Blackness Within (39 page)

O’Sullivan

“You good?” Kav asks as we pull up in front of Flannigan’s.

“I’m good.”

I am good.

My family is speaking to me again. Natasha’s on her feet again. I’m back in the swing of things. Tonight will be good.

Cian, the doorman at Flannigan’s, offers us all chin lifts as we enter our local pub. We’re here a few times a week depending on our schedules. The atmosphere is classically Irish with heavy wood, sports memorabilia and the smell of good beer.

We settle in at our usual table near the back wall. It’s an average-sized place with a bar along the left wall as you walk in, tables in the middle of the room, darts and pool tables at the back and a stage beyond the tables.

Cal, Finn and Aidan stride over to the bar to get us our first pints while Kav and I stretch out. He’s immediately scanning the room for a random piece. That’s what he does. It’s what I used to do too. I haven’t even felt the urge since I professed it was my typical behavior to Natasha in my backyard. Karma.

“Who’s that?” Kav asks out of the corner of his mouth, staring at a black-haired woman leaning over a pool table.

“I can’t say I’ve seen that ass before,” I snark.

How the hell am I supposed to know who someone is based on her ass and legs from behind? I’m good, but not that good.

“I’m gonna tap that ass,” Kav says decidedly.

He will.

The Callaghan brothers return to our table and we all throw back our pints. Easy banter circles our group as I watch the door intently. I figured Blake and Natasha would be here by now. I check my watch while receiving a nudge from Finn.

“She’ll be here, man,” he assures me with a wink.

I snort and shake my head.

“Wanna play?” I need a distraction and pool seems like a good one at this point.

“Come on,” Aidan agrees.

His large long frame unfolds from his chair and glides over to the table where the faceless ass and her friend have just finished beating two guys that couldn’t give a shit. They were playing for the view, not the win.

“Next game?” Aidan asks with a dazzling smile.

The raven woman smirks at him and nods nonchalantly. Her hair cascades most of the way down her back. She’s average height, which puts Aidan well over a foot above her. Her eyes are a light honey brown color and as she speaks to her friend while Aidan racks the balls, a small dimple puckers her cheek.

I switch my view and catch Aidan staring at her intently. She’s his type. Cute and small. This should be fun.

“I’m Brian,” I introduce myself smoothly to both women.

“I’m Liz.” She has a name.

“I’m Angie and I’m married,” her friend says and flashes a small ring at the same time.

She’s been hit on too much already. I smile sweetly and grab her hand before responding, “Good for him.”

I feel her relax and look into her face to see pride beaming at the ring and the promises it holds. It may be small, but I sense it was dedicatedly worked for. Nothing more beautiful than a happy woman. She pushes her strawberry-blonde bob behind her ear and crinkles her lightly freckled nose at me. “Good for me too.”

I nod and wink at her.

“I’m Aidan,” my friend’s low bass voice comes from behind me.

“Liz,” she says shoving her hand out for a firm shake.

“Angie,” she says with a small wave and then rolls her eyes at me.

Liz and Aidan are still holding hands, having a moment.

I nudge Angie’s shoulder when the wait is becoming comical. She snickers and hops off her stool.

“Come on, Lizzie,” she calls out before smacking her friend’s denim-shorts-covered ass.

“Right,” Liz mutters and follows Angie around the table.

I settle on the stool Angie just vacated, pool cue resting between my legs.

“She’s cute,” I point out the obvious.

“Noticed that,” Aidan mumbles distractedly, as he stares at her ass, bent over to break.

Liz breaks impressively and begins circling the table, focused on the goal at hand. Kicking our asses handily. After sinking half of her balls, Liz misses her shot. When she stands up, she’s frustrated at herself. A perfectionist.

“Go ahead,” I offer Aidan first shot.

He smirks and begins to work the table as well as Liz did. Aidan played a lot of pool when he was in college. I’ve watched him hustle his fair share in his day. No one suspects the doctor to be a pool shark. Once he’s cleared the table and calls his shot on the eight ball, I spy Liz ticking with annoyance. Competitive too.

I bump fists with Aidan as he wins the game. I’m pleased I haven’t had to move other than to drink my beer. I’m a lazy pool player.

“Best two out of three,” Liz demands, striding up to us.

Her cheeks are flushed and her hands are tense at her sides. Fiery.

“That’s all right. We’ve got friends to get back to,” Aidan dismisses her.

I quirk an eyebrow at him and shrug when he doesn’t respond. If he doesn’t want a shot at Liz, it’s his loss.

“Come on. Don’t leave me hangin’ like that,” she complains sweetly, turning on the charm.

“Well, I’m not known to leave a woman wanting,” Aidan flirts with a wicked grin on his lips.

Liz’s tongue darts out as a little want flames in her honey eyes.

“Are we playin’ or talkin’?” Angie yells with her hands on her hips.

She shoots me a knowing smile and I beam one back at her.

“Two outta three, honey,” Aidan purrs and moves away to rack the balls.

Liz stands stock still as Aidan brushes past her. He makes her nervous. That’s good.

“So, Liz,” I prompt and she jumps a little before coming out of her fog. “What do you do?”

“I’m a volleyball coach,” she says with pride.

“My sister played volleyball. Where do you coach?”

“I coach an AAU team up north. Where’d your sister play?”

“Shawnee Mission Northwest and a local club I can’t remember the name of. She played at the University of Chicago too.”

Liz studies my face for a while as though she’s putting together a puzzle before asking, “Shannon Kelly?”

“That’s the one. You play with her?”

“Against her. She was a great player. I didn’t know she had a brother.”

“She’s got nine,” I reply with a chuff.

