Aideen(13)

“You being protective, little brother?”

Damien kept his eyes narrowed. “They aren’t decent. You, Alec and Kane go back inside the apartment.”

“No!” Alannah shouted in protest. “Let’s have an or-orgy. Right here in the elevator. All of us.”

I shoved my phone at Keela to continue recording for me so I could bend forward and ease the sudden pain in my side. Hands gripped onto my hips.

“Aideen?” Kane murmured, his voice filled with concern.

I shook my head. “I just have... a stitch,” I said, laughing. “They’re so funny.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen so much of Alannah’s skin before,” Alec murmured, “and I’ve definitely never heard her talk about sex before. She must be really drunk to want an orgy with all of us.”

Kane laughed at his brother, but nodded in agreement.

I looked to Nico when he got Bronagh to her feet and managed to get her t-shirt back over her head. He was in the middle of putting her arms through the holes and tugging it down to her hips.

“Nearly done, pretty girl.”

Bronagh turned her nose up. “Don’t call me Bronagh or pretty girl anymore.”

Nico smiled down at her. “What will I call you if not Bronagh or my pretty girl?”

She looked him dead in the eyes and said, “From th-this moment onwards I shall be known as MC Hammered.”

I burst into a fit of laughter and stumbled back into Kane’s vibrating chest. He folded his arms around me and rested his hands on top of my bump, and his chin on top of my head.

“Okay, MC Hammered, you wanna put your hands on my shoulders so I can put your pants back on you?”

Bronagh stared at Nico for a long moment then said, “I want to get ma-married.”

Oh, shit.

All traces of laughter evaporated and heavy silence lingered.

“You want to get married?” Nico repeated as if he misheard her.

Bronagh nodded her head. “We’re to-together forever, we live together ag-ages and we’re havin’ a baby. I love you with all of my heart. The wh-whole lot of it. I want to get married, so will you marry me?”

Nico was still then said, “Yeah, babe, I’ll marry you.”

I beamed and clapped my hands together with excitement.

“Yes!” Bronagh said and high-fived herself. “I lo-love you.”

I giggled. “She won’t remember this tomorrow.”

Kane kissed the crown of my head. “No, but we will.”

“I love you too, MC Hammered,” Nico said making us laugh, and Bronagh beam.

We watched them embrace for a moment until Alannah cleared her throat.

“Does no one wa-want to have sex with me?” she asked, sounding tired. “I promise I’m good at it.”

All eyes fell on Damien.

He glared at us. “Thanks very much, guys!”

I grinned. “We got you.”

He hissed at me then looked to Alannah who had sunk down to the floor of the elevator. Damien knelt before her and picked up her discarded leggings and put her feet through the leg holes. He lifted her hands and placed them over her breasts then slowly pulled the leggings up to her knees then gripped her elbows. He pulled her to her feet, as he remained on his knees before her.

Alannah tilted her head to the side and frowned down at him. “You took th-them off me before and now you’re puttin’ them back on … ha-have we come full circle?”

Damien stilled then pressed his forehead against her bare thighs before gripping the hem of her leggings and shimmying them up until they fit snug around her hips. He picked up her bra and t-shirt and blocked her from our view with his body.

I saw Alannah drop her arms from covering her chest and Damien looked up to the ceiling before returning his gaze to her. He put her bra on, then got her shirt on her and buttoned it up.

When he was done, he was going to step away from her—I saw him prepare to take the step backward, but Alannah suddenly stepped forward and fell against his chest. Damien caught her and looked down to her face, before sighing.

“How the hell can she go from asking people for sex, to falling asleep on me standing up?”

Keela pocketed my phone and said, “They drank some weird shit. Fruity cocktails. There wasn’t much alcohol in them when I asked the staff because I was wonderin’ what had them so giddy. There was hardly any alcohol at all, I was assured... they’re just lightweights.”

Bronagh suddenly laughed. “I’m not a lightweight, as-ask Dominic. I can dr-drink loads.”

Nico was walking out of the elevator and when Bronagh spoke he looked at us and shook his head before smiling at Bronagh. “Of course you can, babe.”

