My heart dropped; I didn’t want Maebh to leave.
Before I had a chance to say anything, my sister whispered to Maebh. Maebh shook her head and seemed to be telling Amelia that it was a mistake to come here.
“Did y’all go out to eat or something?” I asked, moving closer to them. Wade nodded.
“Yeah, we had dinner and drinks and decided to come here.”
I nodded and looked behind Maebh, making both her and Amelia glance over their shoulders.
“Looking for another slut to kiss?” Amelia hissed. I jerked back like I’d been slapped in the face.
“What?” My sisters had never had a problem with my flirting habits before, so why was my baby sister giving me a hard time?
She rolled her eyes. “Come on, Maebh. Let’s go find a seat.”
When the two of them walked off, I asked Wade, “What in the hell is wrong with Meli?”
He lifted his hands and laughed. “Dude, you’re going to have to take it up with your sister.”
“Is Jackson with y’all?”
His brows pulled together tight. “No, why would he be?”
“I figured y’all went on a double date.”
Wade shook his head. “They’re not dating. Maebh mentioned something about him going out on a date tonight with a different girl. I think they’re just friends.”
I couldn’t hide my smile. “Is that so?”
Slapping me on the back, Wade said, “Yeah, dude, but as much as I love standing here talking to you, I want to dance with my wife. She’s been feeling out of sorts lately. I think it’s this book she’s writing.”
“Thanks, bud. Yeah, go dance with her. I’ll bring y’all some drinks.”
“Amelia’s only drinking water,” Wade said before he headed toward a small round table the girls had managed to snag.
I grabbed both Wade and Maebh a beer, as well as a bottle of water for my sister, and headed over to their table. I stopped and asked a few people if they were having a good time and smiled when they all said yes.
It made my fucking heart soar to be here. I’d dreamed of making this bar a success and worked my ass off. To see people enjoying themselves meant the world to me.
By the time I got to the table, though, some dickhead was trying to get Maebh to dance with him.
“I’m up next on her dance card, dude. You might want to move along,” I said, loud enough that Maebh heard me while I handed her the beer. She politely smiled and thanked me.
The prick shot me a dirty look and walked off.
“Thank you. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
I held out my hand. “I wasn’t only trying to get him to leave you alone. Will you dance with me?”
Her eyes lit up, and my damn knees knocked together. Fucking hell. What did this woman do to me?
Then she shrugged and took a drink of her beer. “I think I’ll sit and enjoy me beer. Thanks, though.”
My eyes widened, and I let out a laugh. “You don’t want to dance with me?”
Her gaze shot over to the table where the young girls sat. “I’m sure…happy to dance with you. May want…her first.”
Her accent was so fucking thick, and I couldn’t hear over the music and got every other word.
“What did you say?” I asked, leaning in closer.
“The girl you were kissing…I’m sure she’ll dance with you.”
My eyes darted from Maebh to the table. None of them were even looking this way.
“It wasn’t what it looked like, Maebh.”
She shrugged. “I’m not your girlfriend. You don’t owe me an explanation.”
The waitress came up to the table. “Can I get y’all something?”
I was about to tell her Maebh’s, Amelia, and Wade’s drinks were on the house when Maebh pushed her beer away. “What minerals do you have?”
“Minerals?” we both asked.
“Uh, Maebh, you do realize where you are, right? We don’t sell vitamins, it’s a bar.”
Her face turned red, and I knew in an instant I had embarrassed her.
She wrung her hands in her lap. “I meant soft drinks. Do you have a Diet Coke?”
“Yep! I’ll bring you one.”
Maebh nodded, and stared at the table.
I reached my hand out again. “Dance with me. Now.”
Her head shot up and anger rushed over her face. It was about fucking time I saw something other than a polite smile on her pretty face.
“Excuse me?” she asked, her mouth gaping open.
“Get up, and get into my fucking arms, Maebh. Now.”
She stood, and put her hands on her hips.
“No one tells me what to do. Especially you, stupid fecker.”
“You just called me a stupid fecker. What the fuck is that?”
She shrugged. “I don’t like taking the piss.”
My eyes widened in shock. “Christ almighty, what are you even saying?”
“I’m saying I don’t like being made fun of.”
“I wasn’t making fun of you!” I yelled back, over the music. My heart was pounding harder than the bass