by L. A. Casey
I once hated that nickname because it reminded me of Damien, who was the one to give it to me, but everyone called me it now. Freckles was the only nickname that was reserved for Damien alone.
“Why should I work things out with ‘er, Harls?”
“Because Gavin is losin’ his mind tryin’ to be the buffer between ye’ both.”
“She hates me ‘cause I’m Gavin’s best friend. She clearly has insecurities to work through if she thinks I’m a threat. Bronagh is his best mate too, but she doesn’t glare or act up with her. Everyone knows I’m with Damien, and that I love ‘im. Gavin has always been me best friend, and if she doesn’t believe us when we tell ‘er that, then that’s her issue, not mine.”
Harley sighed. “Alannah—”
I walked around the brothers and headed towards the lobby exit.
“I’m done talkin’ about Kalin Harris,” I cut him off. “Go check on Gavin. The poor bastard is probably balls deep inside the miniature Satan.”
I could hear both of their sighs, but luckily, they didn’t come after me. I exited my building and groaned in delight when licks of the hot sun covered my exposed skin. I forced all thoughts of the Collins brothers and Kalin to the back of my mind as I approached my car. I sang along to the radio on my journey to Bronagh and Nico’s house. I beeped when I was outside, but I still got out of the car to help Bronagh with my niece and her things when they exited their house.
“Georgie,” I beamed, hunkering down and opening my arms wide as she wobbly walked towards me. “You’re gettin’ so big, baby.”
She was growing up before my eyes. She was fifteen months old now, Locke was nearly ten months, and Jax was eighteen months … almost bloody two! It felt like just yesterday we were celebrating his first birthday. Before we knew it, he would be eighteen and causing men everywhere to have chest pains at the thought of him dating their daughters.
“Yana!” She squealed when I lifted her into the air.
Yana was as close to Lana as she could say, but she could say it the clearest out of everyone in our group so that made me happy. I tugged on her dark brown mini pigtails, and it made her giggle. She had matching dimples when she smiled, and that was the only thing of her father that I could see in her.
“Ye’ birthed a clone of yourself,” I said to Bronagh as she waddled towards me with a baby bag strapped over her shoulder. “Ye’ realise that, right?
“Yup,” she beamed. “The rest of the tribe can look like Dominic; I’m just glad I got one who looks like me.”
“Are you bringin’ a buggy?”
“Nah,” she answered. “We’re only goin’ from the car to the café and back. Georgie will be fine walkin’ with us. It’ll be more practice for ‘er.”
I roamed my eyes over my friend and swallowed. She was huge, and I hated saying that because I knew it meant she was likely going to have a big chunky baby if she wasn’t carrying much fluid. Her belly had dropped considerably since I last saw her two days ago which meant the baby was due to make an appearance at any moment. She literally looked like she was going to give birth at any second, which was crazy, because Keela looked like she could easily be five months pregnant instead of full term.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
I blinked. “Like what?”
“Like you’re scared to go anywhere with me.”
“But Bee—”
“No buts,” she cut me off. “We’re goin’ for breakfast, or I’m gonna eat you.”
I looked at Georgie. “Should we listen to ‘er?”
The little cutie smiled and nodded like she understood what I was saying, which made me laugh.
“Okay, let me get ‘er into the car seat, then I’ll help ye’.”
Bronagh didn’t argue as I got Georgie into the baby seat I bought ages ago for my car. Once she was strapped in and secured, I moved to help Bronagh. She looked so swollen, but I didn’t want to comment on it. I helped her into the passenger side, then jogged around to the driver’s side and buckled myself in.
“Does Nico know you’re leavin’ the house?”
Bronagh didn’t look at me, so I groaned as I took out my phone and dialled his number.
“What’s up, little sis?”
I grinned. “Your child bearer and offspring are in me car.”
Bronagh snorted.
“Why are they in your car?”
“Because we’re goin’ to get breakfast, but Bronagh hasn’t told ye’, so I have to so ye’ don’t blow a fuse when ye’ find out.”
Nico grunted. “Put her on the phone.”
