“I should probably stay where I am. Focus on my job.”
I narrow my eyes.
I thought Stephen and I were, dare I say, slowly becoming friends. Apart from Mila, I don’t have much of a friendship circle, and while Stephen wouldn’t be my first choice for hitting up a café for a matcha latte, I enjoy his company. There’s something very grounded about him that helps settle my anxiety, particularly regarding the pregnancy and Ronan.
“What’s going on with you? You’ve been avoiding me all week.”
He offers a tight smile, and I have a feeling I know the answer.
I sigh. “What has Ronan said to you?”
“He thinks we’re getting too familiar.”
My stomach twists, and not in a nauseous kind of way. “Seriously?”
Stephen nods. “He didn’t say it outright, but the implication was clear.”
“Of course, it was.” I shake my head. “Well, screw what he says. You should come and enjoy the movie with me.”
“Ciara—”
“Sit. Down. Ronan’s not here, and even if he was, he doesn’t get to dictate who I can be friends with.”
Stephen sighs before deciding to give in to my demand. He closes the door to the TV room behind him and, though he’s still hesitant, takes a seat on the couch next to me.
“Ronan made it very clear I’m not to leave your side.” Stephen rubs his hands up and down his enormous thighs. “Which is… ironic, I guess.”
I huff a laugh. “Yeah, well, apparently sitting silently in the same room as me is too intimate now.”
He doesn’t reply, but the corner of his mouth twitches.
I grab the remote and rewind the last minute of the movie. “You missed a solid cake-to-the-face moment. Pay attention this time.”
I didn’t realize how much I missed just sitting on the couch and laughing at a movie while enjoying simple human interaction. It’s something Ronan and I have never shared, and the thought has my chest tightening.
I want to experience such mundane moments with him. But instead, my evenings are spent alone while he’s out risking his life to try and keep me safe.
“I need to tell Tamara about this film.” Stephen chuckles, and I smile.
“It’s a classic. Just wait, this next part is my favorite.”
As the female lead steals the love interest's clothes and makes a beeline for his car, leaving him naked and stranded in themiddle of a restaurant bathroom, I start howling with laughter, and Stephen joins in.
Just as tears start to leak down my cheeks from laughing so hard—not just at the film, but at Stephen’s reaction too—the door to the TV room flies open and crashes into the wall, revealing a stone-faced Ronan.
My body stiffens, and Stephen shoots to his feet.
Shit.
“Ronan—”
But it’s too late.
His body is practically vibrating, and before I can even register what is happening, he’s stalking toward Stephen, and his fist connects with his cheek.
The sound is sickening, and Stephen stumbles backward, clutching his face.
He’s too disciplined to so much as groan, and he would never consider retaliating, but that’s what makes this situation even worse.
