“As the owner of this pub, I have the right to ban anyone from the grounds.” Bree didn’t break eye contact, didn’t raise her voice. The low, controlled tone spoke volumes after the tirade she’d endured. “You, Bethany Clearwater, are from this very moment, banned from O’Sullivan’s. You are not allowed on the property, though I will grant you access to the sidewalk. This ban is final. And permanent. I will not allow this establishment to serve anyone who is as spiteful and slanderous as you.” Bree faced me. “Declan, if she ever so much as puts a toe onto my property again, call the police.”
“Done.” I bared my teeth in a smile that sent Bethany back a step.
“You.” She looked around, desperate for help. “You can’t do that.”
“I just did. You have five seconds.” Bree tapped her wrist. “Five. Four.”
Bethany stormed out with a screech and a huff, trying to slam the door behind her. The automatic hinge resisted, and she let go with another grating scream.
No one moved.
Bree returned to her seat in front of Tammy and took a drink of her coffee. Everyone held their breath, no doubt as curious as I was whether Bree would pronounce the same judgment on Tammy.
Bree turned the cup three times. Tammy noticed, her sharp inhale giving her away. Bree smiled a tiny, barely there smile. “I respect you for walking in here and saying what you did. Your intentions were good, though you’re misreading the situation from every angle.”
Tammy opened her mouth, then snapped it shut when Rose put a hand on her arm.
“You’re concerned for their wellbeing. I respect that too. You love them, and I’m the prodigal daughter you never had a chance to know.”
That had to hurt. Tammy flinched and grasped her cup tighter. Good. Maybe Bree could get through to the old bat that she’d belonged here this whole time.
“I get it, though. From what you’ve seen, from your perspective and your beliefs about love, you’re unable to see the full picture. But, you see, I’m not playing those men against each other. I love them. I love each of them, and they all know it. It was never a game to me. I never came here to play with hearts. But none of that matters, because no matter what I do, no matter what I say, nothing on God’s green earth could convince me to stay in a town with such smallminded, judgmental gossips who would rather ruin someone’s life than mind their own business.” Bree stood, taking her cup with her. “I can’t wait to leave this place. You’ve all made sure of that. I’ll be leaving first thing in the morning.” She turned away without another word, set her cup in the sink, and went up to her apartment.
She said it all so calm that it took a minute for the devastation to catch up.
When it did, I swayed on my feet as the full force of it hit. Sweat broke out on my face, and my vision went spotty, forcing me to grab the bar to steady myself.
Voices rang in and out of focus. I let them.
I let it all go as the storm rushed through every part of me. I should go after her.
No. She probably wanted space after all that. I’d talk to her tonight. Tell her how proud I was of her for standing up to Bethany and telling her truth while saying to hell with it. She’d pretty much blown our relationship wide open. A few people glanced my way, then decided they had a lot better things to do than even think about talking to me.
Finn and Declan came in hours later, and I told them everything that had happened. We agreed we needed to talk to Bree once I closed the bar for the night, and by the time I shooed out the last customer and locked the door, Finn was vibrating on his seat. He leapt up as soon as the lock clicked and bolted up the stairs with me and Ronan on his heels.
Finn opened the door and dashed inside, sweeping Bree into a hug from behind. “You badass. I am so glad you gave Bethany what she deserved.”
The instant praise cleared the lingering fear to the point that Bree chuckled and hugged Finn back. It lasted all of two seconds before she reached across the bed, grabbed a stack of leggings, and tossed them into her suitcase.
My heart plummeted. “You said you were leaving tomorrow.”
“We’re here to convince you to stay.” Finn plopped onto the bed so hard the stack of shirts toppled. “Stop packing and talk to us.”
Bree grabbed them and dropped them on top of the leggings, not bothering to smooth the wrinkles. “Please don’t make this harder than it has to be.” The second suitcase sat by the door, already packed from the way it bulged.
“Bree.” Ronan lifted his hand but let it fall without touching her.
“I can’t stay here another day.” A quiver hit at the end, but she shook her head hard and kept going. “I refuse to be this town’s scapegoat and town pariah. I can’t handle that kind of cruelty long term. I bested Bethany today, but she will never give up. Loving you is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
She said it all fast, smooshing the words together like she couldn’t get them out fast enough.
“We can fix this.” Finn held her hand, pinning it between both of his.
Bree took a shaky breath, then another. “This is why Mom wanted me to get out of here in the first place, and she was right. I did what I came here to do. It’s time to go home.”
“What about us?” I refused to let her skate past that part without an answer. “Where does that leave us?”
She stopped shoving stuff into her suitcase with her one free hand and raised her head. Tears shimmered in her eyes and streaked her cheeks. “It’s over for us. It was fun while it lasted, and I’ll never forget you.”
