Page 3

Teagan

After the week I’ve had, I’m bound and determined to make the best of practice, so I’m laser focused on guarding the net. I can’t control what’s happening with my flat, but I can control what’s coming into my net. Or rather what’s not coming into the net. I haven’t let a single ball past me for the entire practice. Ro keeps cursing me every time I block one of his shots, and Eamon is equal parts proud of and pissed at me.

When Coach finally blows the whistle ending practice, I’m relieved. I just want to go home and sleep. I make my way over to the bench where Eamon is downing a bottle of water and reach to grab my own when I feel a tap to my arm.

“Hey, mate, we have cheerleaders today,” Eamon whispers.

My head snaps up, and I scan the bleachers. My eyes immediately land on Layla Diaz, and I’m grinning ear to ear. Remembering how flustered she was at the game, I wink at her and am rewarded with that blush fanning her cheeks. Fuck, she’s stunning. Norah is giggling next to her, then says something that causes Layla to whip her eyes to her friend in astonishment. She rolls her eyes before looking my way and wiggling her fingers at me.

“Hey, Norah and I are going to grab something to eat. Want to join?” Eamon asks after we enter the locker room.

“As your third wheel? No thanks, mate,” I laugh as I pull a hoodie over my head.

“I think Layla is coming…”

“Well,” I start, smiling broadly, “why didn’t you stay that to begin with? Count me in.”

“Not even going to play coy, are you?” Eamon chuckles, tossing his practice kit in his bag.

“Nah. You’d see right through that shite.”

“Too right, I would,” he jokes. “Come on. They’re waiting by the exit.”

As we exit the building, Ro comes skipping past us singing Galway Girl at the top of his lungs. He makes a beeline to where Layla and Norah are waiting.

“Fecking eejit,” Eamon mutters when Ro grabs Norah’s hand and twirls her. “Gallagher! If you place your lips anywhere near her, I will personally rip your bollocks from your body and shove them down your throat!”

I’m chuckling at his possessiveness until I watch Rowan move towards Layla.

“And is this the lovely Layla I’ve heard so much about?” he questions. “O’Brien said you were—”

“Oy Rowan!” I yell at him. “Shut yer bleedin’ hole, you gobshite. I swear to God, you are more trouble than you’re worth.”

Shaking my head, I shove Ro playfully before stopping in front of Layla. “Sorry about the riff-raff, lass. He was dropped on his head as a wee baby, and he hasn’t been right since. We only keep him around because we feel sorry for him.”

“Oh, fuck off!” Ro yells from across the way .

Layla grins at me, and I just about drop to my knees. She’s beautiful anyway, but her smile is radiant. I want nothing more than to coax that smile out of her every hour of every day.

“What brings you to the field today?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.

“Oh,” she starts, twisting her hands together nervously. “Norah invited me to keep her company, and I was bored, so it worked out. I normally work the evening shift, but today, they scheduled me earlier.”

Realizing that I have no idea where she works, I ask, “What do you do?”

“Just a grocery store clerk for now. Nothing exciting,” she shrugs. “What about you?”

“I head up the children’s department at the YMCA downtown,” I tell her proudly. I love my job.

“That sounds like a blast!” Layla exclaims.

“Aye, it is,” I confirm. “So, will you be joining us tonight so I’m not the third wheel with those two?” I jerk a thumb towards Eamon and Norah.

“Yeah, Norah invited me earlier. They’re something, aren’t they?”

I nod. “She’s good for him. He needs someone like her in his life.”

Layla peers up at me, pursing her lips. Those luscious lips. “He’s good for her too, I think. Norah has had…some difficulties in life, and I think Eamon is finally helping her to overcome them. I’ve never seen her so happy.”

Eamon is one of the best friends I’ve ever had. We didn’t know each other when we lived in Ireland, even though we hadn’t lived that far apart. I can always rely on Eamon to give me sound advice or be a listening ear. Although I don’t know anything about Norah’s past, there’s no way Eamon wouldn’t be good for her. He’s solid and steadfast—as loyal as they come.

“Anyway,” Layla says, nodding toward the couple, “we should join them before they leave without us.”

“Aye. After you, love.” I swing an arm in front of me dramatically, making her mouth tip up into a smirk. Not quite a grin, but I’ll take what I can get.

We catch up just as Eamon says, “Ro’s another story, though. Where is that eejit, anyway?”

