Chapter 18
“Sex with three people is a threesome. With two people, it’s a twosome.”
“Then, I know why they say you’re handsome.”
Finn
I sit in the parking lot of the pub for at least another half hour. The windows need to defog, and so does my brain. Or maybe I just need to get the blood flowing back in that direction.
I tilt my head back against the seat and close my eyes, willing my erection away.
It’s not an easy task when each time I think of Addie, I imagine the feel of her luscious tits in the palms of my hands.
Jesus, I had no idea she had that body hiding beneath her loose T-shirts and oversize jumpers.
Tight little arse, strong thighs, and that rack.
The drive home takes far too long, and the trek from my parking spot to the door feels like it takes even longer. I want nothing more than to sink into the memory of what Addie and I started in my car, but unfortunately, there’s a ridiculously drunk girl passed out in the corner of my sofa.
Marlee’s low-cut shirt is askew, and her skirt is doing very little to cover her arse. This is not the arse I was thinking about during the drive home.
I shake her, getting no response. Nothing.
Swearing, I drop my keys on the counter on the way to my room.
I grab my quilt and a pillow. As soon as she feels the blanket on her, Marlee slides down on the couch, mumbling about steamed-up windows and breaking in.
I grab a bottle of water and a bucket, setting it in front of her, just in case. This is not how I saw my night going.
After a quick text to Jimmy, explaining that there’s an inebriated girl on the couch, I lock my bedroom door. I strip to my boxer briefs—the ones with the cartoon horseshoes all over them. I wore them for luck, and they worked perfectly—until Addie and I were interrupted.
My phone pings as I climb into bed.
Jimmy: Right. Couldn’t make it to your room?
Me: Not Addie.
Jimmy: Fuck’s sake?
Me: Marlee Ubered here. Picked the lock maybe and passed out.
I get a thumbs-up and nothing further. Jimmy’s still got hours till closing and probably pitchers three bodies deep that need filling.
If I were a better man, I’d have gone into the pub to help out instead of coming home straightaway, but I’ve been working there the longest out of all of us boys.
I’ve earned my night off. And, with Addie on my mind, I’d have been useless anyway.
Christ, I’d probably scare the drunks with the ridiculous tent in my trousers.
I’m concerned that the horseshoes on my briefs will forever be stretched out, never quite snapping back into shape.
And there’s no way I’ll ever be able to sleep until I take matters in my own hands.
So, I cue up my playlist from earlier—The UnBroken or maybe it was Of the Room—and reach deep for my much-needed release.
* * *
I wake in the morning to the sound of retching in the bathroom I just cleaned yesterday—you know, just in case.
I should go help Marlee, bring her a glass of water, a spare toothbrush—something.
But I don’t. I lie in bed, waiting for the sounds of bad decisions to quiet, when it hits me.
She fucking broke into my flat. Who does that?
Suddenly, I’m motivated to get dressed and talk to her, get to the meat of the matter. Find out what the fuck she was thinking. I pull on my jeans from last night and take a deep breath before stepping out into the flat.
“Marlee, you all right?” I ask, passing the bathroom, on my way to the kitchen. I grab a fresh bottle of water and take it back down the hall. “Marlee?”
The door swings open, and the wreck of a girl walks straight out, popping the bottle from my hand and wiping at her mouth.
“Have you seen my phone?” She looks around the living room, shoving her hand down the side of the sofa and beneath the cushions.
She plops down on her knees, her barely covered arse arched high in the air as she rests her head on the floor.
“There it is.” She stretches her arm flat under the sofa and retrieves her phone.
Her dead phone. from the sneer and the hateful look she gives it.
“Can you give me a ride?” she asks. There’s far too much suggestion in that simple question as her eyes rake down my bare chest, settling on the open button of my jeans. I really wish I had taken the time to throw a shirt on as well.
Fuck no.
“Erm, let me check my messages real quick.” Hightailing it to my room, I grab my phone and shoot a text to Aidan, letting him know I’ll take opening the pub today.
“Sorry, looks like I’ve got to fill in for Kieran, the new kid,” I call out. Turning toward the door, I jump at the sight of Marlee propped against my doorjamb with her tiny T-shirt in her hand. “Ehm, here.” I toss her my phone. “Call an Uber and go.”
She catches the phone with a huff and scowls as she pulls up the app, tapping away at the screen.
“Just leave it on the kitchen counter, and lock the door behind you,” I shout.
I’ll have to ask her another time about how she got in here. Gathering my clean clothes, I head into the bathroom, making sure to lock the door behind me. It’s a completely pointless act; if she broke into my flat, the lock on the bathroom door won’t stop her.
