Page 7 of There is No Try

With Gavin at Ronan and Nora’s house for the night, I can’t help wondering if there’s a chance Bridget will consider staying in my bed tonight. I don’t care if she doesn’t so much as kiss me; I’d be perfectly content spending hours with her wrapped in my arms. My cock may have other plans, but it’s nothing a cold shower can’t fix. Bridget means more to me than a quick root.

We drive together often, and I’m usually able to focus my attention on the road. Not today. After parking on the street, I round the car to open the door for her. She steps out and my heart nearly leaps out of my chest being this close to her. Her gaze burrows into my soul, and I could so easily lean in to kissher again. Fuck, the need to touch her is unbearable. I take her hand in mine, interlacing our fingers. For a brief moment, I’m certain she’ll pull away. I swallow thickly waiting for it, but it never comes. We stand there for a moment and time stops. Nothing but her exists.

Without tearing my eyes from her emerald green ones, I close the car door and lock it with my fob. The chirp breaks the spell we’re under. “Shall we?” she offers breathlessly, and I reply with a curt nod.

I lead her into the pub, but I’m regretting my suggestion; Bridget deserves more than a pint and steak sanga. It’s somewhere I’d come with mates after a match, and it’s just as busy today with only two barstools available. With a shake of my head, I turn on my heel and bring Bridge with me as I walk out.

“What’s wrong?” she asks as she quickens her steps to keep up with my longer stride.

“We can do better, pup.”

There’s a smaller pub two doors down that has more of a café feel with eclectic installations from local artists. Their stout options are better, and the only negative is the limited food options. I’m not concerned about it; Ronan and Nora will likely have some sort of catering for Leo’s party later. More than anything, I want to spend time with Bridget.

I’ve had dinner with her hundreds of times, but never alone. I can’t stop thinking about our kiss and have butterflies in my stomach like a damn teenager. For the past few months, I’ve wanted nothing more than to touch her. I can blame it on me leaving, but if I have to go, I want her and Gavin to come with me, not caring if it’s temporary.

A server comes over and takes our order of two pints. I have no fucking clue what we ordered, I left it to Bridge, who could’ve ordered me piss and I would’ve thanked her for it.

As soon as I have her alone, I can’t help asking, “What would it take for you to come with me?”

“You’re fucking mad! Asking me to pick up with my son and leave...” She scoffs. “As much as I want you to stay, there is no reality where I would consider moving for you, just as I’d never ask you to move or stay for me. My life is here.Gavin’slife is here.”

“I would,” I admit. “If you left Cork, I’d follow.”

“Luc, I do love you, but if you have to go, I can’t come with you. If you’re only here for a little while longer, can we enjoy the time you have left? I can check with Ronan to see if he can take Gavin for a week, then you and I can?—”

“No,” I growl, then quickly clear my throat. “I’m sorry, pup, but if this is how you’re going to play it, I want to spend time with Gavin too.”

She chews on her lip, shaking her head. “It will hurt him to see you go.”

Our server returns with our drinks, delaying my protest. As soon as they’re gone, my heart leaps into my throat. I can’t leave Cork, can’t leave Bridget and Gavin. My agent and immigration claim their hands are tied, and I’m afraid citizenship is my only option. Ronan will likely murder me for what I’m about to suggest, but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.

“As much as I love the idea of having you to myself until I’d need to leave, I can’t do it. If you won’t come with me, then I’m notgoing. But in order for that to happen, I’d likely need to marry. I know I said I wouldn’t want a contract marriage, but it would solve everything.” I reach across the table to take her hand, swiping my thumb across her knuckles. “Is it still on the table?”

Bridget chews on her lip. “We would need rules,” she concedes. “I don’t want Gavin to be hurt by anything. He’s my number one priority.”

“Of course. What do you have in mind?”

“We need to be honest with my family.”

“Absolutely,” I agree. “What else?”

Bridget pulls her hand back, setting it in her lap. “We should have boundaries.”

“What sort of boundaries?” My jaw tics; I can’t fucking help it.

“We remain friends, but that’s where it ends.” Her words slice through me like a freshly-sharpened knife. I don’t want to be her friend, I wanther. “I can’t risk getting my heart broken, Luc.”

My brows pinch. “Why do you think I’d break your heart?”

“Because you have a reputation.” She sighs and keeps her voice low, despite no one being within earshot. “I’ve seen the social media posts. You had beautiful models, actors, and athletes on your arm before you moved here. You’re, well, you. I’m only a football mum who hardly has spare minutes to swipe a coat of mascara on a few days a week. I could never compare to them. It will only be a matter of time before someone better comes along.” Anger seeps into my veins at the blatant lies she’s telling herself. She’s fucking beautiful and it kills me that she doesn’t see it. I’m about to correct her, but she continues, “Please let me get this out. It took me years to be comfortable in my own skin,I won’t risk the blow to my self-esteem if you fall in love with a gorgeous man or woman. It’s one thing to have a temporary fling before you’re gone, it’s another to fool the world into believing we’re madly in love, only for you to leave me for?—”

“Bridget,” I snap. “Stop. When was the last time I dated?” She glances away in thought. I don’t give her more than a few seconds to consider it before answering my own question. “Years. I haven’t dated anyone since I moved here. I’ve been interested in exactly one person—you. Before I came to play for Cork, your brother asked me not to sleep with you. I thought it was a strange thing to say to someone at the time, but the day I met you, I knew exactly why he warned me. While you are easily the most beautiful woman—person, really—I’ve ever met, I’m not in love with you because of how fucking gorgeous you are, pup. Though, it doesn’t hurt.” A light blush creeps up her neck and I can’t help the smirk tugging at my lips. “I don’t want anyone else, I want you. I don’t need to pretend I’m in love with you to sell a fake marriage, it would be real for me.”

Bridget’s chest rises and falls with a few deep breaths. Her voice is quiet as she admits, “It would be real for me too, which is why we can’t be more than friends.”

“Friends?” I bark out a laugh. “Bridge, you have to understand how bloody awful that sounds. I’ve tasted your lips, heard your sweet whimpers as you come. Granted, it was through a door or a wall when I was tortured by you moaning my name. Still, I’d last less than one day as your husband without wanting to sink myself inside you to feel your tight cunt strangling my cock. I can guarantee I’d make you scream louder than any of your vibrators could.”

Eyes wide, she glances around nervously and whisper-shouts, “Will you keep your voice down? Someone might hear you.”

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