CHAPTER FOUR

I puffed on my cigarette so hard I finished it in one drag, hoping its calming effect would work miracles. Though it only made me nauseous.

We made our way back into the pub, and I made a beeline for the bathroom.

A cold shower would have been nice, but I settled for a splash of water on my face. Sujin wasn't far behind. At least she hadn't completely forgotten about me yet.

"Who's the skank?"

I snickered at her vulgarity and totally appalled demeanor. The darn girl hadn't done anything to us, but it helped to vent.

"Well, haven't you heard? That's Kelly. Murphy's girlfriend, obviously." I coldly retorted.

"Gosh, I'm so sorry, Min."

"Hey! Don't pity me now. All I ever wanted was for us to leave in the first place. You're the one that should make sure Connor is single."

"He is; I asked."

Of course.

"Listen," I started, "I'm going to the hotel now."

"Don't!"

"You can stay, Sujin, I don't care. Enjoy your night."

"You know there's no way I'm letting you go there alone."

"I wouldn't want to cock-block you," I sneered now, unloading on her.

"Just one more drink! Then, whenever you say it, we leave, I promise."

"Ugh… You're killing me."

And indeed, being forced to watch Murphy and that girl together was agonizing. Though I was trying to reason with myself: I had barely met the guy; nothing had happened; evidently, nothing was ever going to happen; there was honestly no reason to be bitter. Tomorrow, we'd leave and forget all about them. Right?

So, I tried to make myself as small as possible and remained quietly in my corner, knocking back my pint as fast as possible. I could see that he was distant with her – probably just out of politeness toward me –, but she was having none of it.

What made it just a little bit bearable was to witness how Connor couldn't stand her. He couldn't help looking away and huffing every time she opened her mouth. The feeling might have been mutual, too, because she acted as if he wasn't even there. And I might not have been the most impartial individual at that moment, but I also found her particularly unpleasant.

When Murphy had offered another round of drinks, instead of just declining, she'd had to comment: "Really? You haven't had enough yet?" in the most passive-aggressive way.

Connor did everything he could to disregard her, which meant going out of his way to make Sujin and I crack up. Though it was obvious Kelly resented not being the center of attention.

So, soon enough, she stated: "Well, I'm tired. Let's go, babe."

And it hurt to watch Murphy follow without even a protest. I might have seen him clench his jaw tightly as he bid us goodbye, but that also might just have been me wishing.

I definitely saw Connor sigh, in frustration or relief, when she walked out, though.

"Big fan, huh?" Sujin asked him jokingly, while running her hand through his hair in a soothing manner.

'It's that obvious?" he answered and sweetly kissed her on the cheek.

"Well, it's nice that she's not at all controlling and totally affable with everyone present," she pushed with a smirk.

He just sighed again, defeated. Sujin laid her head on his shoulder; I guess it resonated with her. My second and last boyfriend had hated her. And I had stupidly let it last forever before I'd realized it could never work.

"You should say something to him," she said quietly, "if it's truly that bad."

"Nah, he'll get bored of her soon enough," he brushed it off, and I thought he'd glimpsed at me a bit regretfully then. Again, might be me wishing. "Want another drink?" he asked more cheerfully, standing up and giving Sujin a light kiss on the forehead this time.

My head was swimming. I wanted to cry but also couldn't stop grinning at them. I thought that those two together were a lovely sight. Her raven hair falling on his golden skin, her pale fingers playing around with the ink on his, her coal black eyes plunging into his baby blue ones. They were stunning.

"Huh, we were supposed to…" I think I would have trailed off even if she hadn't thrown me an imploring look. "You know what, never mind, I'd love one."

Her beaming smile was worth the concession.

While he stepped away to get the bartender's attention, she turned briskly to me:

"Comment tu le trouves, Connor ? (How do you find Connor?)"

He turned at hearing his name, close enough to be within earshot, that's why she had switched to French.

"Euh…" I frowned, then glanced at his back and finally grinned. "Il est parfait, Sujin, tu as de la chance. (Huh… He's perfect, Sujin, you're a lucky girl.)" Props to me for saying that without a hint of envy in my voice.

"Si tu veux, on pourrait… Je veux dire, je ne serais pas jalouse si… (If you want we could… I mean, I wouldn't be jealous if…)"

I don't think I ever saw her so coy about anything.

