“Aye, seems like a good thing to be focused on,” Eamon responds. “Pat appreciates it, I’m sure.”
Alicia rolls her eyes. “Only because he hates doing it. I don’t know how he manages on my nights off, to be honest. Anyway, no, we’re done for tonight, guys. Thanks so much for coming in. Seriously, you saved my ass.”
“No problem. Happy to help,” I tell her honestly.
“Need a ride home, Norie?” she asks as she stuffs the cash and deposit slip into a blue bank bag.
“I’ve got her,” Eamon says quickly from behind me.
My eyes go wide, and Alicia raises her dark brows, a coy smile playing on her lips. “Norah, you good with that?”
“Yep!” I respond a little too cheerfully.
She chuckles before saying, “Alright, you two. Behave. Thanks again.”
Waving our farewell, Eamon and I leave the pub and walk straight to his SUV. He opens the passenger door for me before rounding the front and climbing into the driver’s seat.
“Where to?” he asks as he starts the car.
“I’m on the other side of Marstella Park. Just head North on Third Street and turn left onto Meares,” I direct him.
“Right. You are close, then. My flat’s halfway between here and campus,” Eamon says.
“That must be nice. I probably should have found a place a little closer to campus, but as soon as I saw my house, I knew it was where I wanted to be.”
“Do you live by yourself?” he asks, glancing over at me.
“I do. Charlie and I were going to get a place together, but she didn’t know when she was going to be moving to North Carolina, so she told me not to pick a place based on that.” I shrug. “It worked out well. She met Mark shortly after moving here, and it was basically love at first sight.”
“You don’t get nervous living alone in Wilmington?”
“Nah. It’s a quiet neighborhood, and Layla lives next door, so I’m not really that alone. We usually have dinner together a few times a week if she’s not working,” I tell him, angling my body to see his face better. “Whatabout you? Do you and Rowan and Teagan live together?”
Eamon huffs a laugh. “No, thank Christ. Teagan and I would probably do alright together, but I think I’d murder Ro after a day or two. If you couldn’t tell, he’s a bit…much.”
I snort a quiet laugh. “Yeah, I gathered that. Oh, I’m the second house on the right.”
I point at my house, and he pulls into my driveway. It’s already a short drive, but it seemed to go quicker while talking with Eamon.
“Thanks again for the ride, Eamon. I appreciate it.”
He turns towards me, running his eyes over my face and tipping the corner of his mouth up in a warm smile. “Anytime, lass. It was my pleasure.”
I throw up a silent prayer of thanks that it’s dark in the car so he can’t see my traitorous face blushing.
“Good luck at practice tomorrow,” I tell him.
“Aye, I’ll need it,” he says.
We stare at each other for a handful of seconds, but it feels like a lifetime. Finally, he blows out a breath and says, “Goodnight, Norah.”
His deep voice feels like a warm caress that I can feel trail down my entire body.
“Goodnight, Eamon,” I whisper and clumsily exit the vehicle.
When I make it to my front door, I turn to wave, fully expecting him to be backing out of the driveway, but he’s sitting there watching to make sure I get inside safely.
Chapter Eleven