I snorted.

He was so whipped.

We followed the lads back into my apartment then Kane pulled out the sofa bed. We laughed when both girls instantly starting snoring after the twins set them down on it.

“Leave them here tonight,” I said to the twins. “I’ll look after them.”

Nico hesitated, but nodded his head.

Damien scratched his neck. “Should we call someone about Alannah though?”

I shook my head. “She lives on her own, you don’t need to call anyone.”

“No boyfriend?”

Ryder grinned. “She’s single.”

Damien didn’t reply, but the look of relief on his face was evident.

It caused me to smile as he grabbed the large blanket from the back of the sofa and laid it out over the girls. We all stared at them for a minute until Alec and Keela turned, said their goodbyes and filed out of the apartment. Ryder checked his phone and followed suit.

Nico and Damien hovered for a few more minutes, but when I assured them I’d take good care of the girls, they gave in, hugged me and left.

“You can go on to bed, babe,” Kane said. “I’m gonna play Fifa some more.”

I nodded my head and looked to the girls, smiling at their snores. Their skin glowed as the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree and various decorations around the room shone upon their sleeping forms.

“I’ll sleep out here, too,” he said and nodded to the one sitter he always sat on. “Just to keep my eyes on them while you get some sleep.”

I smiled. “You’re the best.”

He devilishly grinned. “We’ll swap in the morning when they wake up.”

At that thought the smile left my face and worry took over because realisation hit that I would have to deal with hung-over Bronagh and Alannah all on my lonesome.

Fuck me.





“Holy Mary Mother of God, I’m dyin’!”

I smiled as I stirred two sugars into the two Christmas printed cups of tea before me. I put the spoon into the sink when I was finished and glanced at a packet of painkillers Kane left out on the counter before he went to bed this morning when Bronagh and Alannah woke up groaning in pain.

I gripped the handles of the cups and left my kitchen and entered the sitting room, shaking my head at Bronagh and Alannah who were both still on the sofa bed, but both were buried under the blanket that covered them.

“I have tea,” I announced, keeping my voice low.

Both of the girls grunted.

I placed the cups on the coffee table without uttering another word. I went back into the kitchen and checked on the fry-up I had cooking. The eggs were scrambled, the sausages, rashers, pudding and hash browns were cooked and ready to serve.

I turned off my cooker, dished up two plates for the girls and put a cover over the remaining food for Kane when he woke up. I brought the plates into the sitting room and stood at the door for a few seconds. I grinned to myself when I heard both of the girls sniffing.

“Are you able to eat?” I questioned.

Bronagh popped her head out from under the blanket. “I’ve puked four times since I woke up, I should be able to stomach somethin’ now.”

I walked over to her and waited for her to sit upright and adjust cushions behind her before I handed her the plate of food that would cure her hangover.

“Alannah?”

She groaned but came out from hiding under the blanket and sat up like Bronagh. I walked around to her and handed her the food, smiling when she licked her lips.

I adjusted a few of the ornaments on my Christmas tree then refocused on Alannah and frowned at her.

“You okay?”

She lightly shook her head and winced as if the action hurt.

“No, me head is bangin’.”

I went back into the kitchen and grabbed the packet of painkillers from the counter and returned next to Alannah, holding the packet out to her.

Her shoulders sagged with relief as she offered me a pained smile and accepted the packet.

I chuckled. “You’ll be fine in a few hours.”

She popped two tablets from the packet, placed them in her mouth then reached for her tea and took a few test sips before gulping some down.

“Hmmmm,” she moaned. “You make a mean cuppa, Ado. It’s really good.”

My chest swelled with pride. That was practically the best compliment an Irish person could ever receive.

“Thanks.” I smiled, feeling a little smug.

Bronagh copied Alannah’s actions and swallowed down some painkillers with her tea and moaned with delight when the liquid slid down her throat.

“She’s right, these are even better than Ryder’s and Branna has taught him well.”

I was pretty proud of myself as I sat in Kane’s one seater and watched the girls eat their food.