Page 52 of Trying Sophie

“I believe his apology was sincere,” I replied, waving away his accusation.

“This happens all the damn time. Declan does something stupid, says something he shouldn’t, and just when you think he’s going to get caught out for it, he smiles and all’s forgiven. If I hadn’t watched it happen with my own eyes for the past twenty years, I’d say I was paranoid but that’s how it’s always been.” He shook his head resignedly. “I really thought you were different.”

Why? Why would he think I was different? What had I done to give him any impression of me? And who did he think he was lecturing me about whether or not I chose to forgive someone? Wasn’t he supposed to be Declan’s best friend? What kind of friend openly maligned another like that?

“With friends like you, Cian, I’d hate to see who Declan’s enemies really are.”

“Oh, that’s an easy one,” he shot back. “It’s all the boyfriends, husbands, brothers, and fathers of the women he’s fucked and forgotten.”

His words, meant to hurt me, hit the mark.

“Oh, real nice,” I lashed out. “Why are you doing this?”

“Yes, Cian,” I heard my grandpa’s voice behind me, steady and calm. “Why are you telling my Sophie all this?”

Cian looked over my shoulder and then back to me. “He wasn’t kidding,” he laughed incredulously, addressing my gramps. “You’ve actually encouraged him? Do you even know what kind of a man Declan is?”

“I think I do,” my grandpa countered, his voice calm, as he came to stand next to me. “I’m surprised you don’t.”

“Oh, I do,” Cian answered. “Probably better than you. I’ve been there, you know—right there—and I’ve seen what he’s like. How he treats women.” He shook his head. “For someone who means so much to you, old man, you should try protecting her a little better.”

Protecting me? Because obviously I was a weak and timid thing who needed a big, strong man—like him?—to make sure I didn’t make any bad decisions. Well, fuck him!

“You obviously want me to ask, so fine, I’ll ask,” I said, pulling back the reigns on my temper. “What does my dear old gramps here need to protect fragile, little ole me from?”

Cian raised his eyebrow at my grandfather who turned red and looked away.

Uh oh. That spelled trouble. They needed to fess up, and quick!

“One of you better start talking right this second and tell me what the fuck is going on.”

I hated cursing in front of my grandpa but desperate times called for desperate measures. Besides, it seemed like the moment for subtlety was long gone.

“Fine,” Cian said, cracking his knuckles and then re-crossing buff arms over his chest. “If you’re not going to tell her, I will.”

Turning to me, he continued, “It seems your grandfather has been harboring secret dreams of you and Declan ending up together and they’ve all been manipulating you this whole time.”

“Don’t be absurd,” I scoffed as a handful of customers turned to inspect the commotion.

And yet, hadn’t I wondered why my grandparents seemed so interested in my interest in Declan? Hadn’t I thought my grandma was up to something when she sent him to pick me up? Sure, they had thrown us together and I could tell they wanted me to like him, but manipulation? That seemed a little far-fetched.

“Not here,” my grandpa whispered, grabbing my arm.

“Where are you two going?” my grandma asked as we passed through the kitchen.

“Downstairs.”

“We have customers out there Colm,” she said, glancing at the clock above the stove. “And more will be coming soon. Kickoff’s at 7:30.”

“You don’t think I know that?” he snapped, startling both of us.

In all the time I’d spent with them, I’d never once heard them raise their voices to one another. Oh, they’d snipped and scolded from time to time, and with my grandpa’s forced convalescence, he’d been more bullheaded than usual, but outright yelling? I didn’t like it, especially since he was upset with me, not her.

“Sorry,” I mouthed as we marched past.

The grim set of her brow said my gramps would be hearing about his behavior later. In very specific, very pronounced detail.

Rounding a corner, we descended a short flight of stairs and stepped into a quiet storage room. Before I could ask what was going on, my grandpa told me to stay put and then disappeared for a few moments. When he returned he looked sheepish.

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