“No shit?” she asks disbelieving

“No shit. Aidan’s one of ’em, along with that table of idiots over there,” I say nodding at the guys.

“Big family,” she retorts, taking in the table.

“Huge,” I say suggestively. I can’t help myself.

Her eyes cut to mine before we both dissolve into deep belly laughs. I like this chick.

“Your break, O’Sullivan,” Aidan bellows over the loud Irish folk music.

“What was that about?” he asks when I reach the table.

“Talkin’ about your big dick, buddy,” I snark and push him out of the way.

I break as Aidan saunters over to Liz. He’s putting on the charm just enough to have her putty in his hands by the end of the night.

I move around the table and sink a few balls. When I miss, Angie takes over. Her and I chat about this and that as she shoots. She’s not as good as Liz, but she’s holding her own. She coaches with Liz and we talk sports a little. She’s not originally from Kansas City, which explains the slight twang she has.

She’s funny. I find myself laughing and having a really good time. It’s nice not to have the pussy patrol pressure. I think she feels relaxed because I’m not hitting on her.

Angie measures her next shot at the end of the table and bends over to stroke her cue a few times. I see him coming before she senses his presence. Some douche bag saddles up behind her and grabs her hips before grinding into her. She scratches as she stands up and whips around to confront her assailant.

I beat her to the punch.

“Hey!” I yell as I round the table.

The asshole’s drunken gaze snaps to mine and he takes a step away from a shaking Angie.

“She yours?” he slurs.

“Yeah. Touch her, so much as fuckin’ breathe the same air as her, and I’ll shove my fist down your goddamn throat,” I seethe, wrapping a protective arm around Angie’s shoulders.

“Shouldn’t let your woman dress like a slut,” he grumbles and I see red.

Angie’s wearing normal shorts and a T-shirt. She’s not dressed like a slut. But here’s the thing. A woman could be standing here naked and I wouldn’t give a shit. You don’t get to touch a woman just because you think you can. She can dress in a skimpy revealing outfit or like an Amish person. It doesn’t matter.

“Angie, move over there,” I growl in her ear. She scurries away quickly.

“Problem?” Kav asks at my side.

“Can’t wait to hear this,” Aidan pipes in.

“He gonna recite the periodic table?” Finn adds to the fray.

“I’d rather hear a nursery rhyme,” Cal finishes the taunting.

“Get the fuck outta here,” I snarl at Captain Numbnuts.

Some of his boys have joined the group and we look like an old-fashioned show down. Earps versus the Cowboys.

“You gonna make me?” he says through a snort.

I don’t answer. I drive my fist in his face. Both groups go at it. We end up on the ground as you always do in a brawl in tight quarters. This guy has no idea how to fight and I’m pounding him into the floor.

“O’Sullivan, back off,” Cian orders, yanking me off the dude’s limp body.

I climb to my feet and hold my hands up, indicating I’m done.

Cian and the other bouncers haul dumbshit and his crew out of the pub as Kav announces, “I fuckin’ love Flannigan’s!”

The rest of the place hoots and hollers in agreement. The owner behind the bar, Jack, shakes his head at me with a smirk. We didn’t break anything so he’s not pissed. This is not the first fight we’ve had here. It won’t be the last.

I turn my attention to Angie and Liz. They’re both staring at our group in shock and a little pleased.

“You okay?” I ask Angie as I right my button down, rubbing my bloody hands on a rag Kav hands me.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she admonishes me. “But thanks.”

“You’re not dressed like a slut, Angie. And even if you were, no man should do what he just did to you. What would your husband have done if her were here?” I ask, stepping close to her.

“He’d be goin’ to jail,” she scoffs.

“Good man,” I compliment her.

“You shouldn’t be fighting,” Liz growls at Aidan.

“Why’s that?” he asks with a furrowed brow.

“You’re a surgeon. You can’t mess up your hands,” she responds in a duh voice.

“I’m good,” he assures her before pulling her beneath his long arm.

She takes the rag from my hands and wipes a little blood that’s on his shirt.

“A little lower,” he goads.

She doesn’t know he’s joking and looks lower until it hits her. She slaps the rag against his chest and snickers.

“Another game?” Aidan asks the group.

I shrug and wait for the girls to decide. While I’m waiting, I scan the room and spot Natasha’s large grey eyes across the pub, studying me. There’s confusion on her features, anger maybe.

I don’t know when she got here, but if she saw the fight, I’m figuring she didn’t like witnessing it. God only knows what kind of brutality she saw and experienced while she was with Vojtech.

I make a move to approach her just as Blake wraps an arm around her shoulders and leads her out of the pub. Shit.

“Be right back,” I mumble and shove my way through the room to get to the exit.

When I’m out on the sidewalk, I search the area for Blake and Natasha. I spot them thirty feet away hailing a cab.

“Hey!” I shout and run their direction.

“Hey,” Blake responds as he lets Natasha in the backseat of their cab.

“Not stayin’?” I ask the stupid question.

“Too much too soon,” Blake lies.

I nod and lean over the door to talk to Natasha.

“Sorry, Grey,” I apologize for my fight. I know that’s why she’s leaving.

“I shouldn’t have come out. I need a bit more time,” she whispers not looking at me.

“Get home safe,” I say softly before shutting the door.

Blake claps my back a few times before rounding the trunk and folding into the backseat. I watch them drive away until I can’t see their taillights anymore.

Well, that was a bust. I can only hope that I didn’t set her back. I don’t want to be the reason she’s hurting or struggling. If she were mine, I’d follow her home and make sure she was okay. No, I’d take her to
my
home and make certain she felt safe in my arms and in my bed all night. The friend zone sucks.