Chapter One
Teagan
“Where the hell is Kennedy going?” Rowan asks.
As soon as the final buzzer sounded, declaring the Seahawks’ victory, Eamon Kennedy untangled himself from the pile of teammates and took off across the pitch toward his new mot, Norah. They recently started dating, and he’s already head over heels for her.
“Isn’t it obvious, Ro? Norah’s here.” I shrug.
I’ll be honest. I’m a little jealous. My last relationship ended out of the blue at the end of last semester; we had met towards the end of our sophomore year at UNCW and instantly connected. I’d been with Ashley for over a year. The lass didn’t know a stranger either. Everywhere we went, she knew someone or made friends with whoever just happened to be nearby. I loved that about her. She loved that I’m Irish but also said she loved me forso much more. Until, one day, she didn’t.
“I’m sorry, Teags. I just can’t do this anymore. I should have called it months ago, but I hated the idea of hurting you. I still want to be friends though,” she saysflippantlyin the small kitchen of my apartment.
Laughing, I reach for her. “What are you talking about? Are you slagging me? Very funny, you.”
Ashley steps away from my grasp and crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m not kidding. We’ve been drifting apart for a while now. Haven’t you noticed?”
I am completely flummoxed. I thought we’ve been happy together. Yeah, we are always busy with school, jobs, and life in general, but I always make it a point to see her nearly every day.
“No, Ash, I haven’t. I thought everything was fine. We’ve beenup to ninetywith finals, but I’ve done my best to connect with you.”
“It’s not that,” she says hesitantly, running her hand through her golden tresses. “Our spark is gone.”
“Our spark is gone? What the feck does that mean?” I ask incredulously. “Am I not pleasing ya in the bedroom, then? That was one area where I thought we excelled, love. Now yer tellin’ me that my cock isn’t keeping ya happy?”I know my Irish accent thickens when I’m frustrated or overly emotional.
“God, Teagan, that’s not what I’m talking about. That’s all our relationship had going for it, and I want more. I don’t think…” She pauses, pressing her lips together in a thin line.
“You don’t think what, Ashley?” This is so out of left field that I’m making her spell it out for me.
She takes a deep breath and squares her shoulders before looking me in the eyes. “I don’t love you anymore. I haven’t for a while now.”
It feels like I’ve just taken a hit on the pitch. She doesn’t love me?Hasn’tloved me. I sink onto the bar stool behind me.
“I’m sorry,” she continues softly. “I don’t want to hurt you. I care about you, but I’m not in love with you. I can’t keep dragging you along like this. It’s not fair to either of us.”
I just stare at her in utter disbelief for a moment before whispering, “When?”
“When what?” Ashley questions.
“When did you stop loving me?”
“Teagan…” she starts.
“No.” I shrug. “You at least owe me that much, love. I’ve devoted myself to you and thought I was giving you everything, but at some point, it wasn’t enough. I’d like to know when.”
She wrings her hands in front of her and mutters, “Since February.”
My head shoots up, eyes narrowing, “February? You haven’t loved me since fuckingFebruary? Why didn’t you say anything to me? I would have done anything to help fix this!”
“What was I supposed to say? ‘Teagan, I’m feeling like I don’t love you anymore’?” she asks, throwing her hands in the air.
“Yes!” I bellow, rising out of my chair and storming around the kitchen island. “You could have told me anything! Even a simple ‘something doesn’t feel right,’ and then I would have explored that with you! I’ve always been open and honest with you, since the very beginning.”
I stop in my tracks as a thought occurs to me.
“Wait…” I say, “February. That’s when you did that internship in Texas.”
Ashley’s cheeks start to flush, and she refuses to look at me.
