Chapter 16
“I would go to the end of the world for you.”
“Yes, but would you stay there?”
Finn
I don’t know what to do.
I’m absolutely mental over this, where to take her, and Francie is not making things any easier. He keeps riding my arse about being a gentleman and not trying to get in her knickers on the first date. I’ve been trying to do that since I met her, and I don’t know how to flip that on its head now.
Giving in to Jimmy’s constant whining and begging for me to take his shift is starting to look like a good enough idea. I could tell her that I had to make up work from when I was sick, but that wouldn’t be right. I don’t think I can lie, nor do I really want to.
“Where are you taking your girl?” Francie asks.
“I don’t know.” I polish the very clean bar top.
“You have a date?” Aidan pulls the bottle of Jameson from under the taps and pours himself a substantial one.
“I do, but I…” I look around the pub. All the preparations for St. Patrick’s Day are done. “Maybe I should cancel and help Jimmy and you.” It makes sense really.
“Pfft, we’ve the new kid all trained up. Are ye nervous, Finn?” Francie, bless his heart, looks like he’s worried for me.
I do feel a little off. Maybe I’m still sick.
“Who’re you taking out that has you tied in knots?” Aidan looks from Francie to me and back again.
Jimmy picks this God-given moment to walk through the door. “Your Adelaide. Gonna loosen her up, yeah?”
“Christ, you’re not.” Aidan’s eyes are wide, and his mouth is hanging open as he tries to make sense of what’s happening. “Don’t you fuck that up. She’s a nice girl. You’re not allowed to drive her away.”
* * *
And, because she wouldn’t give me her address, we’re meeting at McBride’s.
On St. Patrick’s Day.
With people packed in here and no room to fucking breathe.
Francie’s at the door, checking IDs. Jimmy, Aidan, and the new kid, Kieran, are behind the bar, and I’m just standing here with my hands in my pockets, looking like a prat.
The shattering of glass pulls my attention from the door, and Kieran’s standing like a deer in headlights.
He sputters an apology at Aidan, but when he leans down to pick up the bits of the bottle he dropped, Jimmy trips, sending the kid to his hands and knees.
When Kieran sits back on his heels, there’s a huge shard of glass sticking through his palm.
“Finn, can you…” Aidan nods toward the crowd of people filling the pub as he wraps Kieran’s hand with a clean bar rag. He and Lis shuffle the kid out the door—taking him to the hospital, I’m sure.
I jump in and start pulling pitchers of beer and taking money, falling into the familiar rhythm of the past four years. Money. Beer. Whiskey. Flirt. As soon as I’m able, I reserve a spot at the bar for Addie, hoping she’ll understand. Hoping.
I look up from another pitcher of green beer to see cascading emerald curls tumbling around the shoulders of an oversize cardigan. At least it’s a million different shades of green. I set a mug of coffee in front of her, grabbing a carton of cream from the fridge.
“I’m so sorry,” I start.
“It’s okay. The guy at the door told me there was an emergency. Should we just forget this?”
I splash a bit of cream in her mug and tuck the carton away.
“No.” I’m leaning in, so I don’t have to shout at her.
“You look far too lovely and festive to waste this opportunity.” I push the mug closer to her.
“Do you mind waiting a bit? Maybe Aidan will come back.” I get pulled back into the flurry of empty pitchers and waving dollar bills before she can answer.
It’s an absolute madhouse, just as it is every year, and far too much time passes before I can take a breath and make my way back to Addie.
“Is this normal?” she shouts.
I grab her mug, refilling it as I knock a tap closed with my elbow.
“Pretty much. It’s Francie’s favorite day of the year.
” I nod toward the door and see the line is not going to let up anytime soon.
“Usually, we have three of us back here, one at the door, and Francie keeping supplies stocked. We were a bit shorthanded to start and then…” I just shrug because more empty pitchers are being waved at me.
A few hours pass with Jimmy and me scrambling to keep up, and each spare moment is spent making sure Addie won’t give up on me.
“Finn, baby, give me a beer and a shot!” a familiar voice yells.
I look up, and Marlee has her tits spilling out of a tiny green shirt.
I do the best I can to make eye contact as I slide her a shot of whiskey and hand her a plastic cup of beer.
Taking her money, I see a handful of guys behind her staring.
Of course, she’s wearing the shortest plaid skirt I think I’ve ever seen.
And I’ve seen some short skirts over the years.
The guys’ jaws drop as she leans across the bar, grabbing my shirt to pull me in for a kiss.
Thankfully, Aidan and Lis breeze through the kitchen door just then, and I turn my head to greet them. And Marlee’s lips land square on my cheek.
“I missed. Give me another chance, Finny.”
Christ, she’s off her tits already. I probably shouldn’t have even served her.
I back away and nod at Aidan, wiping at the goopy, glossy mess on my cheek. “You back then? He’s all right?” I look around for Kieran and only see Lis and her friend Gracyn.
“A bunch of stitches and some painkillers, so he’ll not be back tonight. What was that?” Aidan nods at Marlee dancing her way over to the side of the bar. Right next to Addie.
“She’s not taking no for an answer. I need to get out of here with Addie.” I wipe my hands on a bar rag and hand it off to Aidan.
“Who?” He reaches out for an empty pitcher and falls into the repetitive motions of the night.
I glance to the right and smile as wide as I can—until I catch Marlee looking from me to Addie and back again.
I stalk over to them, smile firmly in place. “I’m done then. Let’s get out of here, yeah?”
Unfortunately, Marlee is more than a little impaired.
“Sure, lemme jus’ finish my beer,” she slurs.
And the look Addie gives her is priceless—and more than a little intimidating.
“Heeeyyy, you don’t have your glasses on. You look shexy like that.”
Adelaide slides out of her barstool and makes her way through the crowd to the front door.
“I’ll jus’ sit right here.” Marlee slides into the newly vacated seat, making herself at home.
“I’m out, Aidan. Maybe she just needs an Uber.” I nod toward Marlee as I grab my jacket from where I stowed it under the bar and push my way through to catch up with Addie. “You’re not leaving, are you? Can I still take you for a bite?”
“Absolutely. I just hit my limit with people. Had to leave before Skankzilla got too close,” she deadpans at me. “She always like that?”
“No. She’s a hot mess tonight.” I laugh as I guide Addie to my car.
She pauses when I open the door for her. “I’ve seen how you drive. Maybe we should take my car.”
The way she bites her lip when she’s being snarky does things to me. Things that make my jeans uncomfortable.
I manage to keep the car door between us to hide my growing erection. “I promise, you’re in good hands. We’ll be perfectly safe.”
She climbs in, and I close the door, thankful to have the barrier while I make the necessary adjustments.
Unfortunately, with her seated, Addie’s face is exactly level with my hand as I shift my cock.