Delaney glances from one of us to the other. I’m not sure what she’s searching for. “If Keenan’s busy, why don’t the three of us go down to the cafeteria?” She takes a quick look around. “There has to be coffee somewhere, right?”
As much as I’m irritated he’s in the hospital room with a strange man, I have a feeling this person isn’t a stranger. Could this be the cousin he’s been connecting with? Keeva and I agree and follow her down the hall though I glance back at the door I wish was open. I don’t know if Keenan has his phone on him, but I send a text letting him know where we are going, and I’ll come back as quickly as possible if he needs me. Within a moment, I have a text back saying he’s fine and for me to stop worrying. Okay, this has to be his cousin. I take in a deep breath and focus on his sisters.
“Hospital coffee is notoriously awful,” I warn them, not that I have the most experience, but some things are universally true. Hospital food is awful, and their coffee is either kind of brown water or thick, disgusting sludge.
“Awful coffee is better than no coffee,” Delaney counters, to which all three of us laugh as we enter the elevator.
As I said, some things are universally true, and one of those things is that bad coffee is better than no coffee in a lot of situations.
We pass by several groups of people on the main floor before arriving at our destination. For a lot of people suddenly being thrown in with their boyfriend’s sisters, I lucked out with the Gallaghers. Sisters can be catty and rude as hell.
After each of us fill up a cup, Delaney takes her first drink while I dump cream and sugar in mine. Black coffee burns my stomach.
“We lucked out, ladies,” she tells us. “This coffee isn’t half bad.”
Once we are settled at a table, Delaney insists we retell her everything we know about Keenan’s accident. That’s how she describes it. An accident but none of us really know what happened. Was it an accident? Was it intentional?
He’s on the Forces, and now his job might be taken from him because of his shoulder injury. If that isn’t bad enough, I know if this wasn’t merely an accident, the man will be out for blood.
Delaney finishes another pull of her coffee before she clears her throat. “I have to say, I’m a bit shocked you both don’t know more. I just . . . I hope Keenan will be okay.” She pauses for a second. “Can we change the subject? I’m sorry, but my stomach is in knots about all this.”
“Hey,” Keeva snaps. “If you would’ve seen the way Keenan was looking at her, you would’ve left them alone for a few minutes too.”
“I’m not blaming ya. I’m just saying I wish we knew more.” Delaney shrugs, still obviously upset by what we’ve told her.
“I didn’t have time,” I admit. “I want to know more too, but I only had a second then the doctor came in. Then almost immediately after that, the man came in. I just didn’t have the chance to dive deep.”
Delaney offers me a soft smile. “It’s okay. We’ll figure it out eventually. The only thing that matters is that Keenan is alive.” We all nod at her assessment. That is the most important thing.
“What did the doctor say?” Keeva tips her cup against her mouth. That’s right. They don’t know. Shit.
As quickly as I can, I fill them in on what the doctor said, though I leave out the part where he might not be able to hold a gun again. They don’t need to be worrying about how their brother will make a living. Not yet anyway.
“You said there’s something else?” I ask, hoping the sooner we get this over with, the sooner I’ll get back to Keenan. Hopefully, the damn door will be open this time.
“Yes.” The cup in Delaney’s hand makes a muted sound as she drops it on the table. “You.”
My eyes widen and I’m blinking too much. Talking about myself to them already makes me uncomfortable, but this is all part of being in a relationship, isn’t it. Bonding with the family. “Me?”
She shrugs. “Well, you and my brother.”
Excitement explodes from Keeva as she slaps the table and quietly squeals, “Yes, yes, yes.” But I groan and let my head drop back. Not the topic I want to talk about. Especially not right now. This isn’t the time.
“No, seriously, Delilah,” Keeva speaks first. “What’s going on with you and Keenan? I mean, we have assumptions, but I’m a woman who appreciates facts.”
“That’s the question burning my mind too,” Delaney adds. “We’re a very close family, Delilah, so get used to us being nosy. It won’t ever stop. I can promise you that. Keeva might be the straightforward one, but I’ll be the little creeper who asks you questions when you least expect it.” Delaney’s words cause me to laugh, but as we sit in silence, I can sense they want answers.
“I don’t mind you being nosy.” Because that’s the one thing I’ve come to expect from Irish families. We might be unpredictable sometimes, but we always know what the other is up to. Or most of the time, I suppose. “Just don’t know how to answer ya, and I wouldn’t want you to think I’m hiding something from you if the answer changes later.”
“We won’t,” they both say at the same time. “We just want the details that you have.”
I took a quick drink before diving into it. “I thought he didn’t want to be with me.”
“Not possible,” Keeva tells me. Delaney raises an eyebrow, and Keeva adds, “You need to see the way he looks at her.”
With a slight burning in my cheeks, I try to hide behind my coffee. This isn’t the first time his sister mentions the way he looks at me, and I don’t see it when we’re together. Though, now I’ll be paying closer attention.
“I thought he was taking me for granted,” I admit.
