3 Seconds (Time for Love 6)

I grinned at my friends then raised my glass and said, “To making bad decisions.”

“Absolutely,” Cass said as she downed her cosmo.

“Just do what feels right,” Ming added.

I nodded slightly, feeling much better after having talked things out with my girls. Unable to resist any longer, I searched my contacts, looking for Brendan’s number. When I found a contact listed at Rock God, I rolled my eyes, even as I laughed out loud.

Chapter Five ~ Brendan

Rock God… Really???

I grinned as I read the text, which I knew had to be from Bronagh. She was the only one whose phone I’d hijacked.

“What are you grinning about?” my brother Brady asked, causing me to turn my attention from my phone, and back to him.

We were over at Brock and Victoria’s for our weekly family dinner. They’d gone inside to change Declan, my nephew, while Brady and I lounged by the pool with our beers.

“Nothing you’d understand,” I replied, never one to pass up the opportunity to push my brother’s buttons.

“Shit,” Brady replied with a crooked grin. “What’s to understand? You meet a girl at the bar, flirt, play the rocker card, and take her home … You’re a pretty simple guy, Bren.”

I looked at him, surprised that his barb had taken hold.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, suddenly serious. “This one might be different.”

His gaze turned assessing as he leaned in closer.

“Are you saying you didn’t pick her up at the bar and take her home?”

I couldn’t blame Brady for being suspicious. My brother was cynical on his best days, and he was pretty spot on with my track record. But I didn’t like him talking about Bronagh that way, and that told me that she was different.

I wanted you to be able to find my number… How’s it going, freckles?

I was still smiling as I waited for her to respond, but my tone was hard when I said, “She’s a woman, not a girl, and it doesn’t matter how we met, what matters is that I want to see her again. I think there’s something there, bro, and I don’t want to screw it up.”

Brady sat in silence, watching me curiously as he processed what I’d said.

I’d never had a serious relationship. And other than my date to the prom, I’d never brought a girl home to meet my brothers. I didn’t date, I hooked up. I’d never met a girl I wanted to get to know better.

I had my brothers and my friends, and that had been enough for me … until now.

I don’t know what it was about Bronagh, but I wanted to get to know her better. To find out what this pull that I felt toward her was, to see what it meant.

Good. Just having drinks with my friends. What are you up to? I think we need to talk…

I’m at my brothers’ right now, but can meet you in a bit, so we can “talk”.

I smirked as I pressed send, but I had to admit, I really hoped she wanted to get together tonight. Whatever she wanted to talk about, I was sure I could convince her to give me a shot.

Come by Callaghan’s when you’re done.

I’ll be there in thirty.

“Bren’s got a girlfriend,” Brady called in a singsong voice when Brock and Victoria walked outside, Brock cradling Declan in his arms.

I punched Brady in the arm, then sighed when Victoria gushed, “Yay! It’s about time. When can we meet her?”

Brock just looked at me, his skepticism apparent.