Page 71 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

Once. And. For. All

Nothing right could ever come from something so wrong.

I step back and stare up at him. “I’ll skip the coffee. I need to get back.”

He nods with a half-smile. “Liam’s just called. He’s downstairs waiting. Ma sent him to pick you up.”

I nod back. “I’ll see you soon, Irish.”

I say soon because I’m not sure when it will be. Has my confession and our chaste kiss changed things between us? I hope not, but that remains to be seen. I leave his apartment and press the button for the elevator. I’m expecting the cabin to be empty when the doors open, but it’s not.

“Sophia,” I whisper.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she hisses.

If looks could kill, then I would be dead. This is not good. This is not good at all.

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

PADRAIG

Padraig’s Apartment, Hudson Yards, New York

I restmy head back against the sectional while letting out a frustrated sigh. Sophia’s just hand-delivered the new contract, and on her way to my apartment, she collided head-first with Jaine, who was on her way out.

“Fuck my life,” I mumble after I answer my phone.

“It can’t be that bad, surely.” Dylan sounds surprisingly upbeat, given everything that’s been going on.

“It’s way worse.”

“Explain.”

“As you already know, Jaine stayed here last night, and before you ask, it was all strictly platonic. You know what she had to do. It’s not like she could then stroll back into the house.”

“I understand the reasons, and I have to say, I’m relieved to hear nothing happened between the two of you. I was worried that it might.”

“Why would you be worried?” There’s an awkward pause.He knows.“How long have you known Jaine’s still in love with me?”

“A while.” He sounds sheepish.

“What does that mean?”

I know exactly what he’s going to say. The same thing Fletch did.

“You need to speak to Jaine.”

“About?”

“That and several other things.”

“What other things?”

“Paddy, it’s not for me to say.”

“Well, it will be difficult for me to speak to her about anything any time soon.”

“How do you mean?”

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