Fiona thought about what her ma said, technically he never really lied to her. If she thought about it he just avoided telling her the truth and if the reasoning was because he truly needed to get away, she could understand that, right? She started to feel her icy exterior starting to warm. Was she an idiot for believing Blaire? Was she letting her feelings for Booker overlook what he did?
Mary Margaret pulled her out of her thoughts. “He loves ya, darling girl. He’s miserable.” She pulled a piece of paper out of her apron pocket and handed it to Fiona. “Here is Blaire’s information, call her.”
Fiona took the paper and stared at her Ma’s cursive writing, something she always found comforting. Should she really call Blaire? It wouldn’t make matters worse, Fiona realized she pretty much hit rock bottom so there was only going up from where she was now. What’s the harm?
***
Liam was sitting on the couch in his extremely empty house, thanks to Neala, when there was a knock at his door. He wasn’t in the mood for company. The last couple of weeks had been hell. He hadn’t talked to Finn since their fight at the pub and the quarrel was really starting to wear him down. Whenever he fought with his brothers they just punched each other and got it over with. The silent treatment really wasn’t something they did, so this new form of punishment from Finn wasn’t easy for Liam to handle.
He knew he wasn’t the most supportive brother to Finn when he was hurting but Finn threw in some extremely cheap shots about his relationship with Neala and his spoken words were unforgiveable.
Liam got off his couch to open his front door, when he did he saw his brother, Bradon standing outside sporting a rather sizable black eye.
“What the hell happened to you?”
Bradon shrugged and let himself in. Liam closed the door and followed his brother to the kitchen where Bradon pulled a beer out of Liam’s fridge and started chugging it. When he pulled away from the can, he bent into the fridge again, pulled out two more beers, one for himself and one for Liam.
“Mind telling me what’s got you drinking all of my liquid gold?”
Bradon pulled up a chair at the bar height kitchen table and let out a long breath. “You know that lass, Jess I was seeing lately? You know with the tight ass and huge tits.” Bradon made a gesture in front of his chest to demonstrate how big Jess’ tits were.
“Ah, yes. Damn she’s fine.”
“Yea and attached.” Liam quirked his eyebrow at his brother and Bradon pointed to the shiner on his face. “Found out today and boy was her FIANCE not happy about Jess sucking my dick off.”
Liam shook his head at his brother’s crassness. “When are you ever going to learn, boy? You probably have fucked every girl in this town you have to know anyone you haven’t tasted is most likely attached.”
Bradon took a big swig of his beer and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Hey, is it my fault that the women I fuck don’t fully disclose all relationships? I can’t be responsible for that.” He took another gulp of beer. “Now look at me.” He pointed to his pretty boy face. “I can’t avoid to be hit in the face. You know it’s the money maker.”
Liam chuckled at his brother. Bradon was always the looker of the three O’Leary boys. He could easily make girls take their pants off with just his smile. He actually saw it happen once, Liam was shocked.
“Ah, you’ll be alright. It’s good for those pretty boy bones to take a beating every once in a while.”
“Easy for you to say. Your face is already mangled. I like to keep mine intact.”
Liam shook his head. “It’s hard to believe we share the same blood. You are such a pussy.”
Bradon topped off his beer and chucked the empty can in the sink, then popped open the second can. “Sorry that I don’t like to look like Mike Tyson went a few rounds on my face.”
Liam rubbed his jawline and said, “Hey, it adds character.”
Bradon snorted and then waved around the house. “So now that Neala isn’t around you are just going to let this place go to shit?” Bradon sniffed the air. “What the hell is that smell? Is that…moldy bangers I smell?”
Liam sniffed the air. “I don’t smell anything.”
Bradon leaned toward Liam and took one big whiff and then sprang out of his chair. “Jesus! Liam, you smell like a fucking rotten hot dog. When was the last time you took a shower…or cleaned this place.”
“Did you just come here to badger me? Because if so you can show yourself out I don’t need shit from you. I’m already getting it from ma.”
Bradon look horrified. “Ma saw this trash bag of a place?”
Liam nodded. “I believe her exact words were ‘Liam, I raised ya better than this. Get your arse in gear and clean up this here mess. You ought to be ashamed of ya’self’.” Liam imitated Mary Margaret’s Irish accent.
Bradon chuckled. “Don’t quit your day job. Imitations aren’t your thing.”
“Like you could do better.” Liam swallowed a big gulp of beer.
Bradon cleared his throat, put a napkin over his head like a bonnet and started talking in a high pitch Irish accent. “Jesus, Mary and all that is glory, is this what ya call a home? You have made a right bags of it.”
Liam nearly choked on his beer and laughed so loud and hard his stomach hurt. Bradon joined in with him while taking drinks of his beer in between laughs. When they both settled their laughter the room was filled with silence while they stared at their beers.
Peeking up from his beer, Bradon asked genuinely, “Liam, what are you going to do about Neala and Sophie?”