“Probably going to bug Alicia,” I answer. “He couldn’t stay away if he tried. ”

“Alicia? Like, Pat’s Alicia?” Norah asks, eyes wide with amusement.

“Aye, the one and only,” I continue. “He’s been after her since the moment he met her, but he doesn’t have balls enough to actually ask her out. Which is probably a good thing. If he messes things up with her, which he no doubt will, we’ll have to find a new pub.”

“Or we could just keep going to Paddy’s, and he can find a new pub?” Eamon suggests with a shrug of his shoulders. “I’m not changing pubs just because he fucks up.”

“So, are you guys actually friends with him? ” Layla cuts in, a doubtful look on her face. “Because it doesn’t sound like it.”

I chuckle. “Ah, we love the eejit, truly. It’s just the Irish way. You give a good slagging to the ones you care about. Friends, family, significant others…” I pause to give her a meaningful look, one that has her blushing and avoiding my gaze. “If you ever come across an Irish couple that’s not calling each other names, they’re miserable together.”

We decide to eat at a local pizza place on The River Walk. They have the best pizza, great beer, and outdoor seating. The hostess leads us to a table on the dock and promises the server will be right with us. Eamon and Norah naturally sit next to each other, which leaves Layla sitting next to me. Perfect.

“So,” Norah begins, “Eamon says you’re his new roommate.”

“Aye,” I nod, taking a drink of my beer before continuing. “He’s a nice enough bloke that he wouldn’t leave me stranded on the streets.”

When I shared the news about my living situation, Eamon was quick to offer the spare room at his flat and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“What happened?” Layla asks, turning to me with concern on her face.

“Long story short, the property owner sold the building to a multi-million dollar corporation that plans on renovating them into some sort of executive suites. They evicted everyone. Told us we have two weeks to be out.”

“That’s insane!” she cries. “I’m so sorry.”

“Aye, it’s a mess.”

“But look on the bright side,” Norah interjects. “We’ll all be able to hang out together more! Layla lives next door to me, and you live with Eamon. It will be fun!”

I grin at that but hear Layla mutter under her breath, “For fucks sake, Norie.”

I turn, raising an eyebrow. “You don’t think that sounds fun, lass?”

Her head whips towards me and that blush creeps across her cheeks. “No, I do! I just— I…” Norah giggles, which earns her a vicious glare from Layla. She turns back to me and says, “Sorry. Yes, I think that sounds fun. I’m more exasperated with Norah’s poor attempt at subtlety.”

“And what exactly is she not being subtle about? It sounds like she just wants four friends to spend more time together,” I tease. I can’t help it. The more I tease her, the more she blushes. This might have just become my new favorite hobby.

“ No manches! You’re all the worst.” She’s glaring, but laughs along with us.

The four of us spend the next couple of hours laughing and talking about everything from current majors to childhood stories to the state of the world. As attracted as I am to Layla, I think I’d be content just to have her as a friend. She’s funny, kind, and full of so much life.

Layla

“I hate to end the fun, but I have a full day of classes tomorrow, starting bright and early,” Norah announces, covering a yawn with the back of her hand.

Teagan nods and pushes away from the table. “Aye, we have practice before the sun is even awake, so we probably better head back too.” He’s stretching his arms over his head when suddenly he says, “Oh, shite. My car’s still at the field.”

“Do you need a ride?” I ask, attempting to hide the fact that I’m checking out the patch of his stomach that was bared while he was stretching. I had driven Norah originally, while Teagan rode with Eamon.

“You wouldn’t mind?” he asks, raising his brows.

“It’s on my way, and I’m guessing these two want some alone time,” I nod towards Eamon and Norah.

Eamon quickly interjects, “You’re right. We would. Teag, you have your key?”

“Aye”—he winks—“I won’t wait up.” He gestures for me to lead the way, grinning flirtatiously as he asks, “Shall we, Lovely?”

I love that he calls me Lovely all the time. I do not love that I blush every time he even looks at me.

“Text me when you get home, okay?” Norah says, hugging me goodbye. “Have fun!”

“Stop. I’m just dropping him off and heading back home,” I say, rolling my eyes.

I watch Norah and Eamon stroll off hand in hand, thinking about how perfect they are together. Lost in thought, I don’t notice that Teagan has sidled up next to me until he lightly touches my elbow. I glance over at him.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

“Yeah, sorry. Ready to go?”

“Aye,” he says simply.

