Page 33 of Red Card (Prescott University #1)

I changed my outfit at least five times before settling on a pair of tight, dark-washed jeans that I know Cillian likes because he can’t seem to stop staring at my ass in them, and a simple, silk camisole with my combat boots.

And my leather jacket because it’s one of my favorites now.

Mostly because it makes me feel like a badass, and I need all the bad-bitch vibes I can get tonight.

I know that it’s just dinner with Cillian’s sister, and that we’re just friends.

But it still has me feeling slightly anxious because I’ve never done this before, and therefore I have absolutely no idea what to expect.

I’ve never met the sister of someone I like… and have feelings for.

Exhaling, I run my palms down the front of my thighs once more.

I even wore my hair down. Well, half of it’s pulled back by a small clip, but still.

I’ve started to realize that even though I’m probably always going to be a casual girl, I do like experimenting with new things. Even if they’re not something I end up liking, a.k.a. the latex dominatrix dress that I will never speak of ever again, it’s still good to try.

Before I can knock on Cillian’s front door, it swings open and a girl around my age appears. I’m assuming this is Aisling, his sister.

Holy. Shit.

She looks so much like Cillian, it’s startling. If I didn’t know there was an age difference, I would think they were twins.

Dark, curly hair falls to her waist, wispy bangs brushing the tops of her eyebrows, and pale green irises partially veiled behind purple-framed glasses.

When a wide smile overtakes her face, there’s a slight dimple in each of her cheeks, and immediately, I feel my shoulders relaxing.

Clearly, her brother got the broody gene because this girl seems like sunshine, and it immediately makes me less anxious.

My anxiety wasn’t so much about Cillian but about meeting Aisling for the first time, and worrying if she’ll like me. She’s the most important person in his life, and I just want to make a good impression.

“Hi!” she says. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” She’s about the same height as me, with a small dainty frame that’s draped in a colorful baggy sweater and flared yoga pants, with a pair of fuzzy slippers. Her style is quirky, colorful, and fun, and I love it.

She comes in for a hug and my arms slide around her, returning it, and I realize that I’m smiling too. It’s hard not to. She’s got the same charismatic charm that I’ve seen her brother possess.

“Hi. You must be Aisling?”

She nods. “And you’re Rory. I have a million questions, starting with how do you put up with my brother?”

“Aisling, Christ, can she come in the bloody apartment before you bombard her?” I hear Cillian’s deep voice from behind her, and I giggle.

Aisling rolls her eyes. “See? Come in. We got pizza, and I thought we could watch a new horror movie? Cillian hates them, but he puts up with them because I love them so much.” She gestures me inside the apartment and shuts the door behind us.

Cillian walks into view, looking exceptionally hot tonight in a T-shirt and sweatpants, his feet bare on the hardwood. He’s rubbing the back of his neck, his expression apologetic. “Sorry, I’ve quite literally never heard her talk this much.”

“Well someone has to carry on a conversation because we all know it won’t be you!” Aisling retorts beside me, giving him a pointed look.

He just grins.

I already know I’m going to love seeing the two of them together. He feels so different from the Cillian that I’ve come to know. He seems less reserved and more at ease.

Dragging his attention to me, his gaze travels over my body and back to meet my eyes. “St. James.”

“Cairney.”

We stand in the foyer, staring at each other stupidly for a few brief moments, that familiar magnetic tug appearing like usual, making me want to reach for him. Something that I’ve recently found myself wanting to do when we’re together.

It’s dangerous.

“Thanks for coming,” he says.

I roll my lips together to bite back the smile, my face flushing at what he really means.

It is my way of thanking him after…

“Yeah, of course,” I squeak, earning me a grin. It warms my insides, my stomach flipping in response.

He’s entirely too attractive when he smiles. It’s unnerving.

Aisling’s brow furrows deep, and she looks between the two of us, shaking her head. “Why do I feel like there’s something weird happening right now?”

We both remain quiet, until finally Cillian laughs. “Come on, we’ve got pizza, and this stupid bloody movie that Ais is bullying me into watching.”

It’s hilarious that Aisling is capable of bullying him .

He takes my jacket from me and hangs it on the coat hook in the foyer, his dark eyes sliding appreciatively over the silk camisole. “New?”

I nod. “Another impulse purchase that worked out. I think it flatters my figure.”

“You could wear a paper bag and still be beautiful, St. James,” he responds with a shake of his head. “But I like it. It looks amazing on you.”

My lip tilts upward. “Thank you.”

