For the next few weeks it'd become routine for Fergal to eat dinner with Lucas and Maggie, then ride with Lucas to the bar. Lucas seemed to be extra flirtatious during their car ride. Fergal chalked it up to his natural personality coming out more. They'd gotten to know each other pretty well but Fergal still hadn't really asked about his relationship with Maggie. He was curious about it but the only thing he really knew about her was that she was also from Sheppey and that she taught dance for a large part of her life. She was also some fairly well known dancer in Sheppey. Lucas seemed to glow when she talked about her life. Maybe he was trying to cover up the deep sadness she seemed to have when she'd talk about coming to New Orleans and buying this particular home. Fergal looked at the side of Lucas's face, he looked like he wanted to ask him something.

"So, there's an event at the college for faculty next month, don't feel obligated but would ya be my plus 1? Figured since you were interested in teaching, ya'd get a feel for what the college is like?"

"Alright. Let me know the details."

"I'll let you know when I get them."

"Sounds good. See ya tomorrow?"

"Of course. Oh wait don't walk away from the car. How much Irish mythology do you know?"

"Enough I suppose? Why?"

"Finn Balor." Lucas smiled. "Kind of shows the duality of a man. One side of you is a hero and the other side is a demon. It was the best of my three ideas."

"Fair. Well, tell Maggie I said hello."

"Will do. Oh not to stack too much on you, but she's having a cocktail party Saturday, trying to um, well, she's having a cocktail party and she wanted me to let you know."

"I have off, so I'll be there." Fergal smiled before walking away.

Lucas drove home. He walked in to a quiet, dark house. He realized that he only knew Fergal for maybe a month, but he was attached. He knew he was walking on a dangerously thin line. The last person to walk into the bar that he fell in lust with hurt him mentally, emotionally, and physically. He didn't want it to ever happen again. It couldn't happen if he never acted on his feelings, if he pretended he had no emotional attachment to Fergal, he could never get hurt. He walked down a hallway in the house and stopped to look at one of the pictures. It was a wedding photo, the couple looked so happy. He wanted the same thing but he was too busy telling himself everything wrong with pursuing it.

The next morning came too fast. He gathered his things for work. He turned to Maggie in the doorway. She looked concerned. She was always concerned when he'd come in at three only to leave at eight. She looked up at his face. Her soft hand caressed his cheek. It was something she hadn't done in years. He missed it. Her smile was one he hadn't seen in years but there was still a sadness behind it.

"Why are you doing this to yourself?"

"Well, I know ya hate it but I enjoy dancing. You're still dancing."

"I'm not talking about dancing Lucas." She smiled.

"Look, I'm running late, can we talk about that later."

"I just want you happy."

"I am happy. Okay? I'm perfectly content."

"I've known you twenty-nine years. I know when you're lying. Have a good day at work."

"I love ya."

"I'll never not love you."

He smiled at the older woman before walking out the door. He had twenty-four hours to figure out the mess he got himself into. It had been a long time since he cried in his car on the drive to work. He just wanted some strand of happiness. He wasn't sure why he lied to Maggie. Maybe part of him didn't want her to think he was going to leave her alone. He pulled his phone out of his pocket. He stared down at it for a few minutes. Debating his next move. He wasn't too sure if there was anyone that could help him.

Lucas: I have a problem and I need to talk to someone.

Rami: Fergal?

Lucas: How'd you know?

Rami: Lucky guess.

On the other side of town, Fergal was looking at a real apartment. The realtor was flirty. She hadn't picked up on his lack of interest. She was still casually touching him and giggling when she'd talk about certain aspects of the one bedroom apartment. For a brief second he imagined that him and Lucas were living here. Completely stupid thought. He looked at the large bedroom. Just this image of him and Lucas sharing this space. He didn't know where these thoughts were coming from. Maybe it was the time he spent with him. They worked and lived the same schedule. Maybe he was getting too close to Lucas. After his appointment he left the apartment. He needed to start thinking about furniture. He had all these overwhelming feelings. He sat down at a small coffee shop across from a ginger haired man.

"This is so overwhelming."

"No I understand. It was really hard when Kevin and I moved here. I can't imagine moving alone."

"I've done it before, I went to Japan for a little. It was so impulsive but there was a cute boy I was chasing."

"Hey, there's a cute boy here you're chasing that I'm positive you could catch is you stopped running."

"This again."

"This always. There's chemistry."

"I don't want to read too deep into anything."

"No I get it. Just the boys are talking. It's been a while since we saw him smile as much as he's been. I can't get into detail but he's been through a lot. He really seems to be happier with you around."

"I don't know. I don't want to get my signals mixed up."

"Again, I understand. I didn't think Kev was even the slightest bit gay. He was working on a building next to the office I was working at and one day he just asked me to dinner, you know, as bros. Here we are fourteen years later married."

Fergal nodded. He was invited to the cocktail party. Maybe he just wanted Fergal there to look at? No he had Maggie. All of Fergal's thoughts kept coming back to her and her relationship with Lucas. He wasn't sure who he was trying to convince that he didn't have feelings for Lucas. They'd gotten to know each other so deeply. There were things he didn't know about Lucas. Lucas always avoided talking about his family. He'd talk about Maggie. He talked a lot about her. That was probably why all of Fergal's thoughts went to her all the time when he thought about talking to Lucas. Maybe he should have been a little outright in asking Lucas about his relationship with Maggie?