“Why the feck would we have to find a new pub? What did you wankers get up to?” Ro sinks into one of the chairs and props his feet up on the table.
“Not us, you gobshite,” Eamon says while pushing Ro’s feet off the table. “Keep those boats of yours on the floor, will ya? Now tell us what you did to Alicia.”
Ro lets out a loud groan. “It’s not what you’re thinking. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.”
Eamon and I share a look of disbelief before Rowan continues.
“Alright, so Alicia and I bumped into each other last week at a club. We’d both been drinking, obviously, and dancing. Next thing I know, we’re in the jacks, snogging. It was getting heated, but I put on the brakes. Alicia’s not just some random wagon, is she? Snogging is one thing, but shagging her is a different story altogether. If I’m going to shag her, it’s not going to be while we’re hammered in the jacks of some manky club. I have more respect for her than that. So, anyway, she was raging and ran out of there before I could even explain myself. It’s been frigid ever since.”
There’s utter silence as we process what Ro just told us. When has heeverstopped a shag? And with Alicia of all people! He must actuallylikeher.
“Stall the ball.” I turn the ball cap on my head backward before leaning forward to rest my elbows on the table. “You’re saying that Alicia wanted to hook up andyouturnedherdown?”
“Not because I didn’t want her! God knows how much I’d love to sink my…”
“Stop,” Eamon interrupts. “No more, mate.”
“Right. So anyway. That’s the story. Every time I try to talk to her, she goes all ice queen on me.” Ro shrugs.
“Well, Rowan, for once, I can actually say you did the right thing, but you’re going to have to find a way to explain it to her,” I tell him sternly.
“And how do you suppose I do that when she barely acknowledges me?” Rowan gives me a look like I’m dense.
Eamon hums and taps his chin. “Norah and I are hosting Thanksgivingat hers next week for all of our mates. She always invites Alicia. If I can make sure she’s there, you can corner her at some point. We can orchestrate something.”
“You and the fire sprite are getting serious, yeah?” Ro asks with a raised brow.
“Yeah.” Eamon blows out a breath as he laces his fingers behind his head. “She’s amazing.”
Observing my friend and roommate, I notice the subtle changes on his face. Eamon was so guarded when he came to UNCW. Now his eyes are brighter and his normal scowl has been replaced with a softness that only one feeling in the world can bring.
“You love her, don’t you, mate?” I ask quietly.
“Without a doubt.” He answers without hesitation.
We sit around discussing what Ro should do or say to make things right with Alicia for a while. He’s rarely serious about anything but seems to be genuinely bothered by what transpired between him and Alicia. She’s fierce in every way, with long black hair and blunt bangs brushing her eyebrows and both arms covered in sleeves of tattoos. She usually wears all black, sometimes accented with deep purple or red. The girl is seriously intimidating and doesn’t take shite from anyone. When a man hits on her at the pub, she’s quick to put him in his place, and the guy doesn’t bother her again. Except for Ro, who loves a challenge. He takes her insults and rebuffs to use as fuel for their next round.
“Have you considered just asking her out?” I suggest. “Clearly there’s chemistry there. Maybe instead of immediately getting physical, take her to dinner?”
Rowan scrunches his nose like the air smells of rotten fish. “Teag, mate. I don’t do dinner dates.”
“Then how do you plan on moving forward with her?”
“I never said I wanted to date her.” He scoffs.
“So,” Eamon says slowly. “You want to fuck her, but you won’t because you respect her. And you have no interest in attempting a relationship with her because…why?”
“Eamon, Eamon, Eamon,” Ro says, addressing his friend like he’s a small child. “I’m too young and hot to settle down. This body was made to entertain theladies.Plural. I’m not a one-woman type of man.”
Eamon rolls his eyes as he stands from his chair. “Whatever you say, Ro. I’ve gotta get to Paddy’s. Slán,” he says, bidding us goodbye in Irish.
I want nothing more than to hit Ro upside the head.Fecking eejit.
“Well probably better that you leave Alicia alone, then. She doesn’t deserve to be another notch on your bedpost,” I snap at him.
“That’s my point exactly, O’Brien! She’s a good girl who deserves to be with someone who can give her all of her heart’s desires and stay the course. I’m not that man,” Rowan says regretfully.
Ro hasn’t shared much of his life in Ireland, but we know his family life has been rough. His mom walked out on them when he was a young wan, leaving him with an alcoholic father. He’s implied that, in order to survive, he had to do some unsavory things but never expanded on it.
