Author's Note:
Hi readers! I know it's annoying when I keep putting up the notes, but I wanted to thank you again for reviewing.
On another subject though, I have to admit that I've never been to Boston. I live in the UK and have never been outside my Country, so none of the street names I put in the story are actually in Boston. They might be, but I'm just making them up as I go. Just giving you a little heads-up about it.
Anyway, thanks for reading and review you can. :)
Two hours and god-knows how many beers later I found myself in one of the booths, Rocco on my left with the twins opposite us. It was around 9:30 and any other Sunday I'd be at home, watching TV or doing my homework. But no, instead I was out carrying on with my sisters revenge-plan. And even though I knew I would definitely regret drinking in the morning, I couldn't stop. It was taking the edge off, and I found myself addicted to the feeling. Plus, the men surrounding me managed to spin my head away from all the stress with their amusing fights and teases. But I realised the more I listened and talked to them, the less enthusiastic I was about screwing Murphy over. Not that I'd ever tell Camille about it.
"So Gracie," I pulled myself out of my thoughts as Connor spoke. "What do ye do?"
I tilted my head, slightly confused. "Hmm?"
"Where do ye work lass?" He clarified, chuckling slightly.
I inwardly sighed and thought for a moment. Sure I worked, my parents made sure I started working once I turned sixteen. So I'd tell them, but I also had to wonder just how much information I'd have to give them. But hopefully they wouldn't ask for that much.
"I work at a pet store." I shrugged, crossing my arms on the table.
"Really now? Which one?"
"I don't think I should tell you. Don't want to get myself stalked now do I?"
"We're not the stalking type lass." Murphy chuckled.
Connor shook his head and pointed at his brother. "Ye sure about dat? I do remember you bein' slightly infatuated with a lass once, couldn' stay away from 'er."
The comment earned him a light hit to the head, something the two seemed to do to each other quite a bit.
"I don' get infatuated ye fuckin' ass! The girl's follow me, not the other way aroun'."
I leaned forward, slightly curious. "Girls actually stalk you guys?"
Both boys turned away from each other, facing me instead.
"Well, not since we started takin' 'em back to Roc's." Connor shrugged.
"Aye, after this dumb asses one-night stand went wrong we had to stop takin' people back home." Murphy added, smirking slightly.
"What happened?" I questioned, resting my head on my palm.
"Ye know lass, ye seem awfully curious about our love live's," Connor started, trying to steer the conversation away from him. "I wanna know about yers."
"Aye," Murphy agreed. "Tell us about yer's lass, if ye can o' course."
I tilted my head at him. "What do you mean?"
He shrugged. "Well, pretty little thing like ye mus' o' had lots of boyfriend's."
I smiled in amusement while Connor shot him a look of disbelief and annoyance.
"Really?"
"What?" The dark-haired brother shrugged, a confused expression on his face.
"She ain't gonna sleep with ye Murph, so stop hittin' on 'er."
"The night is young my dear brother." Murphy shrugged, winking at me afterwards.
"Aye, but I don' think ye'll ever get 'er dat drunk."
"Boys!" Rocco exclaimed, earning their attention. "Maybe she doesn't go for foreigners, maybe she wants an Italian."
I giggled at their expressions as their friend placed an arm around my shoulders, taking another gulp of his beer as he did.
"If yer Italian den dat make's ye foreign as well ye dumb-ass!" Murphy exclaimed, both brothers laughing at Rocco's embarrassment.
"Oh fuck you both." He mumbled, pulling his arm back.
"So take us out of our misery lass, what kind o' boys do ye go for?" Connor asked, leaning forward slightly.
The sudden attention to me was quite scary, considering I'd never had three guys' attention before. Usually Camille was the one with guys hanging onto her every word. So having the complete attention of these guys was making me nervous.
"I don't exactly have a 'type'." I finally replied, tapping my fingernails against the table - a result of how fidgety I became when I had people's attention.
"Fine den, what's yer lucky number?" Murphy asked, leaning against the wall to his right.
"My lucky number?" My eyes narrowed our of confusion and curiosity.
"How many people you fucked." Rocco clarified, finally done with his pouting.
I nodded in understanding, but suddenly became nervous again. My number - that wasn't even close to lucky - wasn't very impressive.
"How about this," I offered, leaning forward against the table. "I ask a question, you guys ask a question. If you don't answer then..." I paused, trying to think of something punishable.
"Ye 'ave ta take a shot." Murphy finished, earning a nod of approval from his brother.
"I'll go grab 'em!" Rocco exclaimed excitedly, rushing towards the bar a few feet away.
