Chapter Twenty-One

Norah

I stayed an hour later than normal in my theater class. With the play only weeks away, there's so much to accomplish. I wouldn't trade the time with Eamon for anything, but I need to focus, and I absolutely cannot focus when he's near me.

More than once I've caught myself replaying our heated moment in the kitchen. The way his hands left a trail of fire when they slid over me and how he wedged himself between my legs leaves me feeling tingly in the most delicious ways. I touch my fingertips to my lips and smile. I'm still shocked that I initiated that kiss and even more surprised at how I didn't want to stop. I hate how my past trauma triggered my panic when his fingers crept under the edge of my shirt. Rationally, I know that he would never force himself on me, but I still froze. Maybe it's time to call my therapist.

When I finally leave the theater, it's a little after four in the afternoon. I check my phone as I walk out of the building, delighted to see that I have a text from Eamon. We haven't talked all day.

Eamon: Looking forward to seeing you tonight, love.

I grin so wide that my cheeks hurt. How can something so simple make me feel so happy? I start to text him back but remember he has practice, so he likely won't see it until later. Now that I think about it, the field isn't far from where I am, and I don't want to wait another two hours to see my Irishman. I turn in that direction, and my phone buzzes. It's Layla.

"Hey, Lay Lay! What are you doing?" I ask excitedly.

"Lay Lay? Really? Am I five?"

I can just see her rolling her dark brown eyes at me. "What? I thought ‘Hey, Lay' sounded too weird. Whatever. It doesn't matter. What's up?"

"I just got off work and was bored. Thought I'd come to see you if you're free," she suggests.

I'm about to tell her that I have plans before I remember her interaction with Teagan at the game the day before.

"Actually, I'm headed to the soccer field to wait for Eamon. They have practice for a couple of hours. Want to join?"

"Oh, uh…" Layla starts.

"Teagan will be there…" I tell her in a sing-song voice.

I can't help it. Anyone would have to be blind to not see the sparks flying between those two, and as far as I'm concerned, everyone can benefit from a hot Irish footballer flirting with them.

"You're the devil. You know that, right?"

"I'd like to think I'm more angelic, bestowing blessings upon my friends. I'll see you soon! Kisses!" I hang up before Layla can say another word.

It's not long before Layla and I are sitting halfway up the stands, watching a group of sweaty, shirtless men run around the field.

"Did you know that soccer players run an average of seven miles every game?" I ask, trailing Eamon. Even from here, I can see the sweat rolling over the dips and grooves of his abs. He hasn't noticed me yet, so I don't feel too bad about gawking at his sculpted body.

"That sounds like literal hell. Why do they subject themselves to this kind of torture?" Layla questions, equally distracted by the players on the field.

"I'm not complaining," I tell her. "God, look at him. It should be illegal to look that good. He makes me have very inappropriate thoughts."

Layla laughs. "Who are you and what have you done with Norah Grady? I don't think I've ever even heard you talk about a man's body before!"

I sigh dramatically. "I can't describe it, but Eamon makes me feel alive in ways I didn't know I could feel. He's not just the sexiest man alive, but he's kind and thoughtful. He hasn't even tried to pressure me into sleeping with him. Listen to me. I sound like a crazy person. We just met, and I already sound like…"

"You're in love!"

My cheeks flame as I shake my head in denial. "No, that's not possible. People don't fall in love that fast in real life. I'm in lust, that's for sure, but every time things start to get heavy, my body locks up in fear. I'm not sure if we'll even be able to have a physical relationship."

"Hey," Layla says, placing a hand on my arm. "You're not always going to feel so scared. This is the first guy you've talked to in years, and if he's half as amazing as you say he is, then I'm sure he understands your hesitations. And if he doesn't, then he can take it up with me and the rest of the girls. You know we've always got your back."

I wrap my arms around her, hugging her tight. "Thanks, Lay. I have the best of friends. Well, maybe not Myra at the moment, but the rest of you are the best."

"What?" Layla snaps her head back in alarm. "What happened with Myra? I haven't talked to her in a while."

"Ugh. It was awful." I groan before recounting the entire story, including Eamon's well-timed arrival.

Layla's mouth hangs open in disbelief. "I can't believe she said that. I expect her to do stuff like that with everyone else, but not her friends! Especially over her newest fuckboy. Do you think she's serious about Mac?"

"God, I hope not. He's so sleazy. She can do so much better."

"You're too good, Norie," Layla says. "After all that Myra's done, you still give her the benefit of the doubt."

Sighing, I prop my legs up on the seat in front of me. "I'm so pissed at her, but she's still my friend, and I love her. We can't all get along all of the time, right? We're bound to have our bad moments. I don't necessarily want to talk to her right now, but I really hope we can work this out."

The shrill blast of a whistle interrupts our conversation and we look to the field to see the team taking a water break. My eyes instantly find Eamon. He's lifting a water bottle to his mouth as he casually scans the bleachers. When his gaze stops on me, I give him a little wave. He grins back at me before reaching over and playfully hitting the arm of the player next to him and murmuring in their ear. Teagan's head pops up, and his eyes land immediately on Layla. Just like Eamon, his face breaks into a huge grin, and he tosses her a wink. Giggles bubble from my mouth as I watch Layla's tawny skin turn crimson.

"Are you going to acknowledge that?" I ask teasingly. "He sure as hell wasn't winking at me!"

