“Now, where were we?” Rowan turns back to me. “Oh, right. You were about to tell me what your intentions are with our fella.”
“My intentions? I wasn’t aware you were his parent and that I needed to declare myself to you,” I quip back.
“Ah, lass, but that’s where you’re wrong,” Teagan chimes in. “While in the States, we all look out for each other. Like the Three Musketeers.”
“More like the Three Stooges. Which one is Curly?” I ask, looking between the two of them.
“Did you just refer to me as one of the Three Stooges?” Eamon asks incredulously, coming up to stand behind Teagan. “I leave for a whole five minutes and you eejits have already turned her against me.”
“We’re just looking out for you, mate. Wanting to make sure the fire spritehas your best interests at heart. Can’t have her taking advantage of you just because you’re a star footballer,” Ro says.
Eamon rolls his eyes then, noticing Ro’s arm around my shoulders, glares pointedly at his friend. I go rigid as Ro pulls me tighter to him, running a lock of my hair through his fingers. I know he’s not being nefarious, but the unexpected, and unwanted, contact has my breath coming faster and anxiety rising.
“Norah, love. Have I ever told you how gorgeous your hair is? I’m a wee bit biased after all.” Ro leans in as if to smell my hair.
My eyes must be begging for help because Eamon says, “Alright, that’s enough. Get your dirty paws off of her before I tear them from your limbs. Besides, you’re making her uncomfortable, and I know your Mam raised you better than that. Don’t make me call her up…”
“Jaysus, Kennedy. Calm your tits. I’m just messing about. If you’re going to keep this one around, she might as well get used to the gang. Right, Norah?” Finally looking at me, Ro stops short, noticing the panic in my eyes. “My apologies, lass. I didn’t mean a thing by it.”
“It’s alright. I just have a…thing…with being touched without warning or permission,” I hedge.
“Right, I’ll just get out of our boy’s spot, then! I need a drink anyway!” he says jovially, leaving the booth and heading towards the bar.
Eamon sits a glass of wine down in front of me before resuming his place beside me and turning concerned eyes on me. “Are you alright, love?”
“I’m fine. Really. But I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you picking up the cues. Usually, the girls are the ones to save me,” I reply, hesitantly sliding my hand into the one he has resting on his thigh.
Eamon looks down at our hands and twists so our fingers are interlocked. Why does something as simple as hand-holding have my heart thumping hard?
“So, Norah, what do you do here in Wilmington?” asks Teagan.
Yet again, I forgot that there were others around us, somehow even managing to drown out Mac’s horrible rendition of whatever country song he’s singing and Myra’s cheering.
I smile apologetically at Teagan and say, “I’m the costume designer for the Department of Theatre at the university and also a business student.”
“No kidding? Do you make costumes as well?” he questions.
“I do, with my team of course. I couldn’t do it alone.”
“You should see her work, Teag,” Eamon says proudly. “It’s phenomenal. I know nothing about designing or making any type of clothing, but I got to see it firsthand, and I’m seriously impressed.”
“Okay, enough about me,” I say quickly, my face flaming at the compliments. “How are you feeling about the game tomorrow?”
“We’re playing Duke, so it could go either way.” Teagan shrugs, taking a drink from the beer bottle in his hand. “I hate to say it, but they’ve really improved since last season. Wankers.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Right. They’re your rivals. Shows you how much I know.”
“You’re coming tomorrow right?” he asks curiously.
“Yeah, I think I’m going to ask my friend Layla to come with me. She’s been wanting to see a game.”
“That’s a good idea,” Eamon says. “I’ll make sure both names are given to the attendant.”
“Yeah, definitely bring a friend,” Teagan says with a smirk. “The more pretty lasses there, the better!”
Hmmm. Laylaissingle, and from what I can tell, so is Teagan. This could be fun.
Chapter Seventeen
