The Cad and the Co-Ed
Page 96

“Yes!” I bit out.
“Well, that changes everything.”
“Oh, it does, does it? It’s not like I’ve been trying to explain this to Eilish since Tuesday. She won’t answer any of my calls, and she’s never home.”
“I put her up in a hotel for the week, you pig-headed arse, and she blocked your number.”
I blinked at him, at this information, thinking and saying in unison, “She’s fucking crazy.”
“No. She’s heartbroken.”
“She’s being irrational, stubborn.”
“Maybe.” Sean laughed, shaking his head. “She loves you.”
My heart stopped, and I asked before I could catch myself, “She said that?”
Sean smirked. “She’s not talking at all. I caught her staring at a picture of you two on her phone.”
“So?”
“For a half hour. Just . . . staring.”
Staring.
Fuck. Just thinking of that made my heart burn like crazy. I needed to see her.
“Parents can be meddlesome creatures,” Sean went on thoughtfully. “Especially when it comes to relationships.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. Mine had unintentionally poured gasoline all over my life and set it alight.
I loosened my hold on Sean, and we finally broke apart.
“It’s about time,” Ronan called out. “I thought we were gonna have to book you two a room.”
“Shut your trap, Fitzpatrick,” Sean called back as we both endeavored to catch our breaths.
“So, will you explain what happened to Eilish?” I asked, eyeing him hopefully.
He ran a hand through his short-cropped hair. “Little problem with that. She’s officially banned all talk of you. If I bring up your name, I get the icy stare of death.”
“She’s about half your size, Cassidy. I’m sure you can handle a few mean looks.”
At this he chuckled. “You obviously haven’t experienced the ire of the Cassidy women. Actually, strike that, you are experiencing it, you just haven’t had the pleasure of going through it up close.”
“And I never will if you don’t help me.”
He gave me a sidelong look, wiping his brow.
“Come on, Sean, you know I deserve a chance to explain myself.”
He glanced over my shoulder. “It would be a travesty if you lived the rest of your life without a good tongue lashing from a Cassidy woman,” he said with a glint in his eye before he realized the innuendo.
I shot him a look. “Wrong choice of words, my friend. But since I need your help, I’ll let that one slide.”
He studied me a moment. “Fine, I’ll help you.”
I came forward and gripped him by the shoulders. “Thank you. Seriously, you’re my last hope.”
“Yeah, yeah, just remember you owe me a new pair of cufflinks for my birthday. Take Eilish with you, she has impeccable taste.”
“Noted.”
He started to walk away and was halfway across the pitch when I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted, “And don’t you worry. If all goes to plan there’ll be plenty of tongue lashings from a Cassidy woman in my future.”
He didn’t turn around. However, his hand did shoot up into the air as he flipped me off.
I smiled, feeling hopeful for the first time in days.
***
“What? How . . . how can she do that?”
My solicitor cleared her throat and glanced at her notes again. “I can try and push for it, but it seems she’s quite set in her decision.”
“No. No way.” I shook my head vehemently. “She can’t do that. It’s my right as Patrick’s father to provide for him.”
“Ms. Cassidy is under no legal obligation to accept your financial support.” Mrs. Feelan’s words and expression were apologetic but also matter-of-fact.
I huffed out an irritable breath and clasped my hands together, glancing briefly at the clock on the wall. Eilish and her solicitor were due any minute. We were waiting for them to arrive so that we could discuss the custody agreement and put an end to this absolute clusterfuck of a situation.
I was just about ready to pull my hair out with the ridiculousness of it all.
One conversation and I could fix everything. But she wouldn’t talk to me.
She is so fucking stubborn.
The door opened and I sat up straight. Three people walked into the room. Eilish, Sean, and her solicitor, but I only had eyes for Eilish. She wore a navy pencil skirt, a cream blouse, and a long gray coat. Her hair fell over her shoulders in long waves. She looked beautiful. So beautiful I had to take a moment to catch my breath.
I stood before I knew what I was doing. “Eilish,” I breathed. Those crystal blue eyes came to me, and I hated the neutrality in them, the careful mask she’d put in place. It reminded me of William’s party all those weeks ago, before she’d come to know the man I am now. Before I’d come to know her. Before I fell in love with the kind, generous, and warm woman I knew she was.
“Mr. Leech, please sit down,” Mrs. Feelan urged, a note of caution in her voice, like I might cause a scene or something.
I grimaced and sat while the three newcomers took their seats on the opposite side of the table. Eilish’s solicitor started to speak, but I barely heard a word he said. My focus was too fixed on the stunning redhead sitting across from me. I stared at her until she sensed my attention, and her gaze flicked momentarily to mine. A touch of crimson colored her cheeks, and she glanced away again.