“I’ll call you as soon as I get there if it makes you feel any better?”
He gripped my waist tightly with his large hands.
“It would.”
I winked. “Consider it done.”
“We can talk about future babies when you get back,” he said nonchalantly.
I rubbed the base of my neck. “Ry—”
“Later.”
He kissed my forehead, turned, and headed downstairs and into the kitchen, leaving me to stare after him. When he was out of my sight, I shook my head at his pig-headedness and headed downstairs then out of the house. Twenty minutes later, I was parking Ryder’s car—no, our car—in the driveway of Dominic and Bronagh’s house. It was vacant since Dominic wasn’t there. I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. I used my house key to let myself in. I had promised to respect Bronagh’s family privacy and swore to only use my key for emergencies, but this was kind of an emergency, so I was putting it to good use.
“Bee?” I called out as I closed the door behind me.
When silence answered me, I frowned.
“Bronagh?” I shouted louder.
I checked the sitting room and kitchen, and when I found they were empty, I headed upstairs, but there was no sign of her or anyone in any of the rooms.
“Where the hell are you?” I mumbled to myself as I dug out my phone from my pocket and dialled my sister’s number.
“‘Ello?” a voice that wasn’t my sister’s answered on the fourth ring.
“Keela?” I said, confused. “Why do you have Bronagh’s phone?”
“It’s a long feckin’ story, Bran,” she grumbled. “I tried ringin’ you, but the reception block in this area is shite. Where are you?”
“I’m in Bronagh’s house,” I answered, placing my free hand on my hip. “Ryder told me Dominic went out with Georgie and Damien to Gravity so she could have some time to ‘erself. We’re pretty sure Georgie is self-weanin’ from breastfeedin’, and Bronagh’s havin’ a rough time with it.”
“Oh, I heard all about it.”
“So she’s with you then?” I asked. “I thought maybe she came by to see you and forgot ‘er phone at your place and that’s how you have it.”
“Nope, I’m with ‘er. Alannah too.”
Why does she sound so weird?
“What’s the problem?” I questioned.
“Ask me where I am,” Keela said in a huffed breath.
I blinked. “Okay, where are you?”
“In Crough’s Pub.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah, everythin’ about this is fuck.”
Bollocks.
“So,” Keela continued.
I groaned. “So?”
“Alannah and Bronagh,” she began.
“What about them?”
“They’re... well... they’re... drunk.”
“Oh, Jesus,” I paled. “Not again.”
“Yep, again.”
The gates of Hell have reopened.
I closed my eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Oh, I’m sure.” Keela snorted. “Alannah is twerkin’, and Bronagh is strippin’ off. You might wanna call the lads ‘cause they won’t listen to me—ah fuck, they’re gettin’ up to sing karaoke. I need backup!”
“I’ll be there ASAP.”
I hung up on Keela, dialled Dominic’s number, and was glad when he answered on the third ring.
“Houston.” I sighed. “We have a big arse problem.”
“Am I supposed to know what that means?” Dominic questioned.
Yes.
“What’re you doin’?”
“I’m at Gravity with Damien and Georgie. They added an infant and toddler section with these cute as fuck walls that are no taller than I am. We put a harness on her and let her ‘climb’ it. She screamed and laughed the entire time. We got it on video—wait till you see it, it’s fucking adorable.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait to see it... so listen, I’ve somethin’ to tell you.”
Things got quiet on Dominic’s end.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Bronagh and Alannah.” I exhaled as I looked up at the ceiling. “They’re causin’ Keela problems.”
“How?” he quizzed. “Are they still telling her they won’t pose for a nude photo shoot to be on the cover of her book?”
My lips twitched. “She was messin’ with them about that.”
“Then what’re they doing?” he asked before quickly saying, “Ah-ah, baby. No. Daddy is talking on the phone; you can’t play with it. No. Ah-ah. Georgie. No hitting, baby. I said no!”