Irish Luck

Chapter Twenty-Three

Me and Cian jump in a taxi to the pub where Finn already is. The whole journey he sits on his side whilst I sit on mine, a considerable gap between us and neither of us say a word again. I don't miss his not so subtle glances in my direction though.

Each time he looks my way his fists clench and unclench over and over again like he trying to resist the urge to do something.

What I have no idea but there's no denying the building tension that rises in the back of the car.

When we finally get there Cian rests his palm on the base of my back and we walk in together. I spot Finn straight away and he spots me, his eyes raking up and down my body just Cian's did. Although it's easy to see he likes what he sees by the smile that spreads across his face as he comes towards us.

"I don't know if I can deal with you being out looking like that" he says as he reaches us and puts his arms around me pulling me away from Cian and close to him. "We might have to disappear so I can keep that promise" he then says his lips brushing against my ear causing me to shiver.

His words go straight through me and I forget how to speak for a moment, all I can do is suck in a breath which makes him chuckle the feeling of it rumbling in his chest.

Pulling away he smirks. "You're flustered" he says clear triumph in his tone.

"That's your fault" I say somehow remembering how to speak again.

"Oh I know" he says with a wink and takes my hand leading me over to the group of people he just left.

I glance back make sure Cian's coming with us but find he's not, instead he's heading toward the bar and I assume he's going to get himself a drink.

As we approach the group there's a range of different expressions across everyone's faces. There's two guys that flash me a slight welcoming smile but it's the group of three girls standing together that instantly puts me on edge.

Each of them has a scowl plastered over their faces and the way they look me up and down like I'm dirt, their eyes snagging on where my hands in Finn's it makes me feel like I should be on high alert. They definitely do not want me here that's clear to see and I quickly assume that we are definitely not going to be friends.

"You must be Anastasia" the blonde guy says chipperly before Finn can even say a word. He has such welcoming smile that reminds me so much of Finn's and I can't help but glance between the two of them instantly seeing similarities.

"This is Ashley our cousin" Finn informs me and I instantly feel a little bubble of panic realising he must be Micky's son and definitely knows who my family are.

Finn must see my apprehension because he then goes on to clarify. "He's Micky's son don't worry he's on our side" he then says whispering in my ear so no one else can hear him and the use of the word 'our' fills me with a false sense of belonging which I know is stupid and naive to have.

Because this is their family not mine and I'm becoming way to comfortable around them.

"That's Charlie" he then informs me pointing to the other guy standing next to Ashley who gives me a curt nod of the head and then it's the girls next but they don't give him chance to introduce them.

Instead a red headed girl steps forward like she's queen bee.

"I'm Millie, this is Zoe" she says gesturing to the girl on her right. "And this is Abbie" she then says gesturing to the girl on the other side of her.

"It's nice to meet you all" I say with a hesitant smile but none of them even bother to smile back at me and I internally groan knowing this is going to be about as fun as a funeral if they're going to be this cold towards me the whole night.