Page 142 of Forever Flames: Padraig & Stevie
I don’t answer.
Because it’s not about what he has or doesn’t have now. He’s afraid his version of love won’t ever lead here. To this.
He blinks once, then turns toward the door. “You’re a fucking pussy.”
It’s cruel. Meant to cut.
“Better than hollow,” I murmur.
He stops walking. Doesn’t turn.
Then keeps going. The front door doesn’t slam, but the silence it leaves behind does.
Stevie encircles my wrist, and leans her head on my shoulder.
“I didn’t mean for the confrontation to happen in front of them,” I say under my breath.
“I know.” Her voice is soft. “But,hedid.”
The room feels warped, stretched too thin. No one moves. The fire crackles, almost too loud.
Ma puts away a serving bowl with more force than needed. Cillian stands by the biscuit tin, unmoving. Seamus’s girlfriend clasps his hand. Connor exhales slowly, looking toward the front door Liam disappeared through.
I lean down and kiss Stevie’s hair. “Let’s get them.”
She nods.
We don’t make a show of it. No apology. No excuse. I reach for Jude first, and he wraps his arms around my neck. Lila looks up, worried, already reading the air. Isla won’t meet my eyes, which makes my heart hurt more than anything Liam said.
Rafferty’s asleep in the corner, mouth open, one sock missing. I scoop him up in my other arm. Stevie gestures to the girls, guiding them gently toward the hall.
Ronni gives my arm a quiet squeeze as I pass. Ma says nothing, but her chin dips, barely. Connor watches me go like he wants to step in and fix it, but knows he can’t.
We slip down the hallway toward the small guest room behind the stairs. Used to be Da’s recovery room, years ago, before he got sober. It’s remodeled now, clean, dimly lit, a folded quilt at the foot of the twin bed.
I set Rafferty down and let him keep sleeping. Jude stays in my lap. Lila climbs up beside Stevie without hesitation. Isla hovers by the wall.
“Sit, sweetheart,” Stevie says gently.
Isla slides down slow. Knees pulled to her chest.
I glance toward Stevie, and she nods.
“Listen,” I start. “What happened out there wasn’t okay. Not in front of you.”
“Was Uncle Liam mad?” Jude gazes up at me.
“He’s upset, yeah.” I run a hand through his curls. “But not at you. Never at you.”
Lila frowns. “At us?”
“No, love,” Stevie says quickly. “None of this is about you. It’s about grown-up stuff. Band stuff.”
“You’re not going back on tour?” Isla says flatly.
“I used to think being in a band was the most important thing in my life.” I lean toward her. “For a long time, it was. I gave everything to it. To Uncle Liam.”
Stevie’s hand finds mine, grounding me.