We amble down the sidewalk towards my car in companionable silence. As nervous as he makes me, he’s also easy to be around. He doesn’t seem to have any expectations other than to just enjoy the moment we’re in. I could get used to that.

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable at all tonight,” he says suddenly.

Lifting a brow, I look at him. “What are you talking about?”

“Just all the teasing. I hope I didn’t make you feel—”

“No!” I laugh, stopping Teagan from finishing that thought. “You didn’t make me uncomfortable. I’m used to being teased; I just can’t help but get flustered. And I have zero control of my blushing. I still blush over things I used to be embarrassed about as a kid that don’t bother me at all anymore.”

Teagan chuckles. “Now that’s unfortunate. But I’m glad I didn’t bother you.”

“I have two older brothers who have made it their goal in life to tease me at all times. It will take a lot more than that to really upset me.”

Settling into my car, I hand him my phone. “Here, put the address in the GPS for me.”

“I can just direct you there,” he offers.

“I don’t like interrupting conversations with ‘turn here’ or ‘at the next light turn left,’” I tell him.

“Huh. I never really thought about it like that,” he says. “Now that you mention it, that does get rather annoying, doesn’t it?”

“Yes,” I laugh.

“So you have two older brothers. Are those the only siblings you have?” he asks me.

“No, I have two sisters. Twins. Ten years younger than me.”

“Whoa. There are five of you?” he sounds astonished.

“Well no. Not five of me,” I say slowly. “But my parents have five children together.”

“Ach, you know what I mean! Smart arse.”

I laugh again.

“That’s quite the age gap between you and your sisters. How much older are your brothers?”

“My brothers and I are all stair-stepped. I’m twenty-three, Rafael is twenty-four, and Marcos is twenty-five. My sisters were a surprise,” I explain.

“I’d say so,” Teagan chuckles. “How’d your parents handle that? I think my Ma would have probably gone mental if she had been surprised with twins ten years after me.”

“Well, they were definitely in shock when they found out they were pregnant again after so long, but they warmed up to the idea quickly. Until they had their first sonogram done and realized there were two in there. I don’t think my Papá spoke for a full week, and Mami cried. A lot.”

“But they were happy eventually, right?” he wonders.

“Oh, definitely. My parents have always had this amazing knack to roll with the punches and take everything in stride. They married really young and started their family right off the bat. My Mom is only forty-six, so it’s not like she was past her prime child bearing years. And with three older kids to help out, it wasn’t as daunting as it could have been.”

“Your family sounds amazing, Layla. ”

I don’t miss his melancholy tone. “Tell me about your family. Do you have any siblings?”

Following the prompts from the GPS, I turn into the parking lot of the apartment complex.

“Ach. It’s not nearly as exciting as yours. I have an older sister and a younger brother.”

“So we’re both middle children. Guess that makes us trouble,” I say with a grin.

“I don’t know what you mean by us ,” Teagan says. “I’m an angel.”

“Right.” I snort. “I don’t believe that for one second.”

“You wound me, lass! How can you look at this face and think ‘trouble’?” He turns towards me and smirks.

Damn.

I roll my eyes and say, “Easily. You’re clearly nothing but trouble.”

Teagan laughs loudly, then stops suddenly, “Ah, fuck.”

I rear my head back and look around. “What? What is it?”

“I just realized that I had you bring me to Eamon’s flat when my car is actually at the field. I’m a gowl and a half,” he moans in frustration. “I’m so sorry.”

“Oh,” I whoosh out a breath. “You scared me there for a second. It’s not a big deal. I can take you back to the field. It’s not that far from here.”

“No, I’ll just ride with Eamon to practice tomorrow and get it then. Not to worry,” he assures me. “Thank you for bringing me back, though.”

“Yeah, of course. Not a problem.” I wave a hand and look over at Teagan. The lights of the dash illuminate the sharp lines of his handsome face. I want to trace his jawline with my fingers.

He turns his gaze towards me and our eyes lock. The tension between us is thick with electricity. His green eyes flicker down to my mouth, and I unconsciously dart my tongue out to wet my lips. Teagan inhales deeply through his nose and shuts his eyes, breaking the hold he had on me.

“Well, I better let you get on, then,” he says gruffly.

“Right.” I clear my throat. “Well, have a good night, Teagan.”

Grinning at me, he says, “You too, Lovely. Drive safe. ”

He gets out of the car, shuts the door, and saunters toward the apartment complex. I release the breath I’d been holding and stare after him. Teagan O’Brien is definitely trouble.