Liam exhaled loudly and ran his hand through his hair, leaving the tips sticking straight up. “There is nothing I can do about Sophie and I don’t think there is anything I want to do about Sophie. The things Finn said at the pub, even though I hate him for it, I’m semi-grateful.” Bradon gave Liam a confused look so Liam carried on. “He said some shitty things that made me stand up and defend Neala, it was after the fight that I realized I don’t want to lose Neala. I just don’t know how to get her back.”
Bradon nodded his head in understanding. He was silent for a second but then asked, “So no feelings for Sophie? She is pretty hot you know.”
Liam glared at Bradon. “Keep your banger far away from her. That is one piece of ass you won’t be crossing off your Warblers Point Directory of women.”
Bradon held his hands up in defense. “Wouldn’t even think about it, man.”
“Good.” Liam took another swig of his beer and tossed the empty can into the sink that was overflowing with dishes. He quickly looked around his kitchen and realized that he was a pig. There were dishes everywhere and in fact, there was some kind of stench in the air. He quickly sniffed under his arm and cringed, God he did smell like a rotten hotdog. While rubbing his shaggy face he answered Bradon’s previous question. “Sophie is great and will always hold a special place in my heart but it is over between us. Is she beautiful? Of course and sweet, funny, and caring but she’s not Neala, she’s not my family. I want to make it work with Neala, I want my family back.”
Bradon slapped Liam on the back and got off the chair. “First thing’s first bro, take a fucking shower because the smell radiating off of you is lethal.” Liam flipped his brother off. “What? I’m right and you know it. I do have to thank you though.”
With a raised eyebrow, Liam asked, “Thank me? Why?”
Bradon lifted his head toward the ceiling showing off his nose to Liam. “Since I have been here the smell has singed my nose hairs, I don’t have to worry about trimming for a while.”
Liam pushed Bradon across the kitchen. “Get the fuck out of here.” They were both laughing as Bradon headed for the door.
“If you need help learning how to woo a woman, let me know. I would be happy to give you some tips. You will need them with a mug like that.” Bradon pointed at Liam’s face with a smirk. Before Bradon could get hit with an empty beer can Liam threw at him, he skipped out of Liam’s house, unscathed.
With his hands on his hips, Liam looked around his place. First thing was first, he needed to clean himself and then gain some closure with Sophie, once and for all. Once he finds closure with Sophie, then he can start forming a plan to get his family back because he didn’t want to be away from his two girls any longer. He wanted his life back to normal and hell if anything was going to stop him from accomplishing that.
***
Sophie was looking at herself in the mirror at her reflection while fussing with her hair. Her bangs were not cooperating the way she wanted them to and she was starting to panic. Finn had called her earlier asking if he could come over, his voice sounded…needy. After their almost sexual encounter, Sophie was ready for Finn to finally allow himself to admit the feelings he had been carrying around for her. She saw it in his eyes the other night when he was kissing her and touching her. She always knew there was something between them ever since high school, she just happened to fall for Liam first but in the back of her mind she knew Finn was the O’Leary she should have been with and now she was ready to finally be with him.
Finally putting her bangs in place, she smoothed out the voluptuous curls she put in her hair and sprayed some perfume all over. She was dressed in a silk night gown that hit above her knees with a matching short silk robe wrapped around her body. A little provocative for her, yes but she didn’t care, she was going to make sure Finn couldn’t resist her this time. She spent time setting up all her candles around the house and lighting them. Light from the candles was the only glow in the house, plus the fire she had crackling in her fireplace. She also made sure to bake a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies for an addition to the vanilla aroma already radiating through the house. Men couldn’t resist food and sex and since she could check both of those off her list of preparing for Finn’s arrival, she was ready.
Ever sense Finn left her house after their lips finally met, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being wrapped up in his arms, the way his hands burned a trail of heat down her body and the way he made her feel like she was the sexiest woman in the world. She knew the only reason he pulled away was because of Liam, but she could make him forget that. She checked herself out in the hall mirror one last time and realized that she would be more of a seductress if she untied her robe and just let it drape open. She was just fluffing her hair one last time when there was a knock at her door. Bracing herself, she pulled open the door.
An O’Leary boy walked in, but not the one she was expecting.
“Liam!” Sophie quickly pulled her robe together as he invited himself in and stammered while asking him, “What are you…uh doing here?”
Liam looked around her house and then looked her up and down. His blue eyes scorched her body with his perusal of her outfit but the fire she used to see in his eyes when she was so sparsely dressed was missing. Instead she saw what looked like an irritated look, something she never thought she would see in Liam’s face when he looked at her.
He looked around again, “Uh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were expecting someone.”
Panic started to swell in her body. She wouldn’t be able to finally finish her moment with Finn if his brother was standing in her house. Thinking quickly she said, “Yes, I am so if you don’t mind, could we could talk about whatever you want to talk about later, that would be appreciated.” She was still holding her robe tight while she silently begged for Liam to catch her drift and leave abruptly.
But with O’Leary men, she should have realized a long time ago, they were stubborn ass cows a lot of the times and if they were set on something, they were going to see it through until they get what they wanted. Hence Liam not making a move for her door to leave.
“I will be quick.” He shut her door and stood in front of it. “I just…God this is hard.”
