Page 81 of After Indigo Irish Nights
Brady shook his head. “He’ll come home when he’s ready. He probably needed some time to himself.”
Three o’clock came. Everyone was exhausted, their yawns punctuating the silence more than conversation now.
Where the hell was he? He wouldn’t have gotten into a car accident. No. Caisleán was a small village. If something like that had happened, they would have already heard. She crossed her arms over her chest, a chill touching her.
“We should get some rest.” Liam rose and stretched. “He’ll come home when he comes home. We can tell him we waited up. I’ll even text him again.”
“I will too,” Ellie said, unwinding from Brady’s lap and following Liam inside.
“He’s not coming home tonight, is he?” Kathleen asked before getting out of her chair.
“I don’t think so. No.” He paused, giving her a sidelong look. “He’s not with another woman, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
She stammered, “I didn’t think that. Not for a minute.”
Even though Axl had cheated, her mind hadn’t gone there. Not even for a second. ShetrustedDeclan. Wasn’t that an odd win on a horrible night?
“Good,” he said, pulling himself out of the chair with a grimace. “You should sleep in his room.”
Nerves rippled through her stomach. “I should go home.”
He should have come home. To her. That’s what people in a relationship did. Was she pathetic if she stayed?
He took her hands. “I know this looks bad, but— Please stay.”
She hugged him. “You’re a good brother, Brady. I know. I have seven of them.”
Ellie was waiting for them just inside the door, and she hugged Kathleen fiercely before she and Brady headed upstairs. She didn’t follow them. There was no way she could sleep. She dug out her phone again. No message from him. She finally gave in and sent a short one:We’re all a little worried, Ace. I’m at your place. Where are you?
She waited to see if he would answer, and when he didn’t, she shoved her phone back into her pocket. Liam had the kettle boiling from the sound of it. She walked that way and hugged the kitchen doorway. “Can I have a cup of whatever you’re making?”
“Tea with whiskey.” He pulled out another mug. “Good for the wee hours of night.”
She pushed her way into the kitchen. “Are you staying up with me, Liam?”
“You look like you need a friend.” He extended a tea box to her, and she chose chamomile because it was supposed to be calming, right? “I don’t imagine you feel very comfortable right now. How about you take a few deep breaths?”
Her first attempt brought in a mere puff of air to her lungs. “God! I hate this. Liam, I know he was upset, but when I was coming over to him, I’d swear he purposefully turned his back on me.”
Liam opened a cabinet and brought out a half-empty bottle of Redbreast. “You have to honor what you believe, but I’ve known him a long time. I don’t think he’d do that. He cares about you. He wanted you to be here. He called me after he left Bets, making sure you were okay. He told me that he wanted you to stay here tonight. His last thought before the fight was about you.”
“He told me he loved me today.” Her hand shook as she reached for the coffee mug Liam offered her. “And I said it back.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about, do you?” He pulled out a chair at the kitchen table for her. “He’s battered right now, Kathleen—body, mind, and spirit. I can’t know what that kind of beating feels like, but it looked to be a bad one. That wouldn’t be easy for any man, least of all Declan. Most Irishmen are very proud.”
She took her seat and set her mug down before she spilled it. She knew all about men and their pride. But dammit. This felt different. “You don’t strike me as proud.”
He rubbed his pirate earring. “I work on it. It can make you think crazy things as a man. I just want to be happy and find my purpose.”
It was nearing four in the morning. They might as well talk about deep things. “Do you know what yours is? I figure mine is to create art and be with my family and friends.”
He sipped his tea and sat back in his chair. “I think I’m coming closer to it. I love art. I’ve been doing some sculpting with clay lately, and it feels really good. I fell in love with throwing on the wheel in Bali.”
“Oh, Liam. Bali? Really?”
“It’s a cliché for a reason.” He laughed, his sandy blond hair catching the muted kitchen light. “Made you smile for the first time all night. That’s something.”
“No kidding.” She remembered to breathe. “Tell me about Bali.”