I hold my breath and take the world’s fastest shower, certainly the quickest I’ve ever done the morning after a first date. But, when I’m dried and dressed with contacts in, I’m thrilled to see my phone on the counter, the flat empty, and the front door locked.
* * *
People slowly trickle in the day after.
St. Patrick’s Day is Francie’s favorite day, and while the tips are amazing that night, the day after is significantly less impressive.
Aidan texted me a very appreciative, Thanks, from both him and Lis.
Normally, my mind would head straight for the gutter, but he mentioned something the other day about a gallery showing or a photo shoot he had planned for this weekend. Between his talent and Addie’s new website, his photography seems to be taking off.
I busy myself for the first couple of hours, stocking the beer cases, wiping down the bottles of liquor, and putting the tables to rights.
Francie ambles in mid-afternoon, box of doughnuts in hand, and settles himself at the bar with a cup of coffee. “I thought Aidan was taking the kid’s morning shift,” he grumbles, rubbing at his tired eyes.
“He’s got some artsy shite to take care of, so I stepped in.” I open the box from the bakery down the street and pluck out the chocolate-glazed doughnut, popping a big chunk into my mouth.
The look of surprise on his face makes me feel good and terrible at the same time. If a simple kindness shocks Francie, then it might be time for me to make some changes.
“How was your evening with the girl?” He blows at the steam from his coffee.
“Lovely. She was absolutely lovely.” The door opens, and my words get lost in my smile. It takes over my whole face; biting it back is fruitless.
“Well, and there she is,” Francie announces, killing any doubt she might have had that we were talking about her. “Are you going to introduce me then, Finn?” he says, laughter dancing in his eyes. He can be such a prat when he wants to be.
“Addie, this is Francie.” I gesture between them, adding, “And, Francie, this is Addie.”
“Adelaide actually,” she states.
I’m not thick. I catch it every single time she corrects me, but she’s so bloody cute when she does it. Plus, I think she’s starting to like it.
“Finn, get the lady a pint. Sit down, love, and tell me how your evening was.”
Instead, I set a mug of coffee the way she likes it in front of her with a wink and smirk firmly in place.
“It was fine, good really.”
My eyes are trained on her mouth as she takes a sip of coffee and then licks a drop off the rim of the mug.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, she’s killing me.
I take a sip from my pint of Guinness as Francie asks, “And he was a gentleman? Kept his hands to himself, yeah?” The timing is unfortunate as I choke on a bit of foam, beer dribbling down my chin.
I’m stuck coughing, so I can’t even respond.
Addie, thank God, has more grace in the moment. She assures him that I was perfectly well behaved. I grab the box of doughnuts and offer one to her before grabbing another for myself. Taking a bite, I hope the doughnuts are a distraction, and they get off this topic.
She chooses the other chocolate-glazed and moans around a sizeable bite. I must be staring. I’m honestly not quite sure that I’m breathing because I heard the start of that noise last night for an entirely different reason.
“Right. I’ll just, erm…I have paperwork to do in the office,” Francie states as he slides out of his seat, chuckling. “It was a pleasure, Adelaide.” He nods and turns to face me, pinning me with all the fatherly warning he can cram into one look. “Finn.”
That look speaks volumes. He knows something. Nothing specific, but I’m thinking he has a good idea that I was less than honorable.
I wait until I’m sure he’s gone back before speaking. “Sorry about that. Francie can be a tad protective at times. He has a tendency to collect wayward youth and parent us.”
I take another generous sip from my pint, and her lips quirk up on one side.
“Careful. You don’t want to blow your load again.”
How she can deliver lines with a straight face like that is fascinating. I, on the other hand, struggle to swallow my beer yet again.
Wiping the palm of my hand down my face, I collect myself and answer with, “Maybe I do.” I hit her with the wink that’s almost automatic.
Addie looks away, dunking the doughnut in her coffee and giving me another moan.
“No, definitely, I do.”
Her lips are wrapped around a delicate finger, licking the sticky glaze clean.
Surely, I’m developing brain damage, considering how often my blood seems to flow rapidly away from there. Closing my eyes, I count to ten and silently recite a Hail Mary before clearing my throat. “So, what brings you in today? I can’t say this is normal, just stopping by.”
“Hmm…” She pops her finger out of her mouth and tilts her head back and forth. “I wanted to see what your weekend looked like. See if you wanted to, um…watch a movie…or hang out?”
“Addie, are you asking if I want to Netflix and chill?”