Page 76 of The Secret We Keep
Paddy: Are you with somebody?
No. Holly didn’t show. I’mwaiting here on my own
It takes a minute for Paddy to reply.
Paddy: Don’t leave until I’m there
I wasn’t expecting my heart to kick the way that it does. Checking my reflection in the mirror, there is a light dusting of pink blushing my cheeks. All because Paddy O’Keefe said he’s coming to get me.
I don’t know what relationship we have—if any—but I am one hundred per cent more at ease knowing that out of everyone I trust, he’s the one coming for me.
Because that’s what it is. I trust him. He’s never let me down. In all the years that I have known him, I have always felt safer when Paddy has been there.
I open the door to the ladies’ and make my way back to my table, only to find it’s no longer free. There’s a man with messy hair sitting there, looking at me. But it’s not just any man. It’s someone I thought I was done seeing for good.
“Rory?”
He stands to his full height, which is the same as mine. “Morgan, hi.”
Hesitant, I take a few slow steps towards him. “What are you doing here?” And more so, why is he sitting at my table?
Rory points a hand towards the two drinks. “I got you those.”
Oh. “Thank you,” I say half-heartedly. “You didn’t need to do that.” In an awkward attempt not to have to engage in any more conversation, I stand by the side of the table.
Rory looks me up and down and laughs. “Are you not going to sit down?” His eyes drop to my bare legs, making me shudder.
If only to stop him looking, I sit on the chair I was occupying before hiding, tucking the bottom of my dress under my legs.
“That’s better. Now we can catch up.”
“Catch up?” I ask, a wry smile on my face. I don’t want to catch up with Rory Lane.
He laughs again, only this time, he moves closer to me. “Morgan, how long has it been? One? Two years?”
“Three,” I say bluntly.
His eyes widen. “Wow, that long. How’ve you been?” He picks up his pint and takes a sip, which sounds more like a desperate gulp.
“Good,” I concede, wishing Paddy would walk through the door and quite literally save me from having to sit and fake pleasantries with this man.
Shit. No. I remember what Paddy said he’d do if he ever saw Rory again.Crap.
He takes another loud sip of his drink before his beer-soaked lips smack together. “That’s good.”
Yeah, I’m doing really good. “Why are you here?” I ask, attempting not to sound rude.
I hate the way his lips pull into a tight line. “I’m visiting my parents. They’re still out this way.”
“Funny, I don’t see them around much.”
Rory places his glass on the table and sits back in his chair. “No, they moved out to East Parish after I left.”
The next village over is even quieter than where we live. “Good for them.”
He shrugs. “They love it. I prefer more noise, personally. More action, if you know what I mean.”
Thick silence falls like a bad smell that neither of us wants to acknowledge. I have no idea what he’s referring to because I am quitehappy with the silence our little village has to offer. Once again, I wish I’d just stayed there instead of coming here.
