“He is unbelievable.”
“Still the same old Sean.” Tess said with a laugh.
“I actually think he’s gotten worse,” Ellie agreed.
“He has always been a shameless flirt,” said Tess.
I sighed, folding up the dishcloth. “He drives me mental.”
“I think Sean was put on this earth to drive women mental,” Ellie said, “and it appears to be working.” She saluted me with her drink.
An uproarious yell sounded from the pool table as the boys bellowed, “Two shots!” I took the chance to steal a look at Sean who had Ringer in a headlock, ruffling up his hair.
“Sometimes he is so thoughtful and nice,” I said, “and then there’s the times (and that’s the majority of the time) when he’s cocky and smug, and suggestive and immature and I just want to strangle him!”
Tess smiled, raising her glass. “Yep! That’s him, all right.”
“Sometimes …” I leaned forward, lowering my voice, “I fantasise about tripping him over.”
Ellie clapped her hand to her face, trying to stop the contents of her drink from snorting out of her nose as she coughed, while Tess patted her on the back.
I couldn’t help but join in. Once Ellie had regained her breath from the choking and laughter, she grabbed for my cloth to wipe away the mess she’d made on the countertop.
“You know, there is an easy way to render Sean speechless,” said Ellie.
I stilled, incredibly interested in what she had to say.
I held up my hand. “Hang on a sec! I want to give you my complete and undivided attention.” I threw the cloth into the sink and walked into the main bar.
“Chris, I’m taking my break now!”
***
Ellie, Tess, and I collectively sighed as we settled into the puffy couch in the main bar. We were tucked away from the rest of the mayhem near the unlit open fireplace – it was far enough away from the calamity of the poolroom, but still in direct line of sight to spy on those making all the noise.
Exhibit A: Sean Murphy. Naturally.
“It’s really quite simple,” Ellie said.
I sipped on my Coke. “Well, please explain. I would give anything to wipe that smug smile off his face just once.” I had a fifteen-minute break to find out how to take down the giant and see if it was as easy as Ellie believed.
“Sean is a grade-A flirt and in particular loves nothing more than to see women blush.”
“I’m not a blusher,” I said, not at all convincingly.
Tess winced.
I slumped. Oh, how I wished I wasn’t like all those girls, all those bashful, giggly girls and housewives who batted their eyelashes and treated Sean like some Greek god carved out of marble.
I peered towards the poolroom and watched Sean and Ringer pretending their pool cues were light sabers as they duelled, Star Wars style, with Stan offering helpful commentary.
“Use the force, Sean, use the force.”
I shook my head.
I turned to Ellie and Tess. “What do you suggest?”
Ellie grinned at Tess. “There is only one way to solve a problem like Sean Murphy.”
I edged closer on my seat as if Ellie was about to reveal the secret of life.
“With Sean, you have to give as good as you get.”
My shoulders slumped.
Well, that was anticlimactic.
“But I do! I answer him back all the time and it does nothing.”
Ellie rolled her eyes. “Not that!”
“Then what?”
“The next time he flirts, or is suggestive, you do it back.”
What?
“Flirt with Sean?” I asked, curling up my lip with distaste.
“Think about it; it’s genius. He won’t be expecting it and the shock value alone will shut him up. Even if it’s just for a moment, think about how blissful that moment of silence will be.”
“She has a point, Amy,” Tess said.
I was more sceptical. “You really think it would work?”
Ellie shrugged. “What have you got to lose?”
My dignity.
“I’m telling you!” Ellie said, slapping my knee. “He won’t see it coming, especially from you.”
My brows lowered. “Why especially from me?”
“Well, because it’s you. You’re little Amy, the publican’s daughter. You’re like everyone’s kid sister.”
My eyes widened. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I tried not to openly scowl at the words and look insulted, even though I was. ‘Little Amy, the publican’s daughter’ – it was what I’d got my whole life …
Well, not anymore.
I stood and forced a smile. “Oh, right. Of course. Well, I better get back to it.”
Tess looked warily up at me. “You okay, Amy?”