Page 13 of Last Round

Fuck, he always smells amazing.

“Are you going to move?” Killian asks through clenched teeth.

“Huh?” I glance behind me and notice I’m blocking the doorway. “Oh, sorry.” I step to the side.

As Killian exits, he makes purposeful steps, maintaining his distance. Why do I let this hurt me so much? It isn’t like I had any delusions that he would be magically head over heels for me when I came home.Granted, his flirting with me didn’t help much. But the second I realized he didn’t know it was me, well, that glimmer of hope was snuffed out.

Killian and I will never happen. I’ve accepted that. I’m Sean’s little sister. He’s known me since I was an infant. I get it. Someone can’t just change the way they view someone else. What bothers me, though, is that he has to be a dick about it. Killian never used to be that way. At least not to me. He was always nice, cool. When I left, I knew he was going through some shit. The injury, being forced to retire, it wasn’t easy on him.

Is that what happened? Did it break him?

Guilt eats away at me. If I hadn’t been selfish, so obsessed with him and hurt that he would never want me the way I wanted him, I could’ve been here. Took care of him, like he had always taken care of us. Instead, I couldn’t get over my own shit and left him when he was down.

Oh my god.Is that why he hates me? It has nothing to do with disgust. It’s because I wasn’t here.

“So, what do you think?” Sean asks.

“What?”

“Did you seriously not hear any of that?”No, I didn’t. “Nice to see you’re still the same old Molly.” Sean chuckles. “You and those daydreams. Anyway, I was asking about the gym.”

“What about it?”

“Look, I don’t know what happened in New York. You don’t want to tell me, and while it kills me, you’re an adult. I respect your right to privacy. But come on, Molls. Waiting tables at the bar?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I cross my arms. “You sling drinks here. How’s it good enough for you and not me?”

“For starters, I wasn’t smart like you. College, all that, was never in the cards. If Killian hadn’t made a job for me, I would’ve applied to the union, just like Dad.”

“I’m glad you didn’t.”

“I know.”

We don’t say more than that. It’s never been easy for us to talk about Dad. The local would’ve welcomed Sean with open arms. I mean, that was always his plan. And there’s no doubt he would’ve made a good living. But I’m not sure either of us could've handled it after Dad died.

“But the point is… you’re smart. Always have been. You went to college, got a degree. You interned and got a full-time position at The Fuel.”

The Fuel is one of the top five public relation firms in the United States—many would argue it’s likely the most elite. If you’re one of their clients, you’re a god. While I was good at my job, I’m not foolish enough to ignore the fact the only reason I was offered the prestigious internship was because of Killian’s influence.

“I get that it didn’t work out there. But you shouldn’t throw all that training away. If you don’t want to work for a big company like that, then help the guys out at the gym. We could use someone like you. I’ve looked at a couple of firms, but they haven’t been right. Not for us… But you, you’d be perfect.”

“I don’t know.” I hug myself.

“Come on, Molly. Even if it’s just part time.”

“Can I think about it?”

Sean opens and closes his mouth. He swallows down whatever argument he was about to make. “Sure.”

“Thank you.”

My brother pulls me in for a hug. “I’m just happy you’re home. And will support whatever you want to do. Even if that’s waiting tables here.” Sean looks at the clock. “We should get out there. We open soon and Dani will put my balls in a vise if I don’t finish my prep work.”

I laugh. “Aren’t you her boss?”

“Have you met Dani?”

“Touché,” I agree and follow Sean back out to the bar.

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