Chapter48
Conor opened the door to his flat with the smile that had so captivated her from the start of their relationship. ‘Madam.’ Taking Star’s coat, he led her to the kitchen where he had laid the table for two. A candle was burning in the middle.
‘I know it’s early for food, but I’m starving,’ he told her. ‘I’ve just done jacket potatoes with a choice of fillings so you can pick and choose what you want when you’re ready. Now, how about a glass of wine – oh shite, what am I saying!’ Conor laughed nervously. Star was enamoured by this side of him she had not seen before. ‘Fizzy water OK?’
‘Stop fussing,’ she said. ‘Water’s great and jacket potatoes even better. I’m eating even more like a horse now.’
‘You feel OK? Feck, this is awkward.’
‘It is, but let’s try not to make it that way.’ Star sat down. ‘I’m just so sorry.’
‘So am I.’ Conor breathed deeply, before taking a massive slug of beer from the bottle he was holding.
‘I can’t believe you were going to propose,’ Star said.
‘Nor can I.’ Conor then relaxed and laughed. ‘Thank God I’d just got you a cheap ring, eh? I was going to get you to choose what you wanted, that was the plan.’
Star looked across and took in the handsome face of the tall Irishman sitting opposite her. His kind brown eyes and mad curly hair. His sexy dimple and lopsided smile. ‘You’rean amazing man, Conor Brady, and I’ve had the best fun with you. You brought me back to life.’
‘That’ll be all that Irish sausage I fed you.’
Star gasped then started laughing out loud. ‘You aresowrong.’
‘You love it, so you do. And you do have a beautiful arse.’
‘Great sex, I can’t deny you that one, and I do really like you, you know that.’
‘And me you. I am so very fond of you, but if we are honest with ourselves, we were never going to get as far as walking down the aisle. At least, I don’t think so.’
Star started loading her potato with butter and grated cheddar. ‘I reckon there must be couples like us everywhere. It’s kind of friends with benefits who stay together but that massive rush of passion is not there, that deep, connected love.’
‘Don’t be going all philosophical on me, it took me all I had to ask you around for a jacket spud. So,’ Conor went on, ‘do you – or more importantly, do I – know who the father is? I honestly didn’t think you would see someone behind my back. I thought I was giving you the best ride of our lives and we were hardly out of each other’s sight.’
‘Oh my God, Conor, no wonder you’ve kept away, thinking that. I was hoping Billy might tell you and it certainly wasn’t something I wanted to convey in a message.’
‘You know Bill, he’s loyal to you as a friend. Said it was for me to ask you.’
‘So, what happened was this. Kara had a B&B guest back in the summer, Jack his name is. We slept together.’
‘Bloody hell.’ Conor grimaced. ‘I’ve been shagging you when you’ve been pregnant too. That feels kind of weird.’
Star made a face too. ‘I honestly didn’t know.’
‘Come on, you must have.’
‘I don’t have periods often – I told you that much. Anyway, it’s happening. I’m due on St Patrick’s Day, and there’s no going back now.’
‘The irony of that, eh?’ Conor sounded deflated.
‘Oh. I hadn’t thought of it being an Irish celebration day, sorry.’
‘So, what does this Jack think about you having his baby?’
‘He doesn’t know. He has a girlfriend.’
‘Ah. Shite.’
‘Yes, shite indeed.’
