Page 78 of Dirty Dylan: Dirty Dusters

I’m relieved. It’s his woman after all. He can sort out the mess we’re in because of him, his big mouth, and this expanding web of deceit.

“Jaine mentioned her. Would you care to explain who she is?”

I don’t make eye contact with Paddy. If I do, he’ll silently ask for my help. It’s his mess. He can dig us out of this hole he’s flung us both in. I’ve got enough drama of my own to deal with.

“She’s been around for a while, Eoin. Me and Jaine were talking about love. I told her I had been in love once and it was with a tall, slim, beautiful blonde. In fact, the most perfect woman the world has ever fucking seen. I told her I was still in love with the girl and always would be.”

I don’t need to look at Paddy to know he’ll be on the verge of breaking down just talking about it. About her. He’ll be married soon. His life will be over if it isn’t already. I don’t want to show any empathy. It’s not because I’m not sympathetic to his situation. I am. But I know from experience it won’t help him offering that. That he’ll just withdraw into a melancholy mood.

There’s a sniff. I have to fight to hold back my own tears. It makes me want to cry with him. My poor baby brother. A ruthless, sadistic killer who wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to Jaine Jones.

I stare at Eoin. How conflicted must he be feeling? Witnessing our Paddy fall apart once more over the loss of the love of his life. Potentially the love of both their lives since Eoin’s confessed to having feelings for the same woman.

We wait for Paddy to gather himself and continue.

“Jaine joked that as the girl sounded cliche, she must surely be a figment of my imagination, hence a make-believe Disney Princess. So, that’s how the cliché blonde came about,” he finally finishes.

Eoin nods, now understanding. “So, this cliché blonde is Jaine. And you had this conversation on a message exchange while pretending to be Dylan. Is that right?”

Paddy must nod as he doesn’t verbally respond.

“So, correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the reason Jessie kept away from Dyl all those months. Because Jaine mentioned this blonde to her, and Jessie thought Dylan was pining over someone else.”

He’s looking at me. It seems it’s my turn to add my two cents worth.

Great.

I nod. “I can only assume that as Jessie had seen neither hide nor hair of this girl, she guessed she was no longer in the picture. When Grace appeared on the scene, Paddy, having been put on the spot by Jaine, told Jaine that Grace was the cliché blonde.”

“Grace? A Disney princess? It’s a bit far-fetched.”

“Maybe so, but it seemed a good idea at the time. I was clutching at straws for what to say, and it was an existing loose end.” Paddy sighs. He thought he’d tied it up, but all he’s done is make the situation far worse.

Eoin is sitting with his attention fixed out the window. It would be safer for us if he moved farther away as he probably wants to wring both our necks right about now.

“So, Jessie will think this arranged marriage has been on the cards for some time given how long Dylan has apparently been pining.”

“Exactly,” I reply. “And that’s why she’ll be beyond pissed. She’ll think I’ve been having a dalliance with her, all the while knowing I’m to be married off to the supposed great love of my life. She probably thinks I’m a swine for messing both her and Grace around.”

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave.” Eoin exhales. “Well, she now suspects something, Paddy.”

“Who?”

“Jaine!” he hisses, turning to face us.

“Why? How?”

“Because, not knowing the whole fabricated story, I told her that Dylan had come to me professing his undying love for Jessie, which he did. Jaine countered that with this cliché blonde revelation. That Dyl had apparently been besotted with Grace Ryan for some considerable time.”

“And what did you say back?” Paddy starts to fidget. He’s worried now. That loose end he thought he tied up in a pretty little bow? Well, it seems it’s about to unravel the whole sorry mess.

“That I wasn’t sure how he felt about Grace. That it wasn’t for me to speculate. But this is her business partner who’s being messed around. She threatened to approach Dylan direct on the matter, but I suggested perhaps it was simply the case that his besottedness with Grace has been superseded by his love for Jessie.”

“Did she buy it?”

“Temporarily maybe, but she won’t leave it there. She’s a lawyer. She’s got a bee in her bonnet over it now. Plus, she won’t let it rest if she thinks something can be done to achieve the happily ever after she did for Cill and Sarah. Is there anything else that can come to light from this fiasco? Undermine the web of lies we’re all now tangled up in?”

“I told her I fucked her,” Paddy mumbles.

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