Irish Promises

Chapter Twenty-Five

Cian

Something's going on with Stas. There's no doubt about it.

Finn knows it, Blake knows it and I sure as hell know it too.

Stas and Hugh are the only two pretending like everything's normal. When it definitely isn't.

It was subtle at first, claiming that she was sick from something she'd eaten. The whole weekend tucked up in her room only really speaking to Hugh.

Then for the last week she's avoided being around us as much as she physically can. The usual routine we have has gone straight out the window.

She goes to work, stays there till a ridiculously late time and then she heads off to bed alone. Giving the excuse that she's tired, that she's tired or whatever she can come up with. 

"Do you think maybe she might be..." Finn whispers to me, trailing off and not finishing.

"Might be what?" I ask looking over to him where he sits on the couch opposite me.

"Pregnant" he mouths probably thinking that she could appear at any moment but she won't. She'll stay up in her room for the rest of the evening like she has done every other night. 

I think if I wasn't sitting down my legs might buckle underneath me from his suggestion. He must see the horror on my face because he nods wide eyed.

"Think about it she was throwing up then she's been all funny ever since" he whispers sounding so sure of himself but that can't be the case.

Surely she would tell us if it was. 

"Nah she had her period" I say in an attempt to stomp out that line of thought.

He edges himself forward as he then replies.

"Yeah but that was weeks ago, she's being all secretive and Hugh knows something. Maybe she's told him" he says and I can't deny that it does seem like a logical explanation. "Maybe she doesn't want to keep it and that's why she's been so distant with us, Hugh would without a doubt keep that secret from us. Especially knowing how much Blake has always wanted kids" he then goes on to say. "Just think about it man it makes sense"

It does make sense, or well it could but there could also be a million other things going on with her. God knows what goes on in her head sometimes.

"What the fuck are you two whispering about" Blake asks coming into the lounge his coffee mug in his hand as he takes a swig.

"Stas is pregnant" Finn blurts out and Blake quite literally chokes on his mouthful. 

He coughs and splutters trying to clear his throat and I groan at how much of a big mouth Finn can have sometimes.

"What     the     fuck did you just say?" Blake asks, his face as white as a ghost. 

"She's pregnant" Finn repeats and Blake's eyes bulge.

"Who?" he asks clearly having difficulty registering this.

"Stas" Finn whispers pointing upstairs.

"We don't know that" I grit out at Finn and then turn my attention to Blake. "Finn's putting two and two together and getting fifteen" I say to him. 

"Why on earth would you think she's pregnant?" Blake asks.

"Because she was vomiting, she's avoided us all ever since. All of us but Hugh" Finn explains and then adds. "I'm telling you Stas is pregnant and Hugh knows and they're hiding it from us"

"Nah she-" Blake begins to say but then he cuts short when we hear someone coming. 

She comes into the lounge where we all are, anxiousness oozing from her the instant she sees us.

I know each of my brothers are eyeing her the same that I am, seeing that she's wearing one of my hoodies that completely covers her.

She stands there anxiously, her eyes darting between us all and swallows hard.

"I'm er- I'm just heading to work" she says her voice tight.

"It's a saturday" Blake points out and that causes her to fluster.

"The balls next week I have loads of stuff that I have to get sorted" she explains and something about the way she says it tells me she's definitely lying.

"Right the ball" he says, accusation in his tone.

"When will you be back? We've barely seen you" Finn points out.

Her mouth pops open and closed a few times as she clearly tries to come up with a response which doesn't come.

"I need to go I'll let you know when I'll be back" she quickly says and before any of us can say anything she's rushing out as fast as she can.

Me and my brothers sit in silence for a moment clearly none of us quite knowing what to say.

Maybe Finn is right.