Page 55 of Arse Over Irish Teacup
“You said Bethany is chatty.”
Aidan recalled their plane ride and snorted. “She could talk a dog off a meat wagon.”
“She can? I haven’t known her to be chatty except maybe after she hit me and was upset.” And really that had been more of a nervous breakdown than a Chatty Cathy demonstration.
Aidan didn’t know what to say. Roan must enjoy having his ear chewed off, the poor devil. Although, he hadn’t minded it much either now that you mention it.
“She’s funny,” Roan said.
“Yes, she is.”
“And smart.”
“Yes, she is.”
“And beautiful.”
Aidan half nodded with a thoughtful grin. Was Roan going to list every one of Beth’s attributes? If so, why not do it alphabetically?
“And clumsy as a two-legged dog.”
“Yes, she is.”
They shared a chuckle.
Yes, she really and truly was. It suited her though, somehow. If she weren’t clumsy, she would be too perfect. Aidan thought back to the story of her walker incident and falling into an open grave. He chuckled, picturing her being pulled out from a six-foot hole by her friend. “Did she tell you about Lauren and her grandmother?”
Roan nodded slowly. “I met Lauren, over the phone.”
“Really? She sounds like a character.”
“She’s terrifying.”
Aidan snorted. Of course, Lauren was terrifying. Beth was too damn nice to be friends with more nice people because even those nice people wouldn’t be half as … as … nice as Beth! Of course, Lauren was scary! Beth needed to brighten someone’s life, didn’t she? She couldn’t let miserable, frightening people just be miserable and frightening, could she? Nooo! She just had to stumble right in, and knock you on your ass with her lovable, blushing face, her sunny smile and that damn twinkle in her eyes, and melt your frozen heart!
Take a breath.
Perhaps, it was time to lay off the bar for a while? Aidan cleared his throat and placed his glass on the table. “Did she tell you she dropped her suitcase on my foot then spilled her drink on me then swiped my legs out from under me with that same beast of a suitcase?”
Roan blinked—twice. Jesus, that was a lot for a single day, but two could play this game. “You just went arse over teacup. At least she didn’t hit you with her car.”
Aidan and Roan both howled with laughter. There was a clear winner of this match.
“What’s so funny?” Beth asked, surprising them both.
Roan pulled himself together first. “We’re just sharing some memories is all, love,” he said and glanced at Aidan whose shoulders were still shaking with laughter. Then his phone rang. What a rude interruption. He sighed and apologized as he looked at the incoming call. “Sorry, I need to take this. I shouldn’t be a minute. I’ll just step outside.”
Beth nodded and clutched her hands in front of her as Roan walked away. She looked so lonely standing there holding her brown purse. “Was that Lauren on the phone?”
Beth nodded. “Yes, she checks up on me a lot.” Aidan gestured to the empty chair and she sat down, looking around the room at the couples dancing, and sighed. It must be nice … “So, how do you know Roan?”
“He dated my sister for a summer a while back.”
“And she invited him to her wedding?”
“They were never serious and parted as friends. He’s been invited to all her weddings.”
Beth couldn’t understand that arrangement but it wasn’t any of her business either.