"Je suis pas mal sûre qu'il a une préférence pour toi, tu sais. (I'm pretty sure he has a preference for you, you know.)" I hastened to tell her. I don't want some pity sex. I didn't even want sex in the first place!

But her smile grew to be disturbingly large, and that's when I realized she had a plan:

"Je ne pensais pas te le laisser non plus ; je proposais plutôt qu'on partage. (I wasn't thinking of letting you have him either; I rather offered to share.)"

My eyes widened the size of watermelons. "You're insane."

"C'est juste une expérience. Juste pour ce soir. On ne le reverra jamais, non ? Je me disais que ça pourrait être drôle, c'est tout. (It's just an experience. Just for tonight. We'll never see him again, right? I thought it might be fun, that's all.)"

I shook my head in bewilderment. Surely she must have been flat-out drunk.

That's when I realized he was standing right behind her, with a beer and a whiskey in hand, trying to suppress a smile in vain. I panicked for a second before remembering he couldn't have understood what we were saying. So, I asked him foolishly:

"What are you smiling about?"

"Nothing, lass." He hastily replied, before changing his mind: "I was just thinking ye two were the most gorgeous women I'd ever seen in my life." He put the glasses before us, and went to fetch his own, while Sujin gave me a pointed look. Then, he added: "And I would hate for either of ye to have to sleep in that dreadful hotel."

Isn't he just smooth… They make quite the team.

"Well, we were precisely wondering if you might let us crash at your place instead." Sujin sneakily ventured.

"I don't know," I butted in before he could answer, "Murphy might already be there with Kelly." And it's not like they had a guestroom.

Connor couldn't help snorting at that. "I doubt it. I don't think that girl ever set foot in our place since she first saw it."

I couldn't say I completely blamed her; even I'd thought it was a dump. Yet it still galled me that she wouldn't make an effort for him from time to time.

Still, that didn't mean I was on board with Sujin's idea. Even when I caught Connor giving me a sideway peek like he wouldn't mind himself. It wasn't that the idea wasn't at all enticing – in fact it made my stomach tingle wildly. Especially with those eyes on me right now. And Sujin and I definitely weren't shy around each other; on the contrary, she tended to give me confidence. But, still. It was such a leap from my usual self. There was no way I could say yes.

I think my sister and I had that whole discussion just with our eyes.

However, when I shook my head 'no' at her staring contest, she only smirked.

"The thing is, my dear sister, it's not your decision to make," she claimed.

I opened my mouth to protest, but she elaborated first: "See, it's just past midnight. It's my day now."

I think Connor simpered like an excited puppy.

Damn, did she plan for this the whole time?

"Je crois pas que ça rentre dans le cadre des choix que tu peux faire pour moi, Sujin ! (I don't think that falls into the category of what you can choose for me, Sujin!)" I promptly switched back to French to safely argue.

"Regarde-le et dis-moi qu'il ne t'attire pas, (Look at him and tell me you're not attracted to him,)" she dared me.

I blushed scarlet. "Ça n'a rien à voir ! (That's beside the point!)"

"Ça a tout à voir ! T'en crèves d'envie, Min, tu as juste peur. Fais-moi confiance ! (It's exactly the point! You want it, Min, you're just scared. Trust me!)

"If I may cut in," Connor suddenly said and made me jump, "there's a fairly good couch at my place, and a spare bed at the moment. And if anyone's uncomfortable, I'll close my eyes."

He then leaned in to whisper into my ear: "I promise I don't bite." Why would that comment make me suddenly crave for him to bite me? I fricking shuddered. His charming smile was irresistible.

Sujin dared me with her eyes to say anything now, but before I could, she shrugged: "It's my day, Min, you can't say no."

I darted my eyes from one to the other magnificent bastards in front of me. And suddenly, my whole skin prickled.

So, I just gulped and slowly nodded.

At that, Connor, as if he'd perfectly understood what was at stake, softly grabbed my chin, and very cautiously placed a light peck on my lips. I remained dumbfounded.

Then, he straightened up and, gazing at Sujin now, he grinned a cheeky grin at her. I'm guessing he was trying to make her jealous, but she just answered in her most sultry voice:

"What do you think we take that back to your place, then? Now," she added unequivocally.

I believe I witnessed his eyes immediately darkening, and he replied in a slightly husky voice:

"Ye're the boss."

Thus, she displayed what could only be described as a predatory smile and hopped off her stool.

I just chugged the remaining of my whiskey before I anxiously followed them out.