Page 79 of Tide Over

As we walk through the door to the pub, we’re greeted with the soft hum of Celtic music and the low murmur of conversation. It’s fairly quiet in here today as it’s a weekday evening, so we grab a table by the window looking over the water.

And it suddenly hits me. Besides going to my mom’s or working on some jobs in town… we’ve never really done this. Since we’ve been together, we’ve stayed hidden behind the walls of the house, as we quietly make it ours. And even though no oneknows the truth about us, sitting here like this kind of feels like we’re on display.

But as I glance around, and see that no one is paying us any attention, I feel a spark of hope… and bravery.

Liam glances out the window, then turns to me. “You never told me how the haul was today.”

I settle back into my seat, watching the last streaks of colour stretch across the sky. “Everything went well this morning,” I say. “I had the crew take the haul to the buyer’s station, but Mitch texted that it was a good one.”

Liam nods as he looks into my eyes, and some kind of emotion passes through his. Something soft, caring, and… appreciative.

“Hey, Theo.”

I look up as Allison approaches our table with a smile.

“Hey.” I smile back at her as she sets menus before me and Liam.

She glances between us, her bubbly personality shining like always. “Can I get you guys a drink?” She then looks at me. “I’m assuming the usual?”

I chuckle with a nod. “Yeah.”

She turns to Liam with a smile, and there’s an intensity in his gaze as he watches her.

“And for you?” she asks.

He blinks and nods, his eyes softening a bit. “Same.”

“Sounds good. Be right back,” Allison says, leaving the table.

Once she’s gone, Liam leans forward, resting his forearms on the table. “You know you didn’t have to leave work early,” he says quietly.

I nod with a soft smile and a small shrug. “I know. But I wanted to.”

His eyes drop to my lips, and my pulse immediately quickens as I take in the way he’s looking at me.

“Mo chridhe,” he murmurs slowly, lifting his eyes to meet mine again.

A slow smile spreads across my face, and I shake my head gently. “Someday, you’re going to have to tell me what that means.”

He lets out a breath of laughter, and simply shrugs one shoulder.

“Alright, here we are,” Allison says, her bright voice cutting through the quiet tension as she sets our beer down in front of us. “Anything to eat?”

I sit back in my chair, trying to shake off the feeling of Liam’s eyes on me, and the effect of his words. “We haven’t looked at the menu yet.”

She chuckles. “Right. Like you’re not going to get the same thing you do every time?”

I roll my eyes as I pick up the menu and hold it out for her. “Yeah, ok. Fine. The club.”

She smirks at me as she takes the menu, then turns to Liam. My gaze shifts to him as well, and his jaw is tight as he looks between us. But Allison doesn’t seem to notice.

“Do you know what you’d like?” she asks him.

His gaze flicks up to meet hers as he shifts in his seat, sliding his menu towards her with a small smile. Which looks completely forced. “I’ll take the same.”

“Good choice,” she said cheerily. “Be right up.”

Liam’s eyes follow her as she leaves, his gaze narrowing and his brow creasing. I lean forward, observing him with amusement.

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