“You’re being paranoid,” said Ronan. “No one’s looking to replace you, Cassidy. Despite the fact that we’d all like to shove your head down a toilet most days, you’re unfortunately talented. It’s the only reason we put up with your piss poor personality.”
Sean didn’t seem to hear the veiled compliment Ronan had given him, and instead focused on the insult. “That’s funny, because your girls have a history finding my personality irresistible. Or maybe they just find you lacking.” His glacial eyes slithered to my brother’s fiancé, “It’s really just a matter of time.”
Ronan stood from his seat and took a step forward. Annie tried to grab his hand and pull him back down but he was already gone. Before we knew it he was inches away from Sean, glaring daggers.
“If you want to keep playing for this team then you’ll shut your fecking face right now.”
Sean stared at him, apparently unaffected by Ronan’s aggression. “Oh, so all of a sudden you get a say in who does and doesn’t play for the team? I failed to get the memo that you were now our manager.”
“Leave. Now,” said Ronan, his jaw working. If I knew my brother, then I knew it was taking a great effort for him not to deck Sean right then. He had a notoriously short fuse, and Sean Cassidy was an expert at pulling his strings.
Barely a second passed before several of the guys were up from their seats and leading Sean out of the room. He went, but not before flashing Ronan a big, challenging smile as he left. Ronan sat back down beside Annie, who gave him a soft kiss on the lips and whispered in his ear. I guessed she was telling him not to let Sean get to him. I knew she meant well, but there was just too much animosity between the two men for them to just let it go. Granted, I’d only ever been an outsider looking in, but if I knew anything about rugby, I knew that it was chockfull of testosterone and egos, and those two were not a good mix.
After a couple of minutes everybody seemed to settle down. Though after Sean’s appearance, our cheerful gathering wasn’t quite as jovial as before. Needing to pee, I left the private party and went in search of a bathroom. I was just leaving a stall when I saw Mam standing by the make-up counter, re-applying her lipstick. Her blue eyes caught on me and she gave me her usual expression. It was neither a smile nor a frown, but something in between.
“Lucy, where have you been all evening? I’ve been wanting to introduce you to the son of a friend of mine. He’s a real dish, owns his own company and everything.”
“Oh,” I said, noncommittally. If the guy had my mother’s approval then he was more than likely a total Patrick Bateman. Perfect on the outside, rotten on the inside.
I washed and dried my hands then Mam slipped her arm through mine. “Come on, we can go find him now.” Her eyes went to my hair for a second, almost regretfully. I knew she was embarrassed by it. In a way, that was one of the main reasons why I did it. In another way, it wasn’t. I wanted to be able to express myself in a manner that made me happy. And having hair a color that couldn’t be found in nature did exactly that.
We were just leaving the bathroom when I tried to pull my arm from hers. “Maybe later, Mam. I promised Annie I’d be back soon. We’ve have a lot of work stuff to discuss.”
“This is a party, Lucy. Work can wait for another day.”
I stood my ground, planting my feet firmly on the floor and not allowing her to lead me any further.
“No, Mam, I’m going back to Annie. I don’t want to meet your friend’s son.”
She gaped at me, as though surprised by my outburst. A few moments elapsed, and I couldn’t tell if she was going to lose it with me or not. In the end she didn’t, probably because there were too many people about. She plastered the fakest smile I’d ever seen on her face and said, “Okay, darling. You go to Annie. Enjoy the party. I’ll see you back at the house.”
And with that she turned and strode off. I knew her last line wasn’t as benign as she made it sound. The second I got home tonight I’d be in for it. Yes, she’d hold back all her dissatisfaction until then, when there were no watchful eyes about to witness it. The thought made me start to wish there was something around that I could steal…maybe a few champagne glasses. They’d fit in my handbag, right?
I let out a long sigh once she was gone and slumped back against the wall. Pulling my phone from my bag, I checked to see if I had any messages. I had just one and it was from Annie. Reading it made me smile and drove away all of my thieving urges.
Annie: If we locked your brother and Sean in a room, what do you think the odds would be on whether or not they’d murder each other or start crying and having an emotional heart to heart?
I snorted and typed out a quick reply.