Page 87 of Feel Me

I’ve tried talking to her about us and what she’s feeling. But each time she shuts down, telling me she’s worried about her Dad and that needs to be there for him. Maybe that’s what it is. That, and what happened to Rosana. But we haven’t spent a night together since the ball so there has to be more to it. Hell, we didn’t even drive here together. And if it wasn’t for Curran calling her himself, I can’t be sure she’d be here at all.

“I think she’s ready to eat again,” Melissa says, inching back over to Tess.

Tess lifts off from Curran and starts to unsnap the front of her gown.

“Whoa?Wait?what the fuck?” my brothers all yell at once.

Tess’s hands fall away and she sighs. “Can we at leasttryand watch the language?”

“It’s not like Clodagh can understand us,” Finn points out.

“That’s what you said about Fiona,” Tess mutters, reaching for another snap. “And look at all the words that have flown out of her mouth.”

Curran whips around when he realizes she’s one button away from freeing her breasts. “Everyone out except Wren and Mel. No one gets to see my wife’s goods, but me.”

Evan stands, motioning to the door. “Gentlemen,” he says.

Seamus looks around, appearing confused. “Is he talking to us?”

“Yes, dumbass,” Wren says, lifting up on her toes to give Evan a quick kiss.

I step closer to Melissa. “Here, I’ll take her,” I say, reaching for her. I frown at Curran when he glowers. “I’m the godfather that means I get a turn.”

“Give him a moment,” Tess says, rubbing Curran’s arm. “He’s the only one who hasn’t held her.”

“Fine,” Curran says. “But I get to pass her to you.”

“Come here, Clodagh,” I say, tucking my hand beneath her small head.

Melissa passes her carefully into my arms, her expression shattering as she looks up at me. “What’s wrong?” I mouth.

She shakes her head and edges away from me.

Here’s the thing, I should be enjoying this moment. Clodagh the second baby born into our immediate family, and the first, already has us wrapped around her tiny fingers. But I can’t. Not when Mel feels so far away.

“Congratulations,” she says to Tess and Curran. “She’s as beautiful as Fiona and her mama.”

They exchange warm hugs and kisses, but the moment Clodagh is back in her daddy’s arms, Mel is almost to the door.

“Congrats,” I tell Curran, stopping only to give Tess a quick kiss. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the house.”

They try to smile, but Curran’s eyes cut to the small hall leading out.

Melissa is already gone, not bothering to wait or say goodbye to me. I hurry out, passing Sofia and Sol who’d left to pick up lunch for Curran and Tess.

“Excuse me,” I tell them, moving fast.

I’m expecting to run down the corridor and chase Melissa down. I sigh with relief when I find her waiting just outside the room. But as I approach her, her eyes glaze with tears, slowing my steps.

“What’s going on?” I ask her.

She angles her head toward the set of windows at the far end of the hall. “I need to see my dad. They moved him to the oncology unit on the other side of the hospital.”

“All right. I’ll go with you.” I march forward to place my arm around her shoulders. Instead of welcoming my embrace, she steps out of reach.

I let out a breath. “Mel, what are you doing, love?”

If I didn’t think she could appear more broken, her reaction to me calling her “love” proves me wrong. She curls inward, trying not to break down. What the hell?

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