Page 17 of Stay, Swear.

“I’m sorry but no. I’m unfortunately one of those girls who likes a man but can’t have him.” Her head is leaning on her hand as she looks up at Jakob, deciding to see where this conversation is going, I stay back in the shadows.

“That’s too bad, is he taken?” He’s not hiding the way his eyes roam up and down her body, making me put in more effort than I’d like to make sure I stay where I am.

“I don’t think so. He’s my best friend’s brother-in-law.” I can’t help the grin that pulls at my lips.

She’s talking about me.

“It’ll complicate things, and I can’t block his light with my darkness like that. He acts like he’s darkness, storms, and shadows. But I know better, he’s light, sun, and hope.” Okay that’s enough of this. Moving in behind her my hands find her hips and my chin meets her shoulder.

“Hey Brave Girl, did you miss me?”

She stiffens and jumps in my arms before registering my voice and sinking back into my hold.

“Look who it is. Were your ears burning?”

My lips press against her temple before straightening up. “Something like that. You ready to get out of here?”

Jakob speaks up before Britt can answer me, “Byrne, what are you doing here?”

Putting my attention on him my eyes narrow, “Just picking up my sister-in-law’s friend. I’m not on business, just on mission ‘pick up the girl’.”

He stares me down for a few more seconds before nodding, “Just grab her and go.”

Of course Britt can’t help herself, “Hey, I wasn’t ready to leave yet. Let’s stay. Dance with me, Mystery Man.”

Damn, do I want to give her anything she’s ever asked of me. Unfortunately we have about two more minutes before my tires get slashed. “Let me take you home, please?” She huffs and pouts at me. The ridiculous move would typically annoy me, especially if anyone else did it. But on her? She looks so adorable. She tells Jakob goodbye as I take her hand and lead her out the bar and to my car.

* **

The ride to her apartment was quiet. That’s probably because she passed out about thirty seconds into our trip, but that’s neither here nor there. She also didn’t want to wake up. So here I am, half dead from the toll today has taken on my mind and body, while carrying the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen up to her apartment. She said she likes me. She didn’t know I could hear her and she told another man that she likes me. I can’t fight the smile that I’ve gotten every time I think about it. Using her keys to unlock her door, I let us in and lock it behind us.

Looking around the two bedroom apartment it’s decent. It’s not like Clara’s old apartment, which was sketchy at best, but it’s also a long way from my house. Shit, it’s even a little hike from my penthouse that I have across the city for when I just want to be alone. My eyes glance around the living room where I found her curled in on herself just last night. She was so broken, it broke what small heart I have. Something tugged in my chest when she let me hold her together while she worked through whatever was going on. I want to know what that was about and I’m determined to find out.

After last night I think I actually like her. I’m not a hundred percent sure what it is or what it means. What I do know is that she stays on my mind, and when I’m not with her I want to be. I want to hang out with her constantly. These are the kinds of things we’ll talk about tomorrow.

Making my way to her bedroom as quietly as I can, I get her comfortable in bed before removing her shoes.

She stirs and lets out a sleepy, “Kie, what are you doing?” Shooting her a full smile that I so rarely give out, I tuck her in.

“I’mjust putting you to bed. We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”

She nods, still half asleep. “Yeah, okay. Tomorrow, swear?”

“Yeah, Brave Girl, I swear.” I press my lips to her forehead before pulling back to look at her face.

After memorizing every feature on her perfect face I turn and whisper to her, “Sleep well, Brittany.” Making sure to lock up when I leave, every part of me protests and tells me to go back to bed with her. Instead of giving into it. I head back to my car and shoot a text to the‘Byrne Bros’group chat. Mainly out of habit, we always check in on each other.

Kieran: On way home.

Rowan: From?

Flynn: Yeah Kie, where are you coming from?

Declan: *gif of little boy suspiciously looking around*

Sully: Spill it! What do you know??

Kieran: Nowhere and he knows nothing. I should have just text Rowan by himself.

---