Now the only thing I'd been drinking so far was the beer, but I had a feeling that if I did take a shot, I'd be worse off in the morning. Camille had tried them, with her being a party-girl and everything, and told me that it tasted horrible and weird. She usually told me this stuff after coughing up everything in her stomach, so when Murphy declared the shot punishment, my stomach went crazy. The only option was for me to answer every question they threw my way, either that or take a shot and risk ending up exactly like my big-sister in the morning. Something I was not looking forward to.
"Here we are!" The Italian suddenly exclaimed, placing a tray full of shots on the table. "I had no money, so I just told Fuck-Ass over there that you boys would cover it." He added, smiling sheepishly at the brothers.
"No worries Roc', this'll be worth it I'm sure." Connor reassured, smirking my way.
"So, who's gonna start?" I asked, ignoring the nervous tingles in my stomach.
"I will," Murphy rushed as Rocco opened his mouth.
"Damn." Rocco sighed, lightly smacking the table in frustration.
The twin smirked and turned to me. "So Grace, what is yer lucky number?"
I knew that question would be the first from one of the twins, and as embarrassed as I was about telling it, I was determined not to drink that shot.
"One."
A spray of beer flew across the table, successfully hitting Rocco on the face.
"Fuck Murph!" He exclaimed, wiping at his wet face.
The twins said nothing, instead choosing to stare at me in both disbelief and confusion.
"Ye can' be serious." Murphy said, shaking his head slightly.
I shrugged in response. "I don't know what to tell yah, it was my first time and I haven't done it since."
"But...I mean...look at ye." Connor stuttered.
"I have no idea how to take that."
He shook his head at me. "No I jus' mean, yer fuckin' gorgeous lass. Seriously? One guy?" He held up his index finger as he said it.
"One guy." I confirmed, smiling slightly at the compliment.
"Well fuck me."
I rolled my eyes at the two, running my finger across the rim of the beer glass in front of me.
"Anyway, my turn." I stated, desperate to get the game moving on and away from my first - and last - time. "I know you guys aren't identical twins, but have you ever tried to trick anyone with the twin thing?"
"Well, it's kind o' hard when yer not identical, but we've done a few things." Connor replied, looking slightly smug about it.
"Aye, we switched name's once, jus' ta see what 'appened." Murphy added.
"How did that go?" I asked, taking a small sip of the beer.
"Well, it was weird. If someone called Connor, den dey were talkin' ta me. An' if someone called me, dey were talkin' ta Connor. An' you can imagine what 'appened with the sex." Murphy said, shaking his head at the memory.
Connor nodded, laughing slightly. "Aye, he damn-near shite 'imself when the lass moaned out my name when he was the one kissin' 'er."
I giggled at Murphy's annoyed expression, actually wishing I'd seen his shocked face in that moment.
"Don' ye dere try dat! Ye crapped yerself jus' as much when the girl screamed my name when ye were doin' 'er." The dark-haired twin retorted, laughing afterwards.
Connor narrowed his eyes. "Oh fuck ye."
"Okay, okay. I got a question," Rocco announced, earning our attention. "Why only one guy?" The question was obviously directed at me.
"I don't know," I shrugged. "It just hurt so much the first time I swore I'd never do it again. Plus the guy was a huge douche-bag."
"Ye actually swore to never have sex again?" He asked, a look of complete disbelief on his face.
"Yep."
"Christ lass." Murphy muttered, shaking his head.
"Lords name." Connor told him, earning an eye-roll from his brother.
"I just, don't see what's so good about sex." I admitted.
The looks I got from the men when those words escaped my mouth, I couldn't describe. It was a mix between disbelief, confusion, and some amusement.
"Ye can' be serious." Connor pleaded.
"Oh I'm serious." I confirmed, shrugging afterwards. "I mean, it's always good for the guys but never for the girls. All you boys want is the cookie."
"The what?" Rocco asked, his head resting on his closed fist.
"The cookie. It's what my sister calls her...well, you know." I gestured down at my lower-half and they all nodded in understanding.
"That's a fair point Gracie, but not all guys are like dat." Murphy stated.
"Aye, some guys actually like to get the girls goin', it's a pretty big ego-booster." Connor added.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah well, I have yet to find a guy like that."
"Maybe ye already have."
"Either way," I sighed, shaking my head at the slight hint he threw my way. "I swore to never do it again, end of story."
"Not the end lass, one of us'll turn ye mind 'round at some point." Murphy shrugged.
"Maybe, but not tonight. What time is it anyway?" I asked, holding back a yawn.
He glanced at the clock on the wall before turning back to me. "Nearly ten."
