“But you could be. If you really wanted to be.” I shrug.
Ro lets out a defeated sigh. “No, mate. I don’t think I could be. I think I’d try and fail. So rather than becoming a huge disappointment, I’ll just stick to what I do best.”
“I think you cut yourself short, Ro. If you’d actually be serious for once, I think you’d surprise yourself.”
He rolls his eyes dramatically.
“I’m serious. The fact that you were able to stop yourself from shagging Alicia, while drunk,speaks volumes. Even when you’re banjaxed, you recognize she’s different than your regular flings. Obviously, you don’t lack complete common sense.”
“Fuck off,” Ro barks. “It took every ounce of willpower to take my hands and mouth off of her, Teags. I can’t stop thinking about it. Half the time, I want to kick myself for stopping, and the other half, I actually feel like I did something honorable.”
“Youdid, which is what I’m trying to tell you,” I growl in frustration. “Youcanbe what she deserves because you’re already doing what needs to be done. Think it over, mate. Really think about what it would look like togive it a go with her. If the thought of waking up next to her, and only her, for the foreseeable future makes you cringe, then leave her be. But if that thought makes your heart stop, it might be worth giving up your wild ways.”
Rowan sits there silently for a long while, just staring at the wall. I’ve never seen him so pensive before. Finally, he sucks in a deep breath and stands, stretching his arms above his head.
“Right. I’m off. Thanks, Teags. I know I give you a lot of shite, but you’re a good bloke.”
“Go on with you, now. Did Rowan Gallagher just pay me a compliment? I like this new you. Looking forward to when you pick up the next tab at Paddy’s.”
“Will I, yeah? You can go and bollox, how about that?” Ro says with a grin.
“There he is.” I chuckle.
Layla
It’s Thanksgiving Day, and I still haven’t given Teagan an answer. I made a pros and cons list that didn’t help at all. Deciding to call in reinforcements, I text Norah.
Layla:Hey, any chance you need some help with meal prep and your guy isn’t there yet?
Norah:I’m officially intrigued. Yes, come on over. Door’s open.
Layla:Thanks xoxo.
Not wasting any time with getting fixed up, I slip into my favorite sandals and head next door. I’ll have time to get ready for the big meal later. Norah and Eamon orchestrated aFriendsgivingsince so many of us don’t have family close. Last I checked, the guest list included all three Irishmen, Alicia, Myra, Amelia, and myself. Since Charlie is the only one married, the couplespends the holiday with her husband’s family. Norah is providing the main part of the meal, but everyone else is bringing some sort of side dish or dessert.
“Knock knock,” I call out as I enter Norah’s house.
She’s sitting at the kitchen island with a coffee mug cupped in her hands, red hair in a messy bun on top of her head. There’s a steaming mug of coffee waiting for me.
“Mi amor, you take such good care of me.”
Norah sips her coffee before ordering me to sit and spill. “Alright, what is it that you don’t want to say in front of Eamon?”
Sighing heavily, I say, “It has nothing to do with not trusting him. I just want to say that now. It’s more of I don’t think I could actually make the words come out if he was here.”
“Understood. Now, spill.”
“So, you know that Teagan and I saw the play together. What you don’t know is that we almost kissed. In the auditorium. Five minutes before the play started.”
Norah gasps, then starts bouncing in her seat. “Okay,almost.Then what?”
“Before you get too excited, we still have not kissed yet.” I pause to laugh at my friend’s pouting face. “However, after the play, he walked me to my car and we started talking about holidays with families. I told him how my family always hounds me about being single, never bringing anyone home with me for the holidays, my brothers bringing a new girl every year, yada yada. I made a joke about finding a homeless guy and paying him to come to dinner just so they’d leave me alone.”
“And…?” Norah waves her hand, encouraging me to continue.
“Teagan told me to take him to family Christmas.”
“Hewhat?!” Norah claps her hands to her cheeks in shock. “Was he being serious?”
