Page 30 of Ciaran

“I know, Ciaran. I know how you feel about her. I’ve always known. Why do you think I dumped her? The main reason I was so pissed when she turned up here again wasn’t because I was worried Laurella would feel awkward about a girl I dated in high school. I was concerned Millie would hurt you again like she did when she went off with Tanner. But I know you. I can see it in your eyes every time she’s around. So go get the girl, and don’t fucking screw it up.”

I stare at my brother, mouth agape, and sweep a hand down the back of my head, confused. “How did you know?”

Callum offers a faint smile. “I saw you one day. You were leaning on the wall by the gym. The look on your face. It was… you were… transfixed. I followed your gaze. Millie was with a few of her friends getting ready for a game of volleyball. At first I thought you were just checking out a bunch of hot girls in their skimpy skirts, but then she walked away to grab a drink, and your eyes tracked her every move.” He shrugs. “I broke up with her that night.”

Shock rolls through me. My heart rate shoots up, and my skin prickles as Callum’s confession begins to sink in. “Why didn’t you tell me at the time?”

He wrinkles his nose. “I don’t know. You always did tend to watch from afar, at least back then. I should have given you a fucking shove in the right direction. I didn’t then, so I’m doing it now.”

Guilt surges through me. It wasn’t Callum’s responsibility to kick me in the ass. I needed to kick myself in the ass—and fucking hard. But as usual, my realization comes too late. “There’s no point.”

Callum narrows his eyes. “Why do you say that?”

I laugh bitterly. “She’s hardly in the right head space for another relationship, is she?”

“Not now, maybe, but eventually, she will be. I’m guessing that at this point she needs a shoulder to lean on, a friend, someone to show her some kindness.” He laughs. “That’s you, dickhead, in case you hadn’t realized. So, give her what she needs and bide your time. When she’s ready, she’ll let you know, and you’ll be in pole position.”

Callum takes off back downstairs, leaving me to stare after him, still dumbfounded at his selflessness. All these years, he kept the reason for breaking up with Millie to himself, and taken my anger on the chin at what I’d seen as his cold-hearted dismissal of her.

A horrible realization creeps over me, slowly at first, then more rapidly. The butterfly effect. Callum broke up with Millie because he’d spotted my infatuation, and it was Callum breaking up with her that sent Millie into Tanner’s arms. If I’d stepped up in the very beginning, all this suffering could have been avoided.

Fuck. Me.

Chapter 12

Millie

I lie in bed with my arms behind my head, listening for signs of Ciaran being up and about. I don’t want to go out there and bump into Declan or Callum, because I’m not sure what to say. Ciaran told me his brothers were fine about me moving in, although I have a nasty suspicion he divulged a few details about my disaster of a marriage, which adds to my discomfort and humiliation. I also suck at making small talk. Ciaran mentioned that he isn’t on shift today, but maybe he’s one of those people who sleeps in on their days off.

My growling stomach makes the decision for me. I could get dressed and grab breakfast at the deli down the street. I’ll have to buy some supplies today, anyway. Ciaran has given me a place to stay at a preferential rate—and only because I insisted on paying my way or I wouldn’t move in—but I can hardly expect to eat their food, too.

What should I do after grocery shopping, though? It doesn’t feel right to hang around here all day, and I’m not scheduled to work the front desk this weekend.

A shiver of anxiety runs down my spine at the thought of Tanner being out there, watching, waiting for another opportunity to grab me. If Ciaran hadn’t turned up when he did last night, anything could have happened. But even if Tanner is out there, I can’t hide inside for the rest of my life. If he shows up, I’ll tell him I’ve reported him to the police, even though I haven’t. Maybe fear of his arrest will make him think twice about harassing me.

I shower and get dressed, then slowly draw back the door and step into the living space.

Laurella is alone in the kitchen, and she greets me with a warm smile. “Hey, you’re up. Sleep okay?”

I nod. “Too well. After all the stress, I must have crashed.”

Her brow furrows. Yep. At the very least, Ciaran shared a smattering of personal details. Laurella steps from around the kitchen counter and wraps me in a warm hug. “You are safe now, mia cara. I am so sorry for what happened to you.”

Something in her tone makes me wonder if Laurella has some knowledge or experience of abusive partners, but she doesn’t expand, and I don’t push. It’s hardly my place to.

“Now, breakfast. What would you like?” she asks.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about me. I was going to grab something at the deli across the street.”

“Nonsense.” Laurella’s hand slices through the air. She points at one of the stools at the breakfast bar. “Sit.”

I have the feeling Laurella isn’t the kind of woman many people dare say no to, so I slide onto the stool and prop my elbows on the counter, resting my hands on my chin. “I feel weird being here,” I share with her.

Her eyebrows squish together. “Why?”

“Just because… I’m not family. I’m no one. I still don’t understand why Ciaran is being so lovely.”

Laurella’s bright grin lights up the room. “Because Ciaran is a sweet man. And I’m not family either, yet I’m here.”

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