I sighed, knowing I'd have to get home. If I didn't I knew I'd carry on drinking, and wouldn't be able to go to school the next morning, or work afterwards.
"I gotta go." I told them, getting to my feet.
They all groaned in protest.
"C'mon Grace, stay for another beer at least." Murphy begged.
I shook my head at him. "Sorry, maybe another night."
"I'll hold ye to it." He smirked, pointing warningly.
"I'll bet." I giggled. "Anyway, see you round guys."
I waved at the three before exiting the bar, feeling slightly woozy as I did. Like last night though it wasn't enough to make me sick, or make me feel like I had vertigo, but it was enough to make my walking slightly wavy.
It wasn't freezing outside, but it was enough to make me shiver and wrap my arms around myself. Camille should have been on the corner waiting, like she told me she would be. But as I squinted, I couldn't see any trace of the familiar blue car. The street was nearly empty, with it being Sunday night and everything, people were most-likely sleeping by now, getting some good sleep in before work tomorrow. Something I should have been doing myself.
"You a'right there lass?"
I flinched and looked back to see Connor leaning against the wall next to the door, a cigarette in hand.
"Yeah, just looking for my sister." I replied, once again scanning the street.
"Well Gracie, doesn' look like she's around." He moved forward until he was stood right next to me.
"I know," I sighed, inwardly cussing out my sister. "I have no idea how I'm gonna get home."
"Why don' ye jus' call a taxi?"
"Because I didn't bring any money with me." I sheepishly admitted, biting my bottom lip.
"That's because ye knew us lads would be buyin' for ye all night." He chuckled.
I smiled in amusement, rolling my eyes slightly. "Well, it wasn't like you gave me a say in it."
He threw an arm around my shoulder, lightly tugging me into his side as he leaned down. "Wasn' like ye were complainin'."
Rolling my eyes - again - I turned to him, inwardly jumping as I realised how close we were. And instead of pulling away - like I should have - my drunkenly-confident mind convinced me to lean into him more. I wound my left arm around his waist, resting my head against his chest.
"So, how do you propose I get home?"
He sighed over-dramatically. "Well, I could be a complete jack-ass an' let ye walk 'ome alone, in this cold weather in the middle o' the night. But my ma raised me better, so I'm gonna call ye a taxi."
I narrowed my eyes in confusion, looking up at him. "But I have no money."
"I'll pay for ye Gracie, don' worry 'bout it." He reassured, sounding slightly amused.
"But...I don't know how to pay you back."
He rolled his eyes and turned so that we were face-to-face. "Don' worry 'bout it, I'll think o' somethin'. Now c'mon, ye ain't stayin' out 'ere alone."
I nodded and smiled, letting him lead me back into the bar.
~...~...~...~...~...~
"Are you sure about this?" I once again asked, turning to face him as I leaned against the cab.
"Stop askin' Gracie, I'm positive. Now go home lass, stop stressin'." He reassured.
I sighed in annoyance. Men never did something for a girl unless they got something from it, yet here he was paying for me to get home, even though I wasn't giving him anything for it. It was pretty confusing for me.
"C'mon Connor, there has to be something you want back from me!"
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "What do ye think I want from ye?"
I rolled my eyes. "I don't know. Sex, blow-job, something around that general area since I'm pretty sure you don't need or want money from me."
"What kind o' guys you been around lass?" He asked, both amused and curious.
"Jerks. So c'mon, what is it you want? You probably won't get it but I'm still curious."
He sighed in thought. "Well, maybe dere is somethin'."
Bingo. Finally something that made sense to me.
"Where do ye work?"
That was not what I expected.
"Come again?"
He chuckled. "Where do ye work lass?"
"Bella's Pet-Store. It's down the road from this Catholic Church further into town, on Clark Street. Why?"
He once again sighed over-dramatically, causing me to roll my eyes for the tenth time that night.
"Because, I wanna see ye again."
I smiled slightly, my brain slightly frazzled from either the booze or his announcement.
"Really?"
He nodded. "Aye."
"I work Monday's and Thursdays, four till seven."
"Den I guess I'll see ye soon Gracie."
He took both my hands in his and raised them to his face, kissing the back of both hands before releasing them.
"Charming." I smiled.
He shrugged. "Tol' ye dere was more."
The cab behind us beeped and I rolled my eyes.
"I guess I'll see you around?" I asked, pulling the cab door open.
"Definitely Gracie."
He shut the door after I entered, handing me some cash through the open window before leaning back and patting the top of the cab.
"Where to?" The driver questioned as we started to move.
"Millstone Road." I replied, smiling to myself as I stared out the window.