Page 56 of Twist of Fate
“And what does that have to do with drinking?” I ask ’cause she seems to have lost the plot a little along the way.
“Oh! This medication can seriously fuck up your kidneys.” She gives an overexaggerated shrug. “So, adding alcohol to the mix is baaad.” The fact that she hiccups after saying this truly is a testament to her inebriated state. “But, the doctor said I could have a drink here and there. Guess I’m tapped out for a while.” She giggles and then hiccups again.
Jesus.
“Yes, I think you’ve definitely had your fair share. We should get you to bed.”
“Trying to get me into bed, Mr. Larkin?” She waggles her eyebrow and chuckles to herself.
I know she’s teasing, but the question still deserves an answer.
“I don’t need tricks or games. If I were trying to get you into bed, darlin’, you’d know it,” I assure her, moving closer to the sofa. “And I certainly wouldn’t be attempting it while you’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk.” She pouts with those pretty pink lips as her brows furrow. So fucking cute.
“Sure.” I laugh, finally deciding to take the spot next to her, though I do myself a favor by leaving a decent amount of space between us. It’s already torture having her here. I don’t need blue balls too.
Her eyes move slowly over me as she focuses on the low-slung black sweatpants, the white T-shirt, and the tattoos that cover my arms. Every single second I feel her heated gaze on me is torture.
“Niall told me tonight that O’Connell doesn’t have a ’no fraternization policy.’”
That was a sharp left turn. “What the hell were you talking about? Why would he bring that up with you?”
She laughs. Fucking laughs. “Are you always going to be this jealous?”
I let out an exasperated huff through my nose, ready to refute her accusation but stopping myself. “Yes,” I say instead, meeting her gaze. “Yes, okay? I will always be jealous at the thought of anyone looking at you or touching you that isn’t me. And yeah, I know I don’t have any right, and I know it isn’t fair, but well…you asked.”
Her eyes widen in shock at my bold honesty before her expression hardens. “Why?” She shakes her head. “You’re the one who promised we weren’t over, who said you wanted more, and then shut me out. I called. I texted. I fucking poured my heart out in voicemails, Finn.”
“I know.” I swallow the guilt that’s burning a hole in my throat. “I know.”
“Then why? If you didn’t want me then?—”
“I never said I didn’t want you.” I fix my gaze on her. “I never stopped wanting you.”
The air feels like a live wire between us as she stares back at me. It’s electric. I want to reach out and touch her so badly that it takes effort to keep my hands at my sides.
“None of this makes sense,” she whispers.
“Life rarely does.”
“I should go,” she says, suddenly looking around as if she’s just now realizing where she is. For the first time since she stumbled in, she looks embarrassed. “It’s late, and I?—”
“You’re not going anywhere tonight.”
“What?” She quickly stands up from the sofa, and any clarity she might have briefly possessed disappears as her body sways.
“You’re still drunk,” I tell her.
“Okay, Captain Obvious,” she snorts, rolling her eyes. “But I think I’ll be okay walking the few steps to my door. Unless you think I might get pulled over? Do the Gardai regularly patrol the…hallway?”
“You get pretty mouthy when you’re drunk.”
She begins to walk away. “All the more reason to let me get going.”
I reach for her hand and drag her back. She lets out a small gasp as her body collides with mine. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” I say, my voice low as I look down at her. “Quite the opposite, actually. I’ve always enjoyed our sparring matches.”
“I hardly remember them.”
