“Here's to cheating, stealing, fighting, and drinking.
“If you cheat, may you cheat death.
“If you steal, may you steal a woman’s heart.”
My eyes flick to Toni, who watches Dad deliver his toast with a soft smile.
“If you fight, may you fight for a brother.
“And if you drink, may you drink with me.”
“Sláinte!” We chorus.
CHAPTER 18
Cillian
Hey. Just making sure you're ok?
Regret blazesthrough me the moment I hit send.
Sure, Toni and I have been exchanging at least a text a day over the past month and a half or so, but that doesn't mean she owes me a text or a check in or anything.
But there was always the chance she wasn't okay. Maybe things had gone a bit too far the last time we'd been together. Yeah, that was almost a week ago, but sub drop could hit late sometimes, and I hate the thought that she could be feeling bad due to something I'd done.
I blow out a breath, setting the phone face down. She could just be busy. Possibly even busy with another person?—
My stomach drops.
Stupid to care if she was. She should meet other people. It would be best if she met other people. She deserved that. Someone with less?—
“You look like a caged animal,” Michael says. He andGinelle stand in the office doorway, observing the mindless circuit I'd begun to pace around the bar.
“I—” My phone dings.
Ginelle taps into her track and field roots, moving at a lightning pace to grab my phone before I make it a few steps. “It's Toni,” she taunts.
Michael grins, “What'd she say?”
“Give me that!” I try to pull it from her hands, but she darts behind my brother, who blocks my way into the office. “Michael. Move.”
“It is so cute how you think you can intimidate me.”
“Aww!” Ginelle says.
“Gin, give me my damn phone,” I snarl over Michael’s shoulder.
“She says she's sick.”
Michael finally drops his arm, clearing the way for me to barrel into the office and reclaim my phone from Ginelle, who holds it over the desk for me. The screen is already open to Toni's text:
Toni
Sorry, been a bit under the weather, which has made me slightly narcoleptic the past couple days.
“Remind me to change my password,” I grumble, sinking onto the couch.
Ginelle laughs. “You've been saying that for years.”
