“You did scare me last night, but it’s okay. I’m glad you weren’t hurt too bad.”
Rory sets him down and ruffles his hair. “I’ll try and be good for like…a week to make up for it.”
“A whole week, huh?” Cillian asks Rory, his grin spreading.
“I mean, that’s a good deal, if you ask me.” Rory pumps his brows.
“You worried me too,” Ollie tells me. Cillian doesn’t say a word.
“I’m sorry. I fucked up. Rory was there because of me. Nothing like that will happen again. I promise I’ll do better.” I look away, slightly embarrassed.
Cillian clears his throat, and I brace myself for whatever he’ll say. I’m sure he’s not done with me yet, and I don’t have any illusions that we’re friends. “Shit happens. We’ve all been in situations where it doesn’t go as planned. Just, be careful.”
Um…am I dreaming, or did he really say that?
As if he doesn’t believe it or want to acknowledge it himself, Cillian sets his mug down, pushes away from the counter, and moves toward the pantry.
Rory jogs over to him, jumping on Cillian’s back, arms and legs wrapped around him. “Aww! That was so sweet! What did you say? I didn’t hear you.”
Cillian laughs, trying to get Rory off his back, Ollie smiling, and it takes me a moment to realize I am too.
“Getoffme,” Cillian says, Rory chuckling but following through.
“Be careful with your arm,” I say, in unison with Cillian’s, “You’re gonna fuckin’ hurt yourself.”
Our gazes clash, a thunderclap between us, but not one of anger.
“I’m fine. My pet gave me medicine after he fucked me last night and wrapped it up again this morning.” Rory smirks.
“Jesus,” Cillian says.
Ollie blushes.
Not gonna lie, I puff my chest out some in pride.
Cillian goes into the pantry and comes out with a few boxes of cereal. Just as we’re making our bowls, Tiernan and Dean come down, the space growing louder with all their voices, joking and playful, talking shit to each other.
Warm skin brushes against my arm when Ollie moves over next to me. “I’ve never known anyone who loves each other the way they do. They’re kinda amazing, aren’t they?”
My heart beats funnily, like it’s off-kilter, longing building in my chest. “Yeah…yeah they are.”
“Come on. Let’s eat.” He nods toward the table.
Rory pours his Golden Grahams, then hands the box to me. “I’m good,” I say, reaching for the Fruity Pebbles at the same time Cillian does.
“You go first,” I say.
“Nah, go for it.”
I want to argue but also don’t want to deny his kindness. It’s obvious he’s trying, and though I know he’s doing it for Rory, it means a lot to me.
I pour my bowl, then give it to him. We’re all in the middle of eating when Tiernan says, “I talked to Rian last night. Everything is taken care of. House is clean, camera footage wiped.”
“You’re fucking welcome,” Dean says, and I realize how tired he is. Has he been working on that all night? Rory mentioned he’s good with computers. “Also, fun fact: Bruce ‘signed’ the trailer over to your mom a month ago.”
My mouth drops open. I don’t know what to say. Again, this is something they’re doing for Rory, I get that, but if they’re doing it for him, that means I really am something to him, right?
“Won’t that look suspicious?” I ask Dean. “I don’t want something to come down on you guys for cleaning up mymess.”
