whatever it took to put him down. Ronan froze, then looked at me while Connor shrugged him off.
“Sweetheart? What’s the story?” His tone was casual, but his eyes were full of hurt.
“I… I…” I stumbled, not knowing what to say. There was a lot I wanted to get off my chest, but nosy onlookers were starting to gather.
“I’m not your girlfriend, Ronan. Or yours!” I spat at Connor, seeing the victorious grin on his face. “I can do what I want, so stop with this macho shit, and you two can just fuck off out of my face.”
Connor didn’t look remorseful, but I saw a flicker of shock in Ronan’s eyes.
I supposed it was a bit unfair to him, he wasn’t part of Connor’s sneaky games, but more people were starting to gather.
I turned on my heel and stormed to the smoking area, desperate to find the girls and get out of Rafferty’s.
As I scanned the crowd near the door, my eyes snagged on Fionn leaning some young wan against the wall as he wore the face off her. Ewww. Seeing my brother shifting someone was very high on a list of things I didn’t want to witness.
I was about to scan again when Fionn shifted, and I spotted a familiar skirt pressed between his crotch and the wall.
I blinked in shock at what I was seeing.
A shriek sounded to my left, pulling my attention.
But not before Ella’s head popped up and locked eyes with me, horror clear on her face.
I spun toward the unmistakable sound of Niamh screaming, “Who the fuck is she, Dermot?”
She was wobbling in front of Dermot, tears pouring down her face, her dress all over the place.
She looked a state, and he eyed her with the coldest, most disdainful look I’d ever seen.
I barrelled toward them as fast as I could, determined to stop Niamh’s path of self-destruction.
I ignored the calls from Ella shouting my name, focusing on Niamh.
“Niamh girl, come on. He’s not worth it.” I pulled her hard by the elbow as she tried to resist.
“Yeah Róisín, maybe get her home before she makes even more of a holy show of herself. If you want to know why I dumped you, Niamh, have a look in the mirror,” he sneered.
My vision darkened, like a cloud passed over my eyes, and I couldn’t see anything but Dermot’s vindicative face. I turned and kicked him so hard in the balls he crumpled, screaming, “You fucking cunt!”
Then I dragged Niamh from the pub before I ended up behind bars.