‘We dated on and off for years since we were kids. She gave me an ultimatum, and when I didn’t commit she moved on.’
‘And you moved on to me?’ Amy’s hazel eyes bore into mine.
‘Not exactly. There were a couple in between.’ My eyes fall to the floor. ‘Nothing ever more than one night.’ I don’t add it was actually her brother that came up with the idea I shag my way round Dublin.
‘The trouble was, I wasn’t very good at it, the few in between.’ I squeeze her hand, hoping to express I’m not proud of my actions.
‘Huh, I find that hard to believe having been in bed with you almost every night for the past few months.’ Amy takes a sip of the wine in front of her.
‘I meant I wasn’t very good at meaningless sex. Each time I felt like I gave a bit more of myself away, like I was losing myself. My brother tormented me for years saying I was stupidly sensitive. He used to call me Honourable Ollie like it was an insult. I hate to admit I think the prick was right. Though clearly I’m not as honourable as he thought, given the sneaking around we’re doing.’
‘You don’t talk about your family much. Is that why?’ She shimmies closer to me.
‘There’s not much to talk about to be honest. You’ll see for yourself sometime soon, I hope. It’s about time I introduced my girlfriend to my parents. Of course I can’t do that until you introduce me to yours, as your boyfriend.’
Amy ignores my hint and resumes the conversation I was hoping to avoid. ‘So how did you come to realise you were giving yourself away?’
‘I met you. I won’t lie to you, the night I met you in the players’ lounge I was instantly attracted to you. I wanted to have sex with you the second I laid eyes on you. Then when we spoke, I discovered you were funny, intriguing and radiated the most ridiculous chemistry. You were the first woman I’d been properly attracted to since Anita. When I found out you were Eddie’s sister it was like a dagger in the heart. I left to go to a club. To try and replace the image of you with another, but I got there and realised how empty the whole thing made me feel. So I left. And I didn’t sleep with anyone else until I finally got my way with you.’
Her lips pull into a sexy smirk. ‘And Anita is well and truly in the past?’
I wasn’t planning on telling her tonight, but if I’m thinking of suggesting Westport as a sten, I should probably tell her Anita is well and truly in my past specifically because she’s engaged to my brother.
‘She’s actually engaged—’ The door swings open and Eddie walks in, eyeing the two of us suspiciously.
‘This is cosy. What are you two still doing here?’ His fingers skim the top of the table searchingly, before he drops to his knees to look underneath. I reluctantly release Amy’s hand and send up a silent prayer he didn’t see.
‘We were planning where to have your sten. I think I know the perfect spot. Are you alright, mate? Have you lost something?’
Eddie emerges from under the table with a triumphant smile on his face and his wallet in his right hand. ‘Must have dropped it when I left the tip.’
Amy looks uncomfortable which Eddie picks up on immediately. ‘Are you ok? Do you want that lift home after all?’ He glances from her to me and back again.
‘No, I’m fine. We were leaving in a minute anyway. Just finalising a few ideas.’ The smile she flashes is enough to reassure him.
‘I better go find my fiancée. I left her in the lobby, but knowing her she’s probably gone into the bar. And we’ve both had enough to drink for one night. See you tomorrow.’ He raises a hand as he exits the room, tucking his wallet firmly into his back pocket.
‘That could have been a lot worse.’ She breathes a palpable sigh of relief.
‘I think it’s time we told him, Amy. Even if it means I have to drag you to Gretna Green first. I want us to be out in the open. Especially now you’re in love with me.’ I nudge her elbow, hoping to lighten the mood.
‘Oh, and there was me thinking you were the one making wild declarations earlier.’ Her finger travels to her throat, slipping under the neckline of her dress to touch the gift I gave her.
‘You might have to. I’m telling you, Ollie, he won’t take it well. I’m not sure what’ll be worse for him, that I’m his little sister, or that you’re his friend.’
‘I won’t stop being his friend because I’m in love with his sister.’
‘It’s not that simple.’ She grabs her bag and pulls me to my feet. Her lips find mine before I can ask any further questions, but I’m pretty sure there’s a story somewhere that I haven’t been told. And it’s not lost on me that I haven’t finished telling my own.
ChapterTwenty-Five
AMY
The summer flew by in an Ollie-filled blur and now the Autumn Internationals are almost upon us. This weekend our boys are set to play a friendly against England at Twickenham. Before Ollie, I would have jumped at the chance to get a weekend in London. Now, it only serves as a pain in the backside. It means we’ll have to sneak around instead of curling up in the privacy of his apartment.
The Aer Lingus morning flight to Gatwick is wedged. We’ve been assigned the first six rows and the two rows immediately behind us have been kept empty for privacy. No doubt the club paid dearly for that privilege, though it still has to be cheaper than a private plane.
Aiden sits to my left, Stuart to my right, Coach and Dr Drury sit the far side of Aiden and my darling brother is in the row behind me, next to my boyfriend.
