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“If you’re not ready to get over your ex by getting under one of those fine-ass rugby boys, then I will take one for the team and do it for you,”
“You’re honestly trying to tell me that those two aren’t in love?”
“I never said they weren’t in love.” Chuckling, she added, “Only that they’re not together.”
While the rest of his friends had long since abandoned their girlfriends and dates, Gibsie hadn’t taken more than three steps away from Claire all night.
“If it ever happens, then it’ll be on their marriage bed.” Katie snickered. “Because Claire Biggs isn’t opening her legs for anything less than a big fat diamond and the promise of forever.”
Our eyes met, green on green, and he winked at me from across the room. And just like that, I was ruined.
“On the straight and narrow?” I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, asshole, it sure smells like it.” His brow furrowed in confusion, while Podge let out a very loud ha.
“You can’t tell me what to do, Joe,” I growled, feeling a combination of drunk and dizzy. “You don’t own me.” “Well, that’s bad fucking luck on my account, because you sure as shit own me!” Drunk or not, his words hit me like a wrecking ball to the chest. Feeling the air whoosh from my lungs, I glared up at him, feeling a torrent of emotions crashing through me. “Why would you say that to me?” “Because it’s the truth.” “Since when?” “Since I was twelve.”
“Tell me you’re sorry.” I gave in without a fight, too weary and too damn in love to fight my feelings. “I’m sorry.” “How sorry?” “Very sorry.” “Good boy.” Her tongue was on my ear then, her body pressed flushed against mine. “Now, tell me you love me.” “I love you.” The words flew off my tongue in record time. “Say it again.” “I love you.” “How much?” “A lot.”
“It’s you,” he repeated gruffly, fingers tightening on my waist. “I pick you. Every single time.”
“I’ll love you the right way this time,” he whispered, and his breath fanned my cheek. “If you’ll show me how.”
“What I did at Christmas? How far I went? It scared the shit out of me, and all I could think about was if I didn’t get you away from me, I would end up destroying my world, because that’s what you are to me, Aoife. You’re my whole goddamn world wrapped up in one girl. So, yeah, maybe I’ve gone about it entirely the wrong way, but all I’ve ever tried to do is protect you.”
“I’m not your mother or your sister. I’m not another girl who needs something from you. I’m the girl who wholeheartedly wants you. I’m the girl who wholeheartedly loves you. The hurler. The mechanic. The boy. The protector. The asshole. The lover. The addict.”
“Because you can’t take it back this time, Joe. Do you hear me? You don’t get to walk away again for any other reason than you don’t want to be with me and trust that I will do the same.”
“You gave her all of your money?” “Every cent,” he admitted before quickly backpedaling with a frown. “I got those slouch boots you wanted for Christmas first. They’re under my bed.”
My teammate. It had never happened before. Not with a single other human on this planet. Not even my sister.
“Nice abs.” “Nice legs,” he called back with a wink, and just like that, I was ruined. “What am I saying?” Casey declared with a resigned laugh. “Of course you’re going to get swallowed up in him again.”
“When we get engaged—” “We’re not getting engaged.” “I want a ring the size of my fist.” He snorted. “Good luck with that.” “And when we get married—” “We’re not getting married.” “I want a big house in the country, with a huge four-poster bed and one of those giant flat-screen televisions hanging on the wall.” “And where am I going to find the money for that?” I beamed at him. “I thought you said we weren’t getting married.” “We’re not.” He turned to face me. “We can’t because I’ll be in prison for robbing a bank to pay for that fist-size ring you have your eye on.”
“You can have whatever you want from me,”
“Because I’m only doing life for you.”
Whether it was to compliment her or not, I knew my role in this relationship and had my lines rehearsed off by heart… Hey, Joe, have I put on weight? Where? Your imagination? Hey, Joe, does my belly jiggle? You’d have to have a belly for it to jiggle, and you clearly don’t. Hey, Joe, you think she has a better figure than me? Nobody has a better body than you.
“I won’t hurt her, Joey.” The sincerity in his voice and the vulnerable look in his eyes assured me that not only was my sister’s heart on the line here, but so was his. Poor fucker had gone and caught himself some big old feelings. For my sister, of all people. Go figure.
plates laden down with food, walked over to the nearby island, and set them down. “Meanwhile, I’m a short-tempered asshole, with neither the patience nor the temperament to handle a person such as yourself in my life.” “Well, I think you’re wrong,” Gibsie replied, handing me a fork and taking up position on the stool next to mine. “I think we could love each other.” I gaped at him. “You’re a freak.”
“I meant like brothers.” “I already have four,” I said flatly. “Don’t need any more.” “See?” He chuckled, tearing a rasher in half and stuffing it into his mouth. “You’re already opening up to me about your family. We’re bonding.” “We aren’t bonding,” I argued, stabbing my fried egg with my fork.
“So, what’s the story with you and your buddy’s sister?” “Who?” he asked. “Claire?” I nodded. “She’s my intended,” he came right out and said, without a hint of embarrassment. “The fuck?” “It’s true,” he urged, eyes wide and full of sincerity. “We’re betrothed.”
Mam feared me. Shannon felt betrayed by me. Molloy couldn’t stand the sight of me. The only three women I had ever loved in my whole life, and I was letting them down left, right, and center. I couldn’t seem to do the right thing by anyone.
“If you want money, you can make that for yourself,” Mam replied. “You don’t need a man to do that for you.”
“Because your baby’s father might be as pigheaded and stubborn as you are when it comes to admitting his feelings, but his heart has never once wandered from you, either.”
“I want you to love yourself enough to stop destroying yourself.” “How do you ever expect that to happen when the very person who gave birth to me can’t love me?”
“Where do you think you’re going, Aoife?” “I think she’s going to get fucked, miss,” Alec offered up with a chuckle. “In the literal sense, this time.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For loving my son. I know that it’s not easy at times.”
“Loving your son is effortless,” I cut her off by saying, pushing my damp hair out of my eyes. “It’s getting him to love himself that’s the hard part.”
My hand moved to the slight swell of my stomach, and for the first time since realizing the mess I was in, I felt a surge of something peculiar rise up inside of me. Something that felt an awful lot like protectiveness for the baby growing inside of me. Something that felt an awful lot like love. Something that grew hotter and fiercer with every breath I took. The protective feeling was so strong, so dominant and potent, that it felt almost carnal in nature, as it eclipsed the fear that had kept me burying my head in the sand these past few weeks.
Pregnant. She was pregnant. With a baby. With my baby. Get the fuck up and take care of her. Stop thinking about yourself, you fucking pussy. Don’t even think about pretending that you don’t care. It’s yours and you care. She’s yours and you care. It does matter and you do care.
“I’m done having your back, Kev. I’m done being your sister. It ends today. And good luck getting Mam back on your side now that she’s finally seen you for what you truly are—a fucking brat!”
“I’m scared to fucking death right now, so I can only imagine how you’ve been feeling. But I’m here, okay?” He shrugged helplessly. “I’m here and I’m going nowhere.”
I didn’t have a car to bundle her into. I didn’t have a home to take her to, not one where she would be safe. I had no big-time future ahead of me like her ex, and no family to prop me up like him, either. I had a grand total of thirteen euro in my pocket, and the prospects of a gutter rat. Fucked didn’t even come close to defining
“I’ve loved your daughter for six years,” Joey finally broke his silence by saying. “I can easily love her for another eighteen.” Goddamn…
my baby?”
“It might be a boy.” “Christ, I hope not.” My heart flipped. “You want a girl?” “I just don’t want anything remotely like me,” he replied, and his honesty broke me. “Let it be all you, and I’ll be happy.” “I do,” I replied. “Want it to be like you, that is.” He paused to glare at me. “Be serious, Molloy.” “What?” I argued back. “You’re loyal, you’re strong, you’re athletic, you’re talented, you’re beautiful.” I shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I want our baby to be like you?” “Because I’m a fuckup.” I smirked. “Only some of the time.” “Oh, that’s alright then,” he shot back, tone laced with sarcasm.
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“Now.” Smiling sweetly up at him, I leaned back on my elbows and wiggled my toes. “Blow.” Joey looked at me like I had grown an extra head. “You are fucking crazy if you think I’m blowing on your toes.” “Come on, Joe,” I whined, toes still wiggling. “I’m pregnant.” “So?” he shot back, looking personally insulted.
“I don’t want the polish to smudge.” “Then don’t smudge it.” “Blow.” “No.” “Blow on my toes.” “Absolutely fucking not.” “Joey Lynch.” “Aoife Molloy.” “You said you’d be there for me.” “As your boyfriend and the father of your baby,” he spluttered, throwing his hands up. “Not as your personal fucking groomer.” “There were no stipulations spoken when you made your promises,” I argued. “Now come here and blow me.” “That’s my line.” “It won’t ever be again if you don’t do this for me.” “Jesus fucking Christ.” Rolling his eyes, Joey sank down on the edge of my bed and pulled my feet onto his lap.
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“Hey, Joe?” “Hmm?” “Are you going to still want me when I’m the size of a whale?” “Molloy.” He chuckled under his breath. “For fuck’s sake.” “I’m serious.” “I know you are.” With a shake of his head, he tossed the cigarette butt away and climbed back inside. “You’re not going to be the size of a whale.” “But if I am?” “You won’t be.” “I might be.”
“You’re having a baby, Molloy, not inhaling a town.” “But say it happens.” “Jesus Christ.” He rolled his eyes to the heavens. “Yes, I’m still going to want you.” “How?” “How?” His brow furrowed in confusion as he closed the space between us. “What do you mean how?” “How are you going to still find me sexy when I’m big and round and swollen?” I gestured to my body and sighed. “Look at me, Joe. Won’t you miss this body?” He threw his head back and laughed. “Hey, don’t laugh at me, asshole.” I narrowed my eyes. “I’m feeling vulnerable here.” “You are the vainest girl I’ve ever met.”
“Nobody else can fuck with my head quite like you can, and that has nothing to do with your body, Molloy.”
“Ceart go leor, a mhúinteoir,” my boyfriend replied with a nonchalant shrug as he replied in As Gaeilge. “Bhí mé ag rá le mo leannán go bhfuil grá agam di.”
“Aoife’s pregnant. I’m the father. She’s due after we finish school, so I really don’t understand the need for this bullshit meeting.”
“You’re a twin, so I’m just making sure we don’t have any little surprises hidden away from view.” “What the fuck?” I demanded, heart gunning in my chest. “There’s more?” I glared at my girlfriend. “There’s more?” “No, no, no.” Molloy chuckled nervously, pushing the technician’s hand away. “One surprise was quite enough, thanks. Don’t go looking for problems, dammit.” “Don’t worry. I can only see one fetal membrane sac.” “Thank Jesus for that,”
“It’s your baby, Joe.” “Yeah.” Nodding to himself, he placed the sonogram in the picture slot in his wallet and smiled. “He is.”
“He asked me if I planned on marrying you.” “Oh my god,” she groaned dramatically. “What did you say?” “I told him that we already got married in secret, and that you got my name tattooed on your ass instead of a wedding ring.” “You did not say that to my dad.”
