“Alannah.” Dante chuckled. “Aideen is my little sister; she has no say in who I have sex with. Even if she was older, she’d still have no say. I’m an adult.”
“That’s such a typical brotherly response,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “She doesn’t care that we had sex; she cares that we did it behind ’er back. She is one of me closest friends, Dante, and she is hurtin’ because I basically lied to ’er.”
“How do you know she is upset?” he quizzed. “I saw ’er yesterday, and she didn’t look mad to me.”
“Did she speak to you?”
“Well ... no.”
“Look at you?”
“For a split second ... maybe.”
“Exactly. I saw it on ’er face when I told Damien I was sleepin’ with you,” I grumbled. “She wasn’t just shocked, she was upset, and I knew it was because she was left in the dark. It was the same look Bronagh and Keela gave me. They were upset I hadn’t told them. They didn’t voice it, but I know.”
“Alannah.” Dante sighed. “You don’t have to share everythin’ with your friends. You’re allowed to have a private life.”
“You don’t get it,” I said, frustrated. “Me and the girls, we’re really close. Nothin’ is off limits with us.”
It was one of the reasons I loved my friends so much. We could talk about anything, and until I kept my relationship with Dante from them, we had no secrets. I felt fucking awful because of that.
“D’ye want me to talk to me sister?” Dante asked on a sigh.
“It couldn’t hurt. Just talk to her, though. Not Kane, Ryder, and especially not Damien.”
“About that.” Dante cleared his throat. “I tried to talk to Damien about it at work yesterday, and it ended ... badly.”
I closed my eyes. “How badly?”
“He has a black eye, and I’ve a bruised jaw and busted up nose ... but that’s only ’cause of Kane—”
“You fought Kane?” I opened my eyes, and facepalmed myself.
“He was tryin’ to break up the fight, but I thought he was jumpin’ me, and one thing led to another, and his cheek is a little bruised. It’s nothin’ ... really.”
I groaned and let my head fall back.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Dante laughed. “Tell me about it.”
“I feel like everyone is judgin’ me.”
“Fuck them,” Dante said firmly. “You’re a grown woman; you don’t need permission to have a private life.”
“Easier said than done when it’s the older brother of me best friend who I was sleepin’ with.”
“Look, it’s done. We’ve had sex, but we’re not goin’ to anymore ... or are we? I just need clarification on the no sex part.”
I smiled. “You’re such a pig.”
“That’s not a no on the sex.”
“No more sex, Date.” I chuckled, using his well-known nickname earned from his womanising ways.
“Okay, okay,” he placated. “Don’t get so down about this, okay? It’s not the end of the world, sweetheart.”
“I know.” I sighed. “It just feels like it.”
“D’ye want me to come by? You sound down, and I hate when you’re sad.”
“Nah, I’m fine,” I said, sucking it up. “I’m goin’ back to sleep. I have a feelin’ Bronagh is goin’ to come and kick me arse tomorrow. I’ve been duckin’ ’er for days now, and I know she’s reached ’er limit.”
“Shite, good luck dealin’ with that young one. That’s a storm I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”
I laughed. “Thanks, Date.”
“I love ya, gorgeous. Just because we’re square now doesn’t mean I don’t have your back, d’ye hear?”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “I hear you, and I love ya, too.”
I did love Dante; I just wasn’t in love with him, and I knew I never would be.
“If you ever need me, or me cock, I’m ’ere for you. Besties for life.”
I laughed. “Good night, you nutter.”
I hung up on a snickering Dante and felt a tonne lighter knowing that at least he and I were in a good place. Now, if I could get on the same page with everyone else in my life, things would be hunky-dory. I threw my arm over my face and groaned, knowing in mere hours, at least one of my friends would finally succeed in getting past security in my apartment building and would be banging down my door.
God only knew how I was going to weather hurricane Bronagh.
Jesus, help me.
“Alannah good-for-nothin’ Ryan?”
I flicked my eyes towards the door of my apartment and remained unmoving. I knew who it was, and I knew she knew I could hear her. Being pregnant amplified all her senses like a crazy mama bear even though she was only a few weeks into her second pregnancy. I held my breath and hoped she couldn’t smell my fear.
“You might as feckin’ well open up ’cause I’m not leavin’ and you can’t make me.”
I needed to remain strong. “Go away, Bronagh.”
“Not on your life, ye’spanner,” she replied swiftly.