Ronan exhales sharply before closing the door and leaning against it. “Cut the shit, Kieran. What’s really going on?”
“Nothing.”
“Has this got something to do with Riley?”
It seems I can’t escape her after all. “That’s none of your business.”
“She looked pretty upset when I saw her downstairs this morning. She said the two of you had a fight.”
A humorless laugh escapes my throat. “That’s one way of putting it.”
“And what’s another?”
“She flat-out lied to me.”
“Seriously? This is what this tantrum is about? A little white lie?”
“It’s not just a little white lie. Riley lied about being pregnant.”
For a moment, Ronan just stares at me, but then his eyebrows shoot up as the words finally register.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“And that’s not even the worst part. Apparently, the baby had a slow heartbeat, and there was a risk of miscarriage, and she didn’t bother to tell me.”
The words taste bitter on my tongue.
Despite the nausea, I force myself to my feet and stalk over to the bar cart. But Ronan gets there before I do and snatches up the decanter before I can pour another glass.
“I think you’ve had enough.”
“It’s barely scratched the surface,” I practically growl.
“Jesus, Kieran. You reek. Did you drive home?”
“Since when do you care about the law?”
“Since you’re about to be a father,” Ronan retorts. “Come with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“It’s just to the kitchen, you stubborn piece of shit. You need to eat something before you vomit all over my carpet.”
I’m too intoxicated to fight Ronan, so I let him lead me back downstairs, though I almost knock into the table in the foyer and upend the antique vase of fresh lilies on the way to the kitchen.
“You really are a liability,” Ronan grumbles. “I thought you grew out of this phase of drinking yourself to the point of blacking out.”
“I bet you’re enjoying every second of it. I know you love to feel superior to the rest of us mere mortals.”
Ronan says nothing, but his grip on my arm tightens as he half-drags me into the kitchen and forces me down into a chair.
“Don’t move. I’m going to get you some water.”
I stare down at the table in a trance as Ronan moves around the kitchen, tracing the grain patterns with my eyes as I try not to vomit.
Eventually, a plate of toast is set down in front of me, as well as a glass of water, and I find myself reaching for it, which I take as a good sign.
“So…” Ronan starts as he slides into the chair across from me. “You’re going to be a father.”
