Page 122 of Not Another Yesterday
“Nice,” Shane chuckles. “I don’t know if you know this, but Ran and I work together. My parents own a few Irish pubs in the city and I run one of them.”
“Murphy’s, right?” Miranda asks.
“Yeah.” Shane nods, pride lighting his face. “We’ve had live bands before, but now that I’m really taking over I want to make some changes. Start featuring more up-and-coming acts, especially on weekends. The place is always packed, and I kinda love the idea of giving new talent a shot, you know?”
Miranda’s totally locked in now, nodding along with every word.
“You’re pretty fucking amazing on stage,” Shane says. “You should come out to New York this summer. Play a few gigs at Murphy’s.”
“Fuck, I’dtotallylove to,” Miranda says, her whole face lighting up. But then it dims. “The only problem is, I’m just starting to get back on my feet. Not sure I could swing it. Isn’t New York, like, stupid expensive?”
“Well, yeah,” Shane says, “but we could figure something out.”
“You could stay with the boys at their apartment,” Tori says.
Miranda looks at Ronan, clearly seeking his take.
“Where would she sleep, though?” Ronan asks.
Miranda grins. “In bed with you,” she says without missing a beat. Honestly, she and Ronan havesuchsimilar personalities.
“Randi, I like you, so let me put this gently:the fuck you will,” I say, grinning.
Everyone cracks up.
“Okay,” Miranda laughs. “Maybe the couch then?”
“Dang, Ran, two hot chicks fighting over you,” Steve says with mock appreciation.
Ronan flicks a nonexistent speck of dirt off his shoulder. “Well, you know, story of my life.”
“Seriously,” Tori chimes in. “Like those two girls Shane said you went home with in March.”
Ronan’s and my expressions shift at the same time into matching frowns.He did what?
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Ronan asks.
“Oh, come on, Ran,” Shane says with a low chuckle. “Remember those two girls at Murphy’s? Really hot, totally made it obvious they wanted to take you home?”
Ronan’s face doesn’t change.
“Dude, you don’t remember? They said they lived nearby, gave you their numbers, told you to text if you were up for some fun.”
“I remember,” Ronan says. “But I didn’t hook up with them.”
Shane blinks. “The fuck you mean?”
“I didn’t meet up with them, Shay,” Ronan says, calm but firm. “I went for a fucking walk.”
“Come on, Ran…” Shane starts, but trails off.
“I’m serious,” Ronan says.
“Ran, it’s okay,” I say, resting my hand lightly on his chest. It doesn’t hurt, not really, not compared to knowing about Miranda. That was the blow.
“Guys, I’m serious. I didn’t hook up that night. I got off work and just… walked.”
“But you didn’t get home till like seven the next morning,” Shane says, brow furrowed.