"Oh my god. Shut up. I don't even know how to respond!" Layla splutters.

"Well, a wave would be sufficient, but if you really wanted to drive him wild, you could blow him a kiss."

"Stop. I can't do that."

"Are you not attracted to Teagan?" I ask her, knowing full well that she is.

She glares at me. "Of course I am. I'd have to be an idiot to not be attracted to him. But I'm not about to make a fool out of myself in front of him and the entire team. He's probably just a shameless flirt to anyone with tits."

"You're thinking of Ro. He's the shameless flirt. Teagan is more reserved, like Eamon. Or so he tells me. Just wave at him, then! Don't leave the poor guy hanging."

Layla rolls her eyes and wiggles her fingers in Teagan's direction. His grin only grows bigger.

After practice, we gather our bags and head towards the exit. Layla keeps trying to make up excuses to leave before Teagan comes out, but I won't let her. I planned on an evening with just Eamon, but now I'm considering a double date, so I send Eamon a discreet text.

Norah: Bring Teagan along tonight. I'm bringing Layla. ;)

His reply is instantaneous.

Eamon: Reading my mind, are ya? I already told him to tag along.

Norah: I'm sure it didn't take much convincing. Layla doesn't think he's into her.

Eamon: Is she mental? It might as well be written across his face. Heading your way, love.

Layla clears her throat pointedly. "Norah, what are you doing? You have that look."

"What look?" I ask innocently, batting my lashes at her. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You know exactly what look I'm talking about."

I start to deny her accusations when we're interrupted by a very loud rendition of Galway Girl . Turning, we see Ro skipping, actually skipping , towards us.

" You know, she played the fiddle in an Irish band, but she fell in love with an English man! Kissed her on the neck, and then I took her by the hand ," Ro sings as he grabs my hand and twirls me under his arm, making me laugh.

"Gallagher! If you place your lips anywhere near her, I will personally rip your bollocks from your body and shove them down your throat!" Eamon bellows at him.

I quickly duck out of Ro's reach and move towards Eamon. Not to be deterred, Ro waltzes up to Layla, grasping her fingers and bowing low to kiss her knuckles. She rolls her eyes but giggles and blushes, not immune to his charm any more than I am.

"And is this the lovely Layla I've heard so much about?" he questions. "O'Brien said you were—"

"Oy! Rowan!" Teagan yells at him. "Shut yer bleedin' hole, you gobshite. I swear to God, you are more trouble than you're worth."

He shakes his head and shoves Ro playfully before stopping in front of Layla. "Sorry about the riff-raff, lass. He was dropped on his head as a wee baby, and he hasn't been right since. We only keep him around because we feel sorry for him."

Eamon laughs loudly and drops his bag before grabbing my hand to pull me into his arms. I sigh blissfully as my head rests on his chest, inhaling deeply. He must have showered before coming out because he smells divine.

"I didn't expect to see you here, love. Not that I'm complaining. It was a nice surprise," he murmurs in my ear and I shiver.

"I stayed late finishing up a few things for the play and decided it would be more fun to watch you practice than to go home. Turns out I was right."

"Lucky me." He smirks. "How'd you get Layla to join?"

"That was a happy accident. She called just as I walked out of the building and wanted to hang out. I convinced her it would be worth her while to meet me here. Again, I think I was right." I nod my head towards Layla and Teagan, who are talking quietly a few yards away.

Eamon chuckles and presses a kiss to my temple. "I think they'll be seeing more of each other. Teagan is my new roommate as of today."

My eyes swing to his. "You're kidding!"

"Not at all. He's been evicted from his flat due to new ownership, and I have an extra room. Couldn't let him end up on the streets. Ro's another story though. Where is that eejit, anyway?" Eamon glances around.

"Probably going to bug Alicia," Teagan says as he walks up, Layla at his side. "He couldn't stay away if he tried."

"Wait," I say. "Alicia? Like, Pat's Alicia?"

"Aye, the one and only," Teagan continues. "He's been pining after her since the moment he met her, but he doesn't have balls enough to ask her out. Which is probably a good thing. If he messes things up with her, which he no doubt will, we'll have to find a new pub."

"Or we could just keep going to Paddy's, and he can find a new pub?" Eamon suggests with a shrug of his shoulders. "I'm not changing pubs just because he fucks up."

"So, are you guys actually friends with him? Because it doesn't sound like it," Layla cuts in.

Teagan laughs. "Ah, we love the eejit, truly. It's just the Irish way. You give a good slagging to the ones you care about. Friends, family, significant others…" He pauses to wink at her. "If you ever come across an Irish couple that's not calling each other names, they're miserable together."

"It's true," Eamon adds. "My Da and Mam were constantly slagging one another. I always knew when they were in a tiff because she'd be doting on him. ‘Seamus dear, shall I bring you some more biscuits with your tea?' Normally, he'd ask for some, and she'd tell him that God gave him two legs that work just as well as hers. He'd laugh and slap her on the arse on his way to the kitchen, muttering about how she's always harping on him."

I can't help but laugh at his impersonation of his parents. It's obvious he grew up in a loving home. I hate that he hasn't seen his Mom and sister in years and know that he must miss them terribly. His ex did more than just break his heart—she drove a wedge between him and his family. But, had she not been so selfish and deceitful, I never would have met Eamon.