Page 57 of Dirty Dylan: Dirty Dusters

Jaine:Tell him to go hibernate himself away. Not just for the winter. Permanently.

Padraig:What did he do this time?

Jaine:The asshole tried to blackmail me. That aside, my ears are burning every time you have your meetings. So much so I can smell smoke. Your da doesn’t want to use my services, and according to Molly, I have a mattress attached to my back. Trust me. It was a no brainer to walk away and to kick your brother into touch. I don’t have to put up with that shit. I won’t put up with it.

Padraig:I know her remark was out of order, but she’s been hand-picked.

Jaine:Well, I’m sorry, but her character assassination of me shows a certain level of immaturity. Maybe they shouldn’t rush into things. It’s not like the decision can be reversed if it turns out to be the wrong one.

Padraig:It’s far from being set in stone, Jaine. But my brother is thirty-seven. He needs to get wed. Produce heirs. My parents want grandchildren. They’ve only got Caoimhe. Our Eoin’s spent way too long dilly-dallying.

I exhale slowly.My secret will be earth-shattering for them. They’ll hate me more than they do already for keeping Finian away all this time, but what choice did I have? What choicedoI have?

Jaine:So, you’re messaging to ask me to take pity on your big brother.

Padraig:Yes. For some reason, he seems to like your heated exchanges. I can’t for the life of me figure out why.

Jaine:Well, I don’t enjoy them. All he does is look for ways to manipulate me into doing his bidding. Anyway, he’s a big boy. He can do his own dirty work. Why can’t his lordship ask me himself?

Padraig:You won’t answer your phone to him, darlin’.

Jaine:Touché. Listen, I’ll think about it.

Padraig:Thank you. The rest of us O’Connells will be forever in your debt if you would put him out of his misery.

Jaine:Enough about him. What’s going on with you? Jessie says you’ve been acting weird and like something’s about to go down.

Padraig:You could say that.

Jaine:Well?

Padraig:It’s not been broadcast yet so I’m not sure if I should say anything.

Jaine:Since when has that ever stopped you spilling your guts to me?

Padraig:True, and I guess I can tell you since it’s expected to be announced this afternoon.I’m to be entered into an arranged marriage.

I almost drop my phone in disbelief then stare at the handset, stunned into silence. What the fuck? He’s said that so matter-of-factly when he’s currently sleeping with my business partner. I know she’s developed feelings for him. I’d hoped it was a two-way street.

Padraig:I expected a different response from you. One of shock and outrage on my behalf. Not radio silence and tumbleweed.

Jaine:The only outrage I feel right now is on Jessie’s behalf.

Padraig:Why?

Jaine:Well, since you’ve been sleeping with her, I’m surprised you’re being so casual about this whole thing. The fact this arranged marriage is a done deal tells me you’ve known about it for quite some time. I guess what surprises me most is you’ve still been fucking Jessie while not bothering to mention any of this to her. Who even does that?

Padraig:Shit.

Jaine:Shit? Well, that’s the understatement of the century. I’m disappointed in you, Dyl. I never thought I’d hear myself say that. After what happened in the past, you go and pull a stunt like this.

Padraig:What happened in the past?

I stare at my phone screen again. Is he for real?

Jaine:Has that lobotomy you appear to have had made you lose your memory as well as your conscience? I don’t want to talk about it.

Padraig:Tell me.

---