Page 69 of Shattered Union

My gut clenches at how nonchalant she says it. This is her mam she's talking about. A woman that has been in her life for the past thirteen years. God, I hate this for her.

The door to the bar opens and I glance toward it just as Maverick walks in. "Hey, Chloe," he greets cheerfully. "How's it hanging?"

"God, you're such anamadán," I mutter, and he just laughs. "What are you doing here, Mav?" I question. He was supposed to be on his way to Cork.

He gives me a pointed look. "You want to look at houses today, right?"

"Yes." I frown at him. "How did you know that?"

He smirks. "Da told me. He didn't want you going by yourself and as you love me more than anyone in this world, I thought I should come with you."

I can't dispute that. He drives me crazy most days, but he's also my biggest champion and supporter. He's been my rock this past week. Never letting me out of his sight.

I sigh dramatically. "Fine, but I'm not buying a granny flat on the side just for you."

His eyes narrow. "No, you feckin' well aren't. I'll have a spare room, thank you very much."

I flip him off and hear Chloe's laughter. "You wanna come?" I ask, hoping that maybe it'll cheer her up a bit.

She looks at me in shock. "Really?" she breathes, glancing between Mav and me.

"Really, but you've got to ask your dad."

She beams at me. "He'd say yes if you asked."

Mav chuckles. "She's not wrong."

I glare at him. "And how would you know?"

He shrugs. "I spent some time with him," he says casually. Too casually. I narrow my eyes at him, and he just smirks. "Call him, Chloe. If he says yes, we'll go. If not, we'll wait until he comes and gets you."

What the hell happened to my brother? Why is he being so... concerned all of a sudden?

"Da." Chloe's voice pulls me away from staring at my brother. "No, I'm with Callie and Maverick. They're going out to look at some property and Callie asked if I could go with her." She glances at me. "Yeah, she's just here. Hold on."

She pushes the phone in my direction. "Da, wants to talk to you."

My blood runs cold. No. I’m not ready. My pulse races, my heart feels as though it’s about to burst out of my chest. My palms become sweaty and I wipe them on my jeans. God, why do I have to talk to him?

I take a deep breath and reach for the phone Chloe’s handing me. My stomach rolls with nausea. Fuck, I’m not ready.

"Heymo ghrá," he says softly when I put the phone to my ear. I turn away from Mav and Chloe when tears spring to my eyes. Why the hell does he affect me so much? “How are you doing, beautiful?”

I inhale a deep breath. “I’m okay. Can Chloe come with us? I heard about what happened to her mam and I thought it would take her mind off shit.”

“Of course. I was going to stop by your house tomorrow—”

“I’m not living there anymore. That’s where we’re going. I need to find a new home.” I still haven’t stepped foot into my house, I can’t. Just the thought has me breaking out in a cold sweat.

“Baby…” his voice is gruff. “Why don’t you come here and stay for a while.”

I scoff. “You want me to stay in a home you shared with your wife?”

He curses under his breath. “What can I do, Callie? I fucking hate you’re scared.”

“There’s nothing you can do,” I tell him honestly. “I’m not saying that to be mean, it’s something I’m going to have to come to terms with myself.”

"I want to see you," he tells me. "I've kept my distance to sort this fucking shit out with Zoe. I'm done being away from you."

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