Oh crap! Please don’t let him confess his love for her, Sophie thought. She could not deal with that right now, especially when she had so many feelings for Finn at the current moment, so many inappropriate feelings that would for sure rip the two brothers apart. Liam was already distraught from Neala, she didn’t want to break his heart as well.
She tried to interrupt him, “Liam, we can talk about this later…”
“NO!” She shouted and then gave her an apologetic look for raising his voice. “I’m sorry. I just have to get this out now.” Sophie braced herself. “I want to let you know that I love you…”
SHIT!!! Sophie started to say something but he cut her off. “But I love you like a friend. I have finally realized that the feelings I have for you are nothing but an old flame that has burned out and the love I have for you is pure friendship.”
A little shocked by his omission, all Sophie could say was, “Oh.”
He grabbed her hand and held it tight. “I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but I just needed closure…you know between us. I’m going to go get my wife back and I wanted to make sure all obstacles were out of the way before I do that.”
Sophie just nodded. She didn’t know what to say. A part of her was relieved that she didn’t have to deal with two O’Leary men fighting over her especially since their favorite way of fighting was with fists. But there was also a part of her that was extremely disappointed. Liam just told her he had absolutely zero feelings for her, as if she was just his sister now. Didn’t their relationship mean anything to him? Shouldn’t he have some sort of yearning for her?
Just as she was about to ask Liam if he was completely sure he wanted to go back to Neala, there was a knock on her door. Liam grinned up at her, “Oh sorry. That must be the guy you are waiting for. I will get out of your way.”
He went to go open the door and she quickly said, “No!” but it was too late. Finn and Liam were staring at each other in her doorway. Finn’s mouth fell open, as did hers. Liam looked back at Sophie with an angry scowl and then at Finn. She knew the minute Liam figured out Finn was the man she was expecting because an angry snarl came out of his mouth and Liam landed his fist right on Finn’s face sending him flying backwards off her porch.
“No! Liam!” Sophie screeched and went over to see if Finn was ok. She was just about to check out his face when he bounced up and charged after Liam who was now standing in her front yard waiting for Finn to attack. “Please don’t!” She screamed.
Finn didn’t even bother to listen to Sophie’s pleads instead he charged after his brother and tackled him to the ground. Sophie stood by in the dark, in her silk robe, on her front yard watching the O’Leary boys go after each other. She knew she should go call someone but she was so terrified that her legs didn’t move. She kept telling them to move toward the house and grab the phone but it was as if when she stepped onto her lawn, she stepped into cement because she was completely unable to move.
Finn was on top of Liam now with his fist cocked back, aiming for Liam’s face. Before Finn could connect with his older brother’s face, Liam jerked Finn up with his hips, throwing Finn off just enough for Liam to wiggle free. They both scrambled on the ground trying to get at one another while Sophie just stared.
“You son of a bitch.” Liam growled out while flinging a punch at Finn’s head that Finn avoided as he swung at Liam, connecting with Liam’s side. Liam grunted and stammered back slightly, giving Finn enough time to throw another punch, this time connecting with Liam’s cheek. The sound in the air was deafening. Sophie just stood still, crying. She was completely useless and couldn’t pull herself together enough to stop what was going on.
Liam gathered himself just in the nick of time to avoid another blow from Finn. “What the fuck do you think you are doing with Sophie?” Liam asked while he threw a punch into Finn’s stomach. “Were you going to fuck her? Is that why she is dressed like that?”
Finn quickly took a glance at Sophie while holding his side and she watched his eyes widen which made Sophie blush furiously. Did she read Finn wrong? Was he not expecting to take her tonight? The thought that she might have mistaken his phone call overwhelmed her se
nses, which shot a bolt of embarrassing heat through her body.
Finn was breathing heavily and took his eyes off of Sophie to look back at Liam. Both of them had blood falling from their faces and were in extremely defensive positions, just waiting for an attack from one another.
“NO!” Finn answered Liam’s question with a loud grunt.
“Then why the hell is she dressed like that with candles lit all over her house?” Liam said while flinging his arm toward Sophie and her house.
Finn looked absolutely shocked and shook his head. That was when Sophie knew she was wrong about Finn’s intentions of coming over. She wanted to go dig a hole and bury herself in it she was so embarrassed.
“I have no clue. I came here to…” Finn stopped talking and ran both of his hands through his hair, looking at loss for words.
Liam took a step forward letting Finn know he better start speaking soon. “Why did you come here?” Liam practically growled.
Finn exhaled and looked his brother dead in the eyes. Sophie gave Finn a lot of credit for the maturity he was showing at the moment, well besides the fighting.
“I came here to apologize for my actions the other day...when I was drunk” Liam started charging toward Finn but Finn held his hands up to stop his brother so Finn could finish explaining. “I was drunk, man and way out of line. I realized that I was out of line with Sophie and stopped before anything happened.” Finn was just talking to Liam now, not even Sophie. She was still stuck in the same spot, observing the two brothers. “I knew what I was doing was wrong and I knew I was using her to get back at you for the things we said to each other at the pub but I knew if I went there with Sophie I would lose you forever and she wasn’t worth it.” He shook his head in defeat. “She’s not worth it, Liam.”