Page 2 of Bride By Initiation

I glance at Molly, the bartender who's worked at the O'Malley pub for as long as I can remember. She's always either happy or moody. You never know which Molly you're getting, but I'm used to it. So I shrug, answering, "Who knows."

Molly slaps down my pint and then grabs the metal shaker.

Fiona steps between us. "Make that two, Molly. Please and thank you."

Molly barely looks at her and mutters, "Sure."

"What's wrong?" Fiona asks.

Leave it to my sister to stir up that hornet's nest and dive right into Molly's drama.

"That's my cue to go outside," I announce, grabbing my pint and quickly making my way toward the exit. Relief fills me the farther I get away from Zara. I tell myself it's just the alcohol making me react to her.

It takes a while to get to the back of the pub. It's full of O'Malleys, O'Connors, Ivanovs, and Marinos. There's no one here I don't know, and I get pulled into several conversations. By the time I finally step outside, my cock feels normal, but my problem has followed me.

Even though it's cold outside, Zara's sitting in a chair, her long legs crossed and covered in goose bumps. She taps her pale-pink nails on the table, lost in whatever she's reading on her phone. And she doesn't look happy. She pins her eyebrows together, seeming anxious or maybe even upset.

Against my will, I weave through the handful of people, take off my sports coat, and put it over her shoulders.

She glances up in surprise.

I pull out the chair next to her and plop down. I grin, putting my face beside hers, and ask, "Is your world falling apart?"

She tears her gaze from mine, taking another glance at her screen, then tosses her phone into her purse. She smiles, but it's not as vibrant as before. She replies, "Usual stuff."

"Why don't I buy that?" I question, locking my gaze to hers.

She stays quiet.

My face falls, and my heart beats faster. "Zara, what's going on?"

"Nothing."

I study her closer.

"Really," she insists.

"Something's going on. I've known you forever," I remind her.

She hesitates, opens her mouth, then shuts it. She takes a deep breath and then slowly releases it.

Loud music fills the air, and I glance behind us. The few people outside disappear into the pub, and the song muffles when the door shuts.

I turn back to Zara. "It's just us, and I can keep a secret. Why do you look distressed?"

Tension grows between us, and her silence persists.

I wait her out, knowing I can usually get her to cave, but she doesn't.

"Is it about your latest boyfriend?"

She scoffs. "No. I don't have one right now."

Hope fills me, and I scold myself. I ask, "Since when?"

She shrugs. "A few days ago."

"What happened? I thought you and Zach were reunited forever," I tease, but I'm secretly happy. Zach's a good guy, but I never thought he was strong enough for her. They dated for a few years when they were in college. I was surprised when I found out they reconnected.

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