‘Who is it? Was it Nathan? Don’t tell me it was James?’ His tone is light, teasing, but I can’t bring myself to smile.
‘On my fifteenth birthday Eddie found his best friend pretty much forcing himself on me. He blamed himself for not realising what Zac was like. Since then he’s been super protective of me. I spent years after that trying not to draw any attention to myself for fear of drawing the wrong type of attention. I tried to always be the sensible one, to do the right thing. I lived under the protection of my family, letting them cocoon me so much that I became afraid to say what I wanted from my own life, for fear it wasn’t what they wanted for me. That all stopped today.’ I squeeze his hand, barely daring to meet his eye.
‘Jesus, Amy. No wonder Eddie is protective of you. But I swear I will never hurt you. I am so sorry that happened to you. I can promise you something now though – it will never happen again, not to mywife.’ His emerald eyes glitter before me.
‘We better let Eddie and Emma have their big day first. What do you think?’ I touch his nose with my own, resting my face gently against his.
‘I’ll be out of action for six weeks at least,’ he says, regret hanging from every word.
‘Not entirely out of action, I hope.’
He laughs as I’d intended, then clutches his ribs again.
‘Don’t worry, I know a good physio.’
I shoot him a wink and his lips press against mine in the tenderest, fullest kiss.
Despite my best intentions of beginning to say no to people, I’m pretty sure I’ll never be able to say no to Ollie Quinn.
ChapterThirty-Two
AMY
A heavy grunt slips from Ollie’s lips as he shifts on top of me on my couch, thankfully in the right direction. His lips continue their assault on mine in the familiar sensual way that I’ve come to live for. Biting back my sigh, I wriggle against him, practically dry humping his jeans. I wish he’d take them off, we don’t have long.
Any minute now the bus will arrive to take us to Westport for Eddie and Emma’s sten weekend. Geri will be sprawled across the back seat chugging Prosecco, with Alex pleading with her not to peak too early. She’s ridiculously excited about getting to know my fiancé better. Having everyone together for the first time since we became official will be fun – I just can’t imagine it being more fun than this.
Two months have passed since Ollie’s assault. The Gardaí eventually caught the guys and there will be a trial early next year. They were granted bail and I won’t be happy until they are behind bars, though I choose not to dwell on it. Not when there are so many more exciting things to focus on.
I got to keep my job. Coach was ok about everything, especially when I volunteered to personally ensure Ollie’s physio regime would have him back on the pitch in time for the final match of the year. Apparently it helped that there was no scandal surrounding either of us. We weren’t caught in a compromising situation before we had the chance to come clean, by pure luck more than anything. I signed a new contract stating if Ollie and I were to end our relationship, then I would resign from my position on the team to avoid any conflict. Stuart continues to shoot filthy glances in my direction, but these days I have two huge rugby players looking out for me twenty-four seven.
Things are still a tiny bit awkward between Eddie and Ollie. I hope in time and with a bit of social lubrication in the form of this weekend’s alcohol consumption, things might just level into a new normal. Eddie is yet to fully forgive us for sneaking around, but things are getting easier by the day. Family is everything to us Harringtons, and Eddie gaining another brother is a prospect that he will grow to love. The fact he still wants Ollie as a groomsman next month is proof of it.
In an attempt to help them bond I even had them both come to Belfast for my biggest triathlon of the year. I didn’t come first, but I didn’t care. My priorities have changed. I no longer need that external validation. And instead of hiding away from being Eddie’s sister, I now shout it from the rooftops, but only after first declaring I’m engaged to Ireland’s number six. It’s done wonders for the tri club; the membership numbers have doubled since the boys turned up to support us last month.
We may not have eloped in the end, but we have secretly booked three potential wedding venues to view early in the new year.
‘You want it, I know you do,’ I murmur with a smirk, repeating Stuart’s words from all those months ago. It’s still one of our favourite in-jokes.
‘I do. And we both know it. I’m not even going to attempt to play it cool. It’s far too late for that.’ Ollie’s fingers twist my engagement ring in a silent reminder while his mouth lowers to the sensitive skin of my neck. Opening my eyes to admire my gorgeous fiancé, I peek towards the new velvet steel-coloured curtains hanging over the window to check we don’t have an audience in the form of our friends.
The familiar scrape of the metal lock twisting from the front door is just enough notice for me to push Ollie from his position, rocking on top of me. The front door bangs from along the corridor and heavy thudding footsteps echo towards us.
‘Amy?’ The deep booming voice of my brother resounds around my tiny cottage.
Clearing my throat, I smooth down the knitted jumper dress from its ruffled position around my waist and shoot Ollie an apologetic look – one I hope conveys we will continue this the second we check in to our room in his family’s hotel. I’ve met his parents twice already but this is my first trip to Westport. I’m even looking forward to seeing Anita again and her brand new beautiful son. She and Luke have decided to separate and co-parent, but I don’t feel threatened by the fact she’s single again. I have a feeling we’re actually going to become great friends.
Eddie struts into the sitting room like he owns the place, wearing an oversized jacket and black jeans. His eyes roam from my ruffled appearance, to Ollie’s bulging jeans and his eyes roll into his head.
‘The bus is at the bottom of the cul-de-sac, if you two can keep your hands off each long enough to climb on to it. Good job I arrived when I did.’ His eyebrows raise and he shakes his head, but a smirk threatens at the side of his mouth.
‘Hand them over.’ My hand hovers under his, outstretched and demanding.
He glances at the silver keys clasped in his right hand, before tossing them to his left and back again.
‘You can’t keep letting yourself in here, Eddie. One of these days you might walk in on something you wish you could unsee.’ I grin triumphantly as he drops the keys, catching them with a swift outstretched hand.
Turning to Ollie, I throw them and he catches them effortlessly, trying to stifle a snigger. ‘You, on the other hand, can let yourself in anytime.’
