Page 127 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

“If there had been, I’m not sure you would have appreciated it. Anyway, I’m with Eoin now.”

In an uncommunicative relationship that exists day by day with a man who’s now making excuses not to see you.

“Who would you choose, Jaine?”

“Jesus Christ.”

“You must know.”

“You want the goddamn truth?”

“I do.”

“I wouldn’t be able to choose, so I’m only glad I’ll never have to. Sophia will be pregnant soon. She and Irish will be doing their family thing soon enough.”

“But what if she is behind everything?”

“The only way she could ever be confronted would be with concrete proof.”

“And how do we get that?”

“I’m not sure because, unlike Molly, Sophia will have the highest level of security on her phone and everything else she uses.”

“So you’re not going to say anything about her virginity?”

“Not unless I have reason to, and right now, I’m not sure what good it would do anyone, least of all Irish. Anyway, he may already know.”

“I suppose.” She doesn’t sound convinced.

“And you’re also missing out on one very important fact, Jessie.”

“And that is?”

“If Irish had feelings for me, then why would he have given me his blessing to be with his brother.”

“I guess there is that.”

CHAPTERFORTY

JAINE

The O’Connell Home, Darling, New York

I can hearloud laughter as soon as I enter the house. I know it’s Irish. His laugh is so infectious it instantly brings a smile to my face in the same way Finian’s does.

I’m surprised he’s here today. Sarah and Cillian have taken Fin and JJ to spend time with their new baby cousin. But then it is his parents’ house.

I’m just a temporary resident who now seems to live here permanently.

My thoughts immediately drift to Sophia.

Tell Irish? Don’t? You have proof.

He loves her. He’s married to her. They’re going to have a baby together. Keep your nose out of other people’s goddamn business, Jaine.

I walk into the family room to find Irish and Duke sitting side by side on the sectional.

“Something funny?” I ask the question out loud to no one in particular as I look between them. Not surprisingly, both look shocked to see me. I left work earlier than usual today, so they won’t have been expecting me.

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