Page 39 of Twisted Secrets
It probably does. But she couldn’t say so out loud—not even here. No one could know she was planning on leaving. Their father couldn’t risk forcing Carrigan back into the fold and provoking a true war with James Halloran, but Sloan had no such power in her corner. Teague could get her out, but his first priority would always be Callie and the stability of the Sheridans. “You need to stop talking like that.”
“Why? Who’s going to hear me?” Keira made a show of looking around, her whole body tilting unsteadily with the movement. “It’s just us, Sloan.” Then she frowned. “Where’s Cillian?”
Sloan studied the room, only now realizing she hadn’t seen him. “I don’t know. Surely he was invited?”
“He’s been wearing his cranky pants lately. Maybe Teague decided to leave him out of it.”
She shot her little sister a look. “Because he was worried about you?” Considering her sister was obviously drunk and had decided that a pair of black leggings, combat boots, and an oversized white tank top that showed her black bra was appropriate attire for this dinner, Sloan wasn’t sure she blamed him.
“It’s none of his business. It isn’tanyone’sbusiness.” Keira’s chin came up, a sure sign she was ready to fight. “He sent Liam after me, and I had to deal with a babysitter for the entire night. Talk about a buzzkill.”
Good. She worried about her sister’s nighttime activities enough as it was. It was good that Liam tailed after her when he could. Sloan was about to say as much, but Teague raised his voice. “There is a reason I asked you guys here tonight. If you’ll sit…”
Sloan followed Keira over to the couches situated around the living room, carefully choosing one between her sister and the arm of the couch so she wouldn’t risk sitting next to herothersister. She wasn’t ready to face Carrigan. It didn’t matter if every other one of their siblings seemed willing to forgive and forget—even Aiden from the looks of it. She wasn’t.
Not now. Maybe not ever.
Teague stood behind the overstuffed chair Callie had taken, his hands on her shoulders. “I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye in the past year—some of us more than others.” His gaze temporarily rested on Aiden before he looked at the rest of them. “But I’mhoping that we can set all the baggage aside for a night because I have great news.” His grin was downright blinding. “You’re all about to become aunts and uncles.”
Sloan blinked once, twice, a third time. Her mind churned, trying to make sense of his words, even though her gut already knew what he’d said. “You’re…Callie’s pregnant?”
Callie reached back to cover one of Teague’s hands with her own. “Yes. We’re due January eighth. I’m thirteen weeks pregnant on July fifteenth.”
Four days from now.
Oh my God. She forced a smile. Teague had always wanted kids, and to have them with a woman he was so obviously head over heels for was his dream coming true. She watched Carrigan push to her feet and hug their brother and then his wife, her thoughts a buzz of white noise.
Shewashappy. But there were other, uglier, emotions in there, twisting that happiness until it was downright unrecognizable.
She wanted what Teague had, and at the same time, she resented him for having left her behind to gain it. It was selfish and horrible and she hated herself a little bit for feeling that way, even if she couldn’t stop.
I’m not even going to be here to see this baby. I’m going to miss it. I’m going to miss everything.
She waited for something to rise in her, some sign that she should change her mind, but there was nothing but a growing determination to leave Boston and everything in it behind.I’m a monster.
She realized that most of her siblings had moved over to congratulate Teague and Callie, and forced herself to her feet. She had to fake it—for both of them.To do anything else would take away from his happiness today, and she wasn’t anywhere near monster enough to do that.Not yet. Because I’m leaving. They never have to know how conflicted I feel about this whole thing. Howjealous.
So she hugged Teague and cooed over Callie and managed to keep a smile on her face through the whole thing. They were so busy with everyone else that they didn’t seem to notice she wasn’t totally on board.
Which was good, because she was counting down the minutes until she put Boston behind her, once and for all.
Chapter Twelve
The rest of dinner went off without a hitch. In fact, it was goingtoowell if Olivia was going to be honest with herself. Cillian was a perfect gentleman, and their conversation had only had the slightest hiccups through the meal. As he paid and rose to get her chair, she wasn’t sure what the next step was. She hated being so unsure, but this was completely new territory across the board. Was this a date where he’d drop her off at work with a kiss? Or was he going to get back to what they’d started in the alley behind Jameson’s?
She knew which oneshe’dprefer.
Let’s give him some incentive.
She stepped to the side as they walked out onto the street, and grabbed his suit jacket, tugging him against her. Her back hit the wall behind her, the feeling making her shiver with memories from the other times he’d had her in this position. Cillian caught himself with his hands on either side of her, his body pressed againsthers. “Hey there.”
“Hey.” She licked her lips, her gaze on his mouth, her stomach in her throat. It would be easy to make a joke and back off, and pretend this never happened. He’d let her. Hell, he was letting her take the reins right now. If she changed her mind, he wasn’t going to blink. Knowing that only made her hotter. So she took a flying leap of faith. “I don’t suppose you know somewhere we can go to be alone? I still have an hour before my shift.”
“You mean someplace better than me dragging you into that alley?” His tone was flippant, but his eyes belied the joking. He’d do it. They both knew he’d do it.
And she’d enjoy every last second of it.
Come on, Olivia. You’re better than back-alley sex.No matter how much you like it.
