Ian
“Well, closing yourself up in a bar doesn’t seem like the best way to get some air.”
Ryan asked me to take him out of the house for a while. He’s been here a few days and already seems exhausted. He finds Dublin suffocating and I don’t know if it’s because of the situation with my parents, if it’s because he can’t deal with what he left behind or if he and Nick have already come to blows, and I almost hope it’s the latter – at least I’d be able to get rid of one of them for a while.
I nod to the barman to bring us two beers.
“This is a nice place.”
“They opened it a while ago. A few guys from the team were looking to invest in something and this is the result –The Bridge.”
“Right next to the stadium and the training centre. Very strategic.”
“Exactly. It’s always full of die-hard fans and women out on the pull.”
“Sounds fun,” he says sarcastically.
“Not for me.”
“Sure. We’re always there.”
I swallow down the mouthful I’ve got and avoid looking at him.
“Ah, Ian.”
“Shut your mouth.”
We both drink in silence, waiting for the alcohol to calm our nerves; mine, because I’m feeling antsy, and his, which I sense are probably tenser than mine, even if I can’t help hoping he chokes on his pint – just for one less thing to deal with.
I take out my phone and set it on the bar. I look at it constantly, I can’t help it.
What am I hoping for?
“Still glued to your phone?”
Ryan’s got a death wish. He wants to die, tonight, in this bar.
“Mind your own damn business,” I growl.
“There’s only one person that gets you like this.”
I don’t bother looking at him.
“See, we’re talking about her again. It’s always about her.”
“Piss off, Ryan!”
“You can take it out on me if it makes you feel better.”
“Not as much as I’d like.”
He stands up, grabbing his beer.
“I’m going to say hi to the guys. Make a fucking decision. I can’t stand you like this for much longer, mate.”
He can’t stand me much longer?
I turn to face the room and rest my back against the bench behind me. Ryan goes to a table where a few of the guys from the team are hanging out. He sits down and starts chatting with them. I try not to choke on my own heart, which seems to now have taken up residence in my throat.
