Grumpy as puck, p.13
Grumpy as Puck, page 13
“Yup, she’s here, and so is everyone else.”
Did he mean Sam? “Like who?”
“The Devils, for one thing, but Cillian, there’s someone here who you will not like.”
I rolled my eyes. It was probably Jackson. But if the entire team was there, Jackson wouldn’t start anything.
He hadn’t been his typical annoying self. In fact, he had been unusually quiet lately. Not wanting to go out with the players after practice, and I swear, he raced to get on his regular clothes after the game to leave as quickly as possible.
“Just tell me. I don’t think it will be too big of a surprise, but—”
“It’s Shondra.” I barely had time to process what my father told me before he continued, “She’s here, and she’s claiming she’s married to you.”
I barked out a harsh laugh. “That’s ridiculous.”
Despite the outrageous lie, there was something tickling the back of my mind—an annoying wiggle of a memory that I was desperate to ignore.
“That’s what I thought too. If you two were married, then why did she wait so long to come back and say something?”
“Exactly.” I rubbed my forehead.
Why was Shondra at the farm? She wanted something.
Then it hit me. Daisy. Shondra was jealous of Daisy and was there to fuck with her. When she saw the beautiful, sweet woman sharing a table with me at the restaurant a few weeks ago, she couldn’t stand it.
That woman always had to have the upper hand. Shondra wanted me to be miserable without her.
“Even if Shondra is lying, you need to get over here. The things she’s telling Daisy aren’t good.”
Shit.
“I’ll come straight there.”
I ended the call and shoved my phone in my pocket. It took almost no time for me to grab my things and head out the door. Normally it was a twenty-minute drive to the farm, but I got there in half the time. It was dangerous driving the country roads like that, but I knew Shondra was more of a threat.
When I arrived at the farm, I hopped out of my SUV and ran toward the first person I saw, which was Emmanuel. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
His smile widened as he shifted the cardboard box in his arms. “Helping to set up for tomorrow. Me and a few guys wanted to help. Jackson told Daisy, and now we’re here.”
“Jackson?” I scratched my head.
What was this? Nightmare day? First my ex-girlfriend shows and now Jackson.
Emmanuel tilted his head toward the barn. “Yeah, he’s over there with some others. They’re cleaning up the horse stalls to turn them into pens for the puppies.”
My eyes narrowed. Jackson was here to screw with me. First, he didn’t invite me to the strip club—not that I would have gone, but that wasn’t the point—and now he was helping with the adopt-a-thon. I bet his idea of help was to ruin it.
I didn’t know who to focus on first. Shondra or Jackson?
“Where’s Shondra?”
Emmanuel’s eyes widened. “She’s here?”
I nodded. “My dad called and said she showed up.”
“Sorry, dude. I haven’t seen her. But I’ve spent a lot of time cleaning up the farmhouse and haven’t been out there.”
I took a deep breath. Even the sweet spring air couldn’t calm my nerves. “If you see Shondra, tell her I’m looking for her.”
“Yes, of course, Cillian. Go out to the barn. Maybe she’s there.”
“Thanks for helping. That means a lot.”
“I’d do anything to help you, Cillian. The entire team would. It excited us when you told us about the adopt-a-thon. Everyone came to me asking if you needed help.”
“Why didn’t they come to me?”
Emmanuel gave a lopsided smile. “You have a gruff attitude. It’s not that they don’t like you.”
“What?”
“You’re rough around the edges, but they still care about you. They understand it was hard when your mom passed, and then you had that terrible break-up with Shondra. So, when you mentioned doing the adopt-a-thon, the team was totally behind you. Just about everyone is here, except for Brian, but I think he’s focused on moving to Boston.”
I nodded in agreement about Brian before Emmanuel continued, “The past few weeks, it felt like you were finally seeing the light after so much darkness.”
“Wow, that was poetic. Didn’t know you had that in you.”
Emmanuel smiled. “There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”
If the team was rooting for me, then why had I received so many complaints? Especially recently.
He chuckled, and I waved as he moved out to the cars parked in front of the farmhouse.
Nothing made sense. Both Shondra and Jackson were here, and the team was happy to help me. If someone would have told me they’d be here a week ago, I would have called them a liar.
Marching off toward the barn, I waved at Aspen, who was rolling a wheelbarrow filled with old hay and dirt from the barn.
It was true. The more I looked around the farm, the more I saw the guys on the team helping out. I figured Emmanuel had only meant a handful of guys, but so far, I had counted at least ten, and I hadn’t stepped foot inside the barn yet.
Who had been complaining about me?
My eyes shifted to the darkened entrance to the barn. The doors were wide open, but the interior remained dark so I couldn’t see who was inside. Once I stepped in, I heