Isit at the kitchen table opposite Liam. I’m working on my laptop and he is scrolling through his phone, but it’s nice not being alone in a room. He and I seem to spend a lot of time together and we have developed an uncomplicated relationship where we can sit in comfortable silence. I’ve probably spent more time with the twins than anyone else since I got here, and they are both such enjoyable company that I often forget I’m practically a prisoner here. If I asked to go somewhere, I doubt the brothers would stop me, but they’d damn sure escort me there. Entry to this apartment and the garage downstairs is via an electronic fingerprint system. I could hack it and override it if I really wanted out, and I guess they know that. But the truth is, I’m happy here.
When I’ve finished what I’m working on, I close my laptop with a snap, making Liam look up from his phone.
“You fancy some lunch?” I ask him.
He tilts his head and looks at me. “What you making?”
“Me? Nothing. I was thinking we could ask Mikey to rustle us up a grilled cheese.”
Liam grins at me and nods. “He does make the best grilled cheese.”
“Let’s ambush him when he comes in after his workout, then?” I flash my eyebrows at him.
“Deal,” Liam agrees as he puts his phone down on the table.
“So, what did you do while Mikey was training to be a chef then?”
He sucks in a breath and runs his hands through his hair. “I’ve only ever just worked for Shane,” he shrugs. “But Mikey always wanted to be a chef.”
“Why didn’t it work out? He’s a great cook.”
Liam nods. “Yeah. But it’s kind of hard to be anything other than what we are when you’re a Ryan.”
I nod at him because I know all about not being able to escape the shackles of a name. I’d like to know more, but I don’t want to push him. Liam is the quietest of the twins and although he and I get on great, I figure it takes a lot for him to open up to people and he will talk to me when he’s ready.
“Shane did his best to help us live a different life, don’t get me wrong,” Liam goes on, feeling the need to defend his older brother. “He never wanted to leave Ireland, but he came here for us. Mostly for me and Mikey.”
“Oh?”
He shakes his head. “Some shit went down. We were sixteen. He brought us here. Mikey trained to be a chef. But me, well…” he looks down at his hands and starts picking at his fingernails.
“You what?”
“Shane is the boss. Conor is the negotiator. Mikey is the funny one who cooks great food and can also make a bomb out of the ingredients of most people’s pantries. And me, well, I’m just the fuck-up!”
I blink at him. Wow! “Well, that’s not how I see it,” I say as I pick up a grape from the fruit bowl on the table and pop it into my mouth.
“And how do you see it, Jessie?” he arches an eyebrow at me.
“You’re the buffer,” I shrug.
“The what now?” he says with a frown.
“The buffer. The person who stops Conor and Shane from killing each other, or Mikey from blowing too much shit up. You’re the one who keeps them all that little bit calmer.”
Liam narrows his eyes at me. “You think?”
“That’s what I see anyway.” I shrug just as Mikey bounces into the kitchen.
“We got this place to ourselves tonight, kids. The folks are going out.” He grins at us as he rubs his hands together. The folks are how he sometimes affectionately refers to Shane and Conor.
“Where are they going?” Liam asks.
“The O’Malley’s wedding. They forgot all about it,” Mikey replies. “And they’re staying over at the hotel too.”
“Who are the O’Malley’s?” I ask.
“Old family friends,” Liam pulls a face. “Boring fuckers, the lot of them.”
“Why aren’t you two going then?” I take another grape and watch as Mikey pulls off his sweaty gym shorts until he’s standing there in just his skintight boxer briefs and I try not to choke on the grape I’ve just eaten. I’ve seen them both bare-chested plenty of times. They constantly walk around shirtless and my ovaries are just about getting used to it, because they are both huge and ripped. But, damn, if there isn’t the outline of the hugest cock beneath the gray cotton.
Dear God, these boys are fine!
“You checking out my tattoo, Jessie?” Mikey asks with a chuckle, referring to the tattoo of a phoenix that he has on the very top of his right thigh.
“Yeah,” I reply as calmly as I can. “That’s some nice ink.”
He nods to himself as he walks towards the utility room and disappears inside. I swallow hard. If he comes out of there naked, I might just pass out. But my modesty is spared when he walks out a few seconds later with a white towel wrapped around his waist.
“So, why aren’t you two going then?” I ask again.
Liam and Mikey share a look, and Mikey shakes his head and winces.
“We’ve been banned from any weddings because at the last one, Mikey here got caught fucking the bride in the restroom. At the reception,” Liam laughs.
My hand flies to my mouth. “Mikey?” I stifle a laugh. “Really?”
He nods as he walks over to the table and sits down. “Yeah, but…”
“But what?” I gasp. “That’s awful!”
“So, why are you smiling then, Red?” he flashes an eyebrow at me.
“Because it’s just so… so bad!”
He shrugs. “What can I say? She only married him for his money. And I was young, dumb and full of–”
I hold my hand up to stop him talking. “Yeah, I don’t need to hear the end of that sentence. Thanks. But, wow! No wonder you’re banned from weddings.”
He nods proudly.
“But why aren’t you allowed to go?” I turn to Liam.
“Oh, me? Well, when the groom found Mikey balls deep in his new virginal wife, he tried to cut off his head with a butter knife. So, I might have knocked him unconscious and then used his brand-new Maserati as our getaway car.”
I hold my hand over my mouth as I burst out laughing. “You boys are so bad,” I say with a shake of my head when I’m able to talk.
“You have no idea, Red,” Mikey arches an eyebrow at me. “So, what are we doing tonight? All night rager?” he suggests.
Liam sighs and rolls his eyes.
“How about a movie marathon?” I offer, and both of their eyes light up.
“You’re not going to make us watch any more where the dog dies, though, are you?” Liam says. “That fucking cut me up that.”
“No more dogs dying,” I smile as I recall them both sniffling, watching Marley and Me with me a few nights earlier. “How about Fast and Furious? We could stay up all night watch all eight?”
“Or, we could watch two, and then crack open the tequila and play some poker instead?” Liam suggests.
“Strip poker?” Mikey grins.
“What? You two hardly wear any clothes as it is? The game would be over in like, five minutes.” I pop an eyebrow at him.
“Makes it easier for you to win then, doesn’t it, Red?” he fires back.
“You don’t exactly wander around here fully clothed yourself?” Liam laughs, and I shoot him a look of mock indignation. “You keep stealing my shirts and wearing them.”
“I know.” I bite my lower lip. “But they’re so comfortable. Plus, they’re so big on me, they’re just like a dress.”
Mikey leans onto the table and props himself up on one elbow. “Yeah, but do you wear anything underneath it, Red?” he winks at me.
“Well, I guess you’ll have to beat me at poker to find out,” I grin at him.
“Fuck!” he chuckles. “You’re going to get us in a whole load of trouble, Red.”
I open my mouth to respond, but just then Shane and Conor walk into the room and the conversation changes to the O’Malley’s wedding.