I follow Cillian out of his foyer and into the apartment.

It’s small but cozy. Obviously his sister has taken to decorating some.

There are plush throws and pillows on the couch and picture frames on the bookshelves in the corner.

Hundreds of books are overflowing from it, and I turn to Aisling, who’s seated at the table opening the pizza box.

“Have you read all of these?”

“Mostly.” She laughs, scrunching her nose. “There are a few that are still on my Tbr, but I’m always reading.”

“ Always ,” Cillian interjects. Aisling sticks her tongue out at her brother and rolls her eyes feigning annoyance, but I can see the hint of a smile playing on her lips.

“She wouldn’t leave London without them.

Paid an arm and a leg to have them shipped over. I packed these bloody things for days.”

God, he packed them all for her and had them shipped here? Cillian Cairney may actually be a big secret softie.

It’s incredibly sweet and thoughtful of him to do that for his sister.

“Surprisingly, he barely complained. Though… there was a lot happening at once,” she says in a strange tone, suddenly clearing her throat. “Anyway, yes. Thank you, big brother, for using your big strong muscles and packing all of my babies. Reading is kind of my escape.”

“I totally get it. I actually do cross-stitch, and it’s a way for me to just like… zone out? Like my brain can just focus on it without having to think very hard. Sometimes I just want to binge-watch shitty TV and do a cross-stitch,” I admit. Mostly just The Office or True Blood .

Cillian pulls out a chair for me, and I drop down into it as Aisling hands me a paper plate.

“Yeah, that’s the glory of finding something you love.

It serves your purpose. Sometimes I just want to disappear into a fictional world and fall in love with a fictional man.

They’re always better than the real thing anyway.

Oh, before you leave I have to give you a copy of this book that I read a few weeks back and loved. God, it was incredible.”

Cillian blanches. “Please do not subject me to talk of your romance books, Ais. Please, I’m literally begging you.”

The expression on his face is comical, and I can’t help but giggle.

“It would be the most interesting thing to happen to you all week, Cillian,” she retorts sassily.

And that’s exactly the way dinner goes, the two of them teasing each other in between the questions Aisling asks me. It genuinely feels like she wants to know me, not just because Cillian and I are friends but because she’s interested.

After we finish eating, we end up on the worn couch in the living room while Aisling grabs a snack.

She told me tonight that she’s got type 1 diabetes, something that Cillian had already mentioned to me in passing, and she has to monitor her blood sugar and be mindful about what she eats.

Hence the cauliflower pizza she had for dinner.

I make a mental note to try to find a type of dessert to bake for her that I could sub sugar for an alternative.

Cillian’s sitting beside me, close enough that his leg is pressed against mine, but otherwise not touching me. It feels weird, being this close to him without touching him, and that realization makes a swirl of anxiousness appear in my stomach.

How easily I could become… attached to him even knowing that this is temporary, and that we’re simply a casual hookup.

“You good, St. James?” Cillian whispers near my ear, his breath fanning along my earlobe and causing me to shiver.

I nod, forcing a small smile. I’m not ever going to mention the thoughts racing through my brain. They’re fleeting anyway. As long as I remind myself that I knew exactly what I was getting into, what I practically begged him for, I’ll be fine.

“I can take you home if you want. You don’t have to stay for the movie if you don’t want to.”

I turn my head to face him, lifting a brow. “Are you trying to get out of this movie? Because you’re scared?”

His head drops back against the couch as he laughs. “As if. I’m not scared of a fucking horror movie, Rory. I just get a bit queasy with blood.”

“You’re a rugby player …” I say, unable to keep the disbelief from my tone. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rugby match that didn’t have some type of bleeding injury.”

“Nah, that type of blood doesn’t bother me, it’s the crazy shit on the screen that does. Guts and organs and shit.”

I chew the inside of my lip for a moment before saying, “You know, this reminds me of Wren and the caterpillar debacle.”

“Absolutely not,” he deadpans, shooting me a glare.

I smile, shifting slightly to lean into his side. “It’s okay to be afraid. Even if you are this big, broody, muscley guy, Cillian. Real men have fears too. Everyone does.”

“Bloody hell,” he mutters before throwing his arm over my shoulder and hauling me against his side, giving me the perfect spot to admire all of said muscles.

Aisling comes bounding back into the living room, a bowl of carrots with ranch drizzled over the top of them. “Ready? This one is gory, Kill. Your fav!”

The rumble of his groan fills the room around us, and I don’t even try to hide my smile.