Bronagh heard him and shook her head.
“She said no.”
“She’ll be the death of me,” he grumbled. “Lana, you see how pregnant she is, right?”
“Yeah … but she also threatened to eat me if I don’t bring ‘er for breakfast, so she’s kind of winnin’ ‘ere, Nico.”
“Alannah.”
“She’s hangry.”
He paused. “What?”
“Hangry is when a person becomes an entitled arsehole because they neglected to feed themselves.”
“Bronagh,” Nico answered instantly. “What you just described is Bronagh.”
“I know, so that’s why I need to feed ‘er.”
He sighed. “Where are you guys going?”
“The village,” I answered. “Hardly any walkin’ is involved for ‘er. I’ll have ‘er and the princess back home before ye’ know it.”
“You’ll text me when you get them home?”
“I promise.”
He caved. “Take care of my girls, Alannah.”
“With me life, bro.”
I could hear the smile in his voice when he said, “Bye.”
It took fifteen minutes for us to reach the village, and when we parked and walked towards the café, we were delighted to find it was virtually empty, which meant we got to pick any table we wanted to sit at. Georgie babbled away to herself as I got her strapped into a high chair while Bronagh’s eyes flew over the menu like it was her last supper.
“I know you’re big and close to havin’ this baby, but ye’ definitely haven’t put on half of the weight ye’ did when ye’ were pregnant with Georgie.”
Bronagh beamed. “I know. I’ve been eatin’ real good this time around and exercisin’ with Dominic a few times a week. This week, I’m indulgin’ because I’m close to the end so I don’t mind.”
“Your tits are huge,” I added in a whisper. “Like, seriously. Huge.”
Bronagh looked down at her chest.
“Me milk has come back in,” she explained. “After Georgie stopped breastfeedin’, they went back to their normal size, but now they’re like mangos all over again. Dominic loves them.”
“I feckin’ bet he does.”
Bronagh snickered. “Tell me about Damien.”
“Nothin’ to tell.” I shrugged. “He wants to get married right now, and I wanna wait a while.”
“How long do you wanna wait?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t wanna rush it, that’s all.”
“I’m sure Damien knows that. He is just … impatient.”
“I know he loves me, Bronagh.” I frowned. “I love ‘im too. I just wanna relax a little.”
“You’re not askin’ for much, Lana.”
“Damien thinks I am.”
“He’ll realise how demandin’ he is bein’. Just wait and see.”
At the thought of Damien, I remembered our agreement over my assistant job.
“I have somethin’ to ask ye’,” I said to Bronagh. “If ye’ want to say no, then say it. Don’t just agree just because you’re me friend.”
Bronagh blinked. “You’re not gonna ask me to do somethin’ illegal, are ye’?”
I giggled. “No.”
“Oh, fire away then.”
“Before we argued this mornin’, I was talkin’ to Damien about me assistant job … and … and I wanted to offer it to you.”
&n
bsp; “Me?”
Her eyes were as wide as saucers.
“Yeah.” I chuckled. “You.”
“Ye’ want me to be your assistant?”
“Why not?” I quizzed. “Ye’ve been doin’ the job the past few months anyway.”
“Yeah, but that was just helpin’. I told ye’ I don’t mind helpin’ ye’.”
“I mind,” I said. “You’re doin’ a job, so I want to pay ye’ for it. There is no one I trust more to fill this position, and Damien agrees with me.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Ye’ can talk to Nico about it before ye’ decide.”
“No way,” Bronagh beamed. “I’ll take the job. He will be delighted. I can do your emails, calendar, and other stuff when Georgie is nappin’. Even with a new baby, it’ll be easy ‘cause I do so much of it on me phone. When I need to use a desktop, I can just come around to yours.”
“So you’re me assistant?”
“I’m your assistant!”
I laughed. “Ye’ don’t even know how much you’re gonna be paid.”
“It’ll be more than enough, knowin’ you. I can’t believe we’re gonna work together.”
Together, we chatted about Bronagh’s new job, then the new baby, and everyone else in our lives. I wished I could slip my nightmares into the conversation, but I didn’t want to worry her. An hour and a half and four phone calls from Nico later, I was leaving the café with Georgie on my hip and Bronagh waddling behind me. I sensed when she stopped walking, and when I turned to see what she was doing, I groaned out loud.
“Don’t do it,” I said as my best friend stared at the chocolate goodness displayed in the bakery window. “If Harry Potter can go from bein’ a lonely boy livin’ in a cupboard under the stairs to defeatin’ the most evil wizard of all time while pullin’ his best mate’s sister in the process, then you can walk past this bakery with your head held high.”
“Harry had a magical wand, though.” Bronagh groaned. “I don’t even have willpower.”
“This day is gonna be a bust.” I facepalmed myself with my free hand while Georgie rested her head on my shoulder. “We’re past overindulgin’ at this point.”
“Can we get a cream bun then if it’s already a bust?” my friend asked, licking her lips. “I’ve been good me entire pregnancy … Today can just be a really long cheat day.”
It was embarrassing how little convincing I needed.
“Fine … but get me two of the cream buns and a slice of that chocolate truffle cake in the window … oh, and a cup of hot chocolate with extra marshmallows. Fuck it, I’ll just come in with ye’.”
Bronagh rubbed her hands together. “Mama is eatin’ good today.”
When we left the bakery, I had a bag full of calories and could already feel the guilt that eating them would cause. By the time I got back to Bronagh’s house, I was on my second slice of truffle cake, and guilt was suddenly the last thing on my mind.
“If I gain back the weight I lost six months ago, I’m gonna kill ye’.”
Bronagh snorted as she finished her hot chocolate from the reusable flask she purchased.
“I’m not forcin’ ye’ to eat anythin’.”
“Ye’ aren’t stoppin’ me either.”
When she made a move towards me, I hissed, “Try to take this cake away from me. I feckin’ dare ye’.”
When she cackled, I had to fight off a smile. I glanced at Georgie, who was playing in the corner with her toys, then focused on finishing my slice of heaven. I left a large bite for Georgie, who came over to me when I called her. She ate the cake, got it all over her mouth and had a massive grin on her face while doing so. I took a selfie of us and posted it as my new Facebook profile picture. I looked at my phone when it rang, and when I saw it was Nico, I answered it and said, “Tallaght morgue, you kill them, we chill them. How can I help ye’?”
“There is so much wrong with you that it’s not even funny.”
“What do ye’ want, loser?” I grinned. “You’re stalkin’ me phone all mornin’.”
“Where are you guys?”
“At the hospital,” I answered. “Bronagh has given birth to twin girls. Congratulations, Daddy.”
“I hate you.”
“Relax the cacks.” I snickered. “She’s still up the duff with one baby.”
“You aren’t good for my heart. I hope you realise that.”
I was thoroughly amused.
“Bronagh and Georgie are fine, alpha daddy. We’re all at your house doin’ absolutely nothin’.”
“Good. Tell Bronagh a pipe burst in the ladies’ showers, so the place is closing while it’s being fixed. That means I’ll be home in ten minutes.”
“Yay,” I said dryly. “Ye’ll be ‘ere to annoy us in person instead of callin’ us every five minutes. Fantastic.”
He hung up on me, and it made me laugh as I turned to Bronagh.
“A pipe burst so he gets to come home. He’ll be ‘ere in ten minutes.”
“Did he hang up on ye’?”
“Yup.”
She snorted. “He thinks ye’ torment ‘im more since you and Damien got together.”
“He does?”
“Yup.” Bronagh grinned. “He thinks ye’ act like a bratty little sister.”
“Then I must play me role accordingly and annoy ‘im whenever possible.”
When the three of us moved into the sitting room, I phoned Keela to see how she was doing.
“What’s the crack?” she answered on the third ring.
“What’s good, preggers?” I smiled as Georgie settled next to me on the settee. “Are ye’ still pregnant?”
“Yup.” She laughed. “But I may give birth out of absolute rage.”
“Uh-oh, what’s goin’ on?”
“Alec has gone to get the messages in Aldi, and he said I wasn’t allow to do any cleanin’, but the windows are filthy.”
“I absolutely hate agreein’ with Alec, ye’ know I do … but ye’ can’t clean the windows. That involves stretchin’ … and a ladder.”
Keela groaned, long and hard, and it made me grin.
“I’ve got ye’, preggers,” I said with certainty. “Auntie Alannah is on the case.”
If Keela ever said I didn’t do anything for her, I was going to kick her up the arse.
“Is the smudge gone?” I hollered. “Say yes, ‘cause me arm is goin’ dead buffin’ this stupid thing.”
For the past forty minutes, I had been Keela’s cleaning mule, following her every order. I had cleaned six windows, inside and outside, and was on the seventh and final one for the front of the house. It just happened to be her and Alec’s bedroom window, and it was the dirtiest pane of glass I had ever encountered because it took a hell of a scrub and buff to make it come up gleaming.
“Ye’ put your hand on the glass, and I can see your handprint from all the way down ‘ere.”
I closed my eyes and began to count to ten.
“Which side is the handprint on?” I shouted and opened my eyes, roaming them over the window. “I can’t see anythin’.”
“It’s to your right—”
“What the fuck are you doing, Alannah Ryan?”
Oh, Alec just full named me.
“I’m gettin’ ready to take flight … What does it look like I’m doin’, dumbarse?”
“It looks like you’re standing on a slanted ladder, Alannah,” he replied. “I go grocery shopping and come back to find you suicidal.”
I lifted a hand and blindly waved away Alec’s concern.
“It’s grand. I’m grand.”
“You’re going to fall.”
“Am not,” I shouted. “Keela, which side is the handprint on?”
“Your lower right-hand side.”
“Alannah, ignore my pregnant demon and listen to me,” Alec snapped. “Get. The. Hell. Down!”
“Don’t give me an order, Alec Slater!” I hollered back. “I can clean the outside of this bleedin
’ window with no problem. I’m helpin’ Keela since she can’t do this ‘erself. I’m a good bloody friend who can do this. I don’t need ye’ hasslin’ me so feck off.”
“Shut it down before you hurt yourself, Jackie Chan.”
I ignored Alec and continued to buff the window with my trusty newspaper.
“We get it, Lana,” Ryder’s voice shouted from across the road. “You’re an independent woman who doesn’t need a man, but seriously, don’t go any higher. You’re scared of heights, kid.”
I paused. If Ryder was home, that most likely meant Damien was home because they took their breaks together.
“Alannah, get your ass down.”
And there he was.
“Don’t tell me what to do either, dickhead.”
“Oh,” Keela squealed. “I love when she curses; it sounds so strange comin’ from ‘er.”
“Try living with her,” Damien said, his voice louder than it needed to be. “She can give Bronagh a run for her money.”
Lies. No one could out curse Bronagh Murphy, not even a sailor.
“I’m cleanin’ windows, not performin’ a stunt. All of ye’, bar Keela, feck off.”
“No can do, short stuff.”
I wanted to look down and target my best glare in Alec’s direction, but Ryder was right. I feared heights and that meant I couldn’t look down. The only reason I was on the stupid ladder was because Keela was in hardcore nesting mode, and she was very irritable, so I was doing what I could to help her relax at this stressful time.
“Come down,” Damien asked, sounding closer. “Please?”
“I can do this, and the more you lot say I can’t, the more I’m determined to clean the poxy window.”
“Your handprint is gone, Lana,” Keela cheered. “Ye’ did it.”
I smiled and dropped my ball of newspaper, letting it fall to the ground. I positioned myself to climb down, gripping the ladder tightly. Everything was going well until I accidentally looked down and froze.
“Oh, fuck,” I shouted. “Are ye’ sure this is just a three-story house? Feels a lot bloody higher from up ‘ere.”
“Don’t look down!” everyone shouted in unison.
I couldn’t focus on anything but the concrete ground that seemed to be swaying from side to side the longer I looked at it.
“I’m lookin’ down,” I screeched. “Oh, my God. I’m lookin’ down!”