Page 138 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

“That’s not true, Eoin.”

“I think it’s time we both stopped pretending, Dylan. It’s not the first time she’s chosen him over me. The night of the attack, she decided to spend time with him rather than reach out to me. Let’s face it. It was always inevitable. She was never truly mine. I was only ever allowed to borrow her.”

“She is yours.”

I slam my hand on my desk and watch him recoil. I’m not angry. I’m frustrated more than anything. Annoyed with myself that I thought I could have it all. That I thought I could have her.

“You’re pushing her away, Eoin. I can see what you’re doing.”

“I have no choice, Dylan.”

“But Paddy wanted you….”

“It’s not about what Paddy wants. And if Paddy were completely honest with himself, he’d admit that it’s Jaine that he wants. He always has.”

“But he can’t have her.”

“Maybe not right now.”

“He wanted her to be with you.”

“For now, he does.”

“You need to explain, Eoin.”

Standing, I walk back across to the window. “Right now, Paddy’s focus is on getting out of the arranged marriage. There’s a reason for that.”

“And that is?”

“He has hope. For the first time, there’s a chance that he and Jaine can finally be together if, by some miracle, he can extract himself from the marriage in one piece.”

“So, that’s why you’ve been pushing her away.”

“I’m not pushing her away. I’m merely withdrawing from her life so she has freedom of choice. I’m not prepared to do Paddy’s bidding. It’s making decisions for other people that’s gotten us all into this mess in the first place.”

“Eoin…”

“You saw them, Dylan. The same as I did. They were meant.” Silence. He knows I’m right. “Did you know that she keeps a photo of the pair of them in her phone case?”

“How do you know that?” his frown deepens.

“I saw something sticking out. When I took the phone out to tuck it back in, there it was. It was from their Yale days.”

“Eoin,” he warns.

“She doesn’t carry a photo of me around with her, so surely that’s proof enough.”

“So, what now?”

“How many days before Paddy’s contract needs to be commenced?”

“Four.”

“I want you to send a copy to Jaine. Maybe there’s some way she can extract him from the arrangement legally or at least talk some sense into him.”

“But then she’ll know all about him and Sophia.”

“I’m aware of that.”

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