Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 90919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Between one thing and a million others, I didn’t even have a chance to call Myla and ask to see her until almost a week later.
I didn’t have a clue how badly I’d fucked up until I got to her house that night. I also didn’t handle it well when I realized it.
Chapter 13
Myla
“Cian’s coming over,” I announced, looking between Lou and Frankie.
“I’ll pop the popcorn,” Frankie replied, putting her feet up on the table.
I sent a pleading look to Lou.
“Nope,” she announced, throwing the blanket off her legs. “My gram needs us to go help her pull out the holiday decorations. Get up.”
“No way,” Frankie complained.
“Yes, way,” Lou ordered. “You know we’ll get the details later. Let’s go.”
“She never gets them right,” Frankie replied in frustration, pushing to her feet. “She always leaves shit out.”
“You act like you don’t give a shit about anything,” Lou joked. “But I swear you’re more nosy than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“I like to be in the room where it happens,” Frankie muttered, glaring at me dramatically.
“Thanks guys,” I said as Lou poked and prodded Frankie into a pair of boots and ushered her out the front door.
“Call me when we can come home,” Lou muttered out of the side of her mouth. “It’s early for holiday decorations, even for Gram.”
“I will.”
After they were gone, I put away the bag of chips Frankie left on the coffee table and folded Lou’s blanket. Dashing quickly to my room, I checked my hair and makeup in my vanity mirror. I’d worked all day, but everything was holding up all right.
It was Cian. He’d seen me a lot worse.
I’d barely made it to the living room again before I heard his Harley pulling onto the street. Standing in the middle of the living room, I forced myself not to rush onto the front porch to meet him. I wasn’t doing that anymore. He could come to the door and knock just like anyone else.
I jerked in surprise when the front door swung open and Cian stepped inside.
“You don’t knock?” I asked dubiously.
“When have I ever knocked?” he asked, just as confused. He paused. “You want me to go back out and knock?”
“No.” I shook my head, and my hands did a weird wavy thing before I noticed and crossed them over my chest.
“All right,” he said slowly, watching me carefully as he closed the door behind him.
We stared at each other.
“You want a drink?” I asked, spinning away. I hurried toward the kitchen. “I don’t think we have any beer, but I just bought a bunch of soda.”
I’d barely made it three steps before Cian’s arm banded around my waist from behind.
“What’s goin’ on?” he asked, leaning down until his lips brushed the shell of my ear. “You good?”
“I’m fine,” I chirped. I didn’t chirp. I wasn’t a chirper. What the hell was wrong with me?
“Myla?”
“What kind of soda do you want?” I asked, forcing my voice back to normal as I pulled away from his hold. I rattled off the list of choices as I walked to the fridge and threw open the door. When I looked back at him, he looked like he was frozen in place.
“I’m not picky,” he replied, dropping his arm.
My heart thumped in my chest as I leaned in and got him something I knew he’d like. I wasn’t sure how to act. From the first time Cian and I had hung out, I’d flirted. It was my default with him. I was charming. I made jokes. I teased and I batted my eyes.
I wasn’t doing that anymore.
“Here you go,” I said, spinning to set the soda on the island between us.
“Thanks,” he murmured, walking forward. He paused on the other side of the counter, his eyes still on me as he reached out to grab it. “What’s going on, Myla?”
“Nothing,” I replied, shrugging.
“Something is.”
“Nope.” I leaned on the island. “How are your sisters settling in? Is Sean loving unfettered access to the property?”
“They’re good,” he said. He was watching me closely. Too closely. I fought the urge to fidget. Jesus, why was I being so weird? I hung out with tons of men that I didn’t have feelings for. I could act like a normal person for the half an hour he’d be at my house. I needed to snap out of it.
“Is Ronan still planning on coming out here at some point?” I asked when he didn’t elaborate further.
“You wanna talk about my brother?” he asked flatly.
“I’m making conversation,” I replied, my tone just as flat as his. “The last time I heard, Ronan was staying behind, but he wanted to try and move if he could.”
“He’s still workin’ on it.”
“Well, that’s good. I hope it works out.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“How’s Aisling feeling?” I stood straight again. The nonchalant leaning on the counter had started to feel awkward. “She hasn’t texted or anything.”