Who's Your Paddy?

Chapter7

I drove straight to Liam's place after work. We both called it an early dinner before his gig, but I think that was only because neither of us wanted to admit we couldn't wait until the end of the night to have our bodies close to one another.

He greeted me at the door and barely a word was spoken between the time I dropped my bag in the hall and our first frenzied climax. Had the hunger for physical contact not been mutual, the speed and lack of coherent verbalization might have been embarrassing.

But it wasn't. It was exactly what we both wanted and we admitted as much to each other before our breathing returned to normal. Sprawled sideways and naked on the top of his bed sheets, we snuggled in a spooned position. Sadly, our glow was interrupted when the telephone rang.

"Oh, hey," he greeted the caller.

"Uh, yeah, think it's nine."

He rubbed my arm absently with his free hand. A moment later he lifted his head off the pillow slightly, trying to get my attention. When I met his gaze, he mouthed the word 'sorry'.

"Oh yeah, uh, should be pretty good."

Listening intently, he furrowed his brow and he stopped rubbing my arm. He dragged his fingers through his hair and sat upright, leaning his head against the headboard and sighed heavily. "We've talked 'bout this."

I took the tone as a signal to give him some privacy. He made a grasp for my arm as I moved to get out of bed. I smiled to let him know it was okay and shook my head, waving him off.

"Now isn't the time, I got company," he uttered to the mysterious caller.

He continued listening, but watched me as I closed the bathroom door behind me. Although I made an effort not to listen in, I couldn't help myself when it was obvious by his tone, the caller was annoying him.

"Look, I'm sorry if yer feelin's were hurt in anyway. I like ya very much. But ya know, we've been over this."

"Not gonna happen."

"Yes she's here, but not sittin' next to me this second."

"Aye, she's comin'."

"Okay well, I really need to get me butt in gear. I'll see ya tonight."

As I reentered the bedroom, the look on his face was both frustration and embarrassment. Not knowing his triggers or hot buttons, I didn't know what to say. I was dying to know if it was Deb, but I didn't want to come off as jealous by coming out and asking him.

So I decided to try humor. "You always bring that gorgeous butt into conversations?"

"I'm sorry Annie."

"Why are you always apologizing? You have nothing to be sorry about. Let's not do this again."

He extended an arm out from the bed, motioning me to join him.

"Liam..."

"Please." The sincerity underpinning his plea wasn't something I could ignore. The cadence wasn't so much a question as it was a call for rational discussion. I sat on the edge of the bed and stroked his hand softly.

"You met her the other night at the Harp. It's Cath, the blonde one I introduced ye to at the bar."

"Ah, yes I remember." Bad dye job, idiot friend. And what the hell? Has he screwed everyone in that bar?

"...we had a bit of a thing after Deb an I broke up."

"I assumed as much." I wanted to clue him in on how both the plotting twins ambushed me in the pub. And maybe even risk getting honest with him about my thoughts. But I decided it wouldn't be a good idea to turn the conversation around to me. Besides, he kept on talking and didn't leave me room to do either.