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“Lizzie has a sister?” I frowned. “I didn’t know that.” Curious, I asked, “What went on with her sister?”

Gibsie blinked rapidly. “You don’t know?”

“No.” I narrowed my eyes. “What don’t I know?”

“I’m not supposed to say anything about it,” he muttered. “I’m literally sworn to secrecy.”

“Come on, lad, it’s me. Who am I going to tell?”

“Look, it happened before you moved down here,” he said. “And that’s all I’m saying.”

“Gibs—”

“Trust me, you don’t want to know anything about it,” he hurried to say. “I promise.”

I thought about it for a moment, weighed up how much shit I had going on in my own life, weighed up the drama I was dealing with when it came to Shannon’s family, and decided Gibsie was right. I didn’t care enough to poke around in Lizzie Young’s life. I had my own issues to handle and she was my girlfriend’s ill-tempered friend who I could barely tolerate but did so for Shannon’s sake. “You’re right,” I agreed. “I don’t want to know.”

Gibsie nodded in approval. “Good.” His brow furrowed for a brief moment before smoothing out again as a smile crept across his face. “So, you and Shannon were working out, huh?”

“Yes,” I replied, eyeing him warily, not knowing what he was about to come out with but knowing whatever it was wouldn’t be good. “What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing,” he mused. “Other than the obvious.”

“Which is?”

“You have a free house with Shannon inside it, and instead of making good use of it, you’re throwing her around like a bag of sand.”

“You know why,” I bit out. “I’m taking my time.”

“Hmm.” He tilted his head to one side. “Did they break your instincts when they operated on you? You know, like when they neuter a dog and he doesn’t pick up the scent anymore? Because the Johnny I remember wouldn’t waste such a rare opportunity.”

“I wasn’t neutered, you insensitive prick,” I snapped, outraged. “And my sperm swims just fine. They checked!”Twice.

“Then there’s something wrong with you,” Gibsie shot back, not missing a beat. “Because that girl is insanely sexy and you’re thinking about rugby.”

“Hey,” I warned, bristling. “Don’t call my girlfriend sexy.”

“Why not?” he taunted. “Don’tyouthink she’s sexy?”

“Of course I think she’s sexy,” I spat out. “I think she’s a lot of fucking sexy.”

Gibsie waggled his brows. “Is that so?”

“Yeah, that is so—but that’s not the point.” Flustered, I shook my head and pointed at him. “Youdon’t say that she’s sexy.” I narrowed my eyes. “Youkeep your beady little eyes off her.”

“Well, it’s the truth.” He laughed. “And I’m not blind, lad.”

“Youlookat her?” I demanded, appalled. “AtmyShannon?”

“Your Shannon,” he snickered. “Yeah, I do, and it’s not just me. We all look at her—and apparentlylookingat her is all you do, too.”

“Are you fucking with me right now?” I demanded, furious.

“Nope.”

“Who’s we?”

Gibsie shrugged. “Me, Feely, Hugh, Danny Mac, Luke, Pierce, Donal—”

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