“Do you remember that night you three brought those horrible dates to our house party?” At his confirming nod, Bébhinn continued. “Do you remember how they hurt one of your friends?” She was speaking of Blair. Of course, he remembered.
“Do you remember how I forgot my dad was dead?”
He bowed his head in shame, as did Daniel and Jonathan standing at his shoulders. “I do. Yes.”
“I would rather that night on replay than watch the results of what you’ve done to Gray. We don’t even know what that is,” Bébhinn sneered, slapping the table between them, her anger palpable to anyone close, “because she refuses to speak about it.”
Mags stood on Bébhinn’s right side. For once, there was no amusement to be found skating over her features. “Fuck you and fuck your new pub. I only came tonight to make sure you know that none of us has any plans on speaking to you again. Anyone who shits on one of my friends is an enemy.”
And then Blair. Christ, when her lip quivered, he almost broke. She held up shaking hands and signed, “I’m ashamed that I encouraged your relationship. I asked Dad to revoke your access to our home. The girls are telling the truth. She’s never spoken your name even though you hurt her. You don’t have to be a couple, Ciar, but you at least owed her respect.”
twenty-three
BÉBHINN
“Screw him,”Mags fumed as the girls left Gray Eyes. “He didn’t even try to give some lame excuse.”
Bébhinn thanked the doorman who held the door open for their Uber, which was waiting at the curb. Once they were settled and on their way back to their townhouse, she couldn’t help but worry that Gray would be so pissed if she knew they’d gone to the opening with the sole intention of telling her ex off.
Bébhinn glanced at Blair. She was looking outside the car window, effectively cutting herself off from the conversation. The confrontation had upset her. It upset them all.
Touching Blair’s shoulder to bring her back into the conversation, she asked, “I’m so angry at Ciar, but don’t you guys think it’s odd that he’s never admitted the why of it all?” Dagr had walked her to the door, deciding to stay and enjoy the night with his cousins and Ciar, or at least enjoy what they could after the girls went in on Ciar.
“When Dagr was walking us out, he told me that he believes Ciar must have a good reason for his behavior and wanted us totry and remember that he’s always been a good friend up until a few months ago.”
Blair sighed, “I agree. I’m so upset with him, though, because even if something terrible was going on in his life that he didn’t want to tell us, he could have told Gray. He knows very well he could trust her to keep it to herself.”
“Gray hasn’t come out and said, but I think she believes there’s a girl in London. I just,” Mags started, “can’t believe it of him, no matter how mad I am.”
They sat in silence, contemplating the matter. Bébhinn spoke first. “Ciar didn’t tell Gray that he loved her when they were in Colorado, but during the holiday, I would have sworn he did. Didn’t you?”
Blair shook her head yes. Mags admitted, “Absolutely. The way he watched her…if that wasn’t love, it was damn close. Looking back, everything changed once he went back to London. He stopped coming back home.”
“And he’s always said he prefers to live with his friends in Dublin because they’re his best friends but also because his father is here,” Bébhinn reasoned.
The Uber driver stopped outside their townhouse. They all said thank you, and as they went for the door handles, the driver, a middle-aged man, surprised them by asking, “A bit of advice, ladies?”
At their nods of agreement, the driver said, “You three should take a trip to London. Stalk the man who hurt your friend. It’s what my blasted, nosy sisters would have done back in the day.”
Bébhinn looked at her friends, who stared back with wide eyes. “You’re brilliant,” she told the driver. I’m going to write you the best damn review of your life.”
As soon as the three women reached the living room, they kicked off their heels and fell onto the comfy couches, ruminating over the driver’s suggestion.
Mags hummed as she took off her jewelry.
Blair unbraided her hair, letting loose the thousands of loops and curls.
Bébhinn sat up straight, gaining their attention. “Gray is out of town for four weeks. Would you guys mind helping me pack up the last of Dagr’s belongings from his London flat if your schedules allow? He’s swamped and could really use our help.”
By the grins she received, she knew they were in.
“Anything for Dagr,” Blair signed, her eyes twinkling.
“What she said,” Mags crooked her thumb toward Blair.
twenty-four
FOUR MONTHS AND TWO WEEKS AFTER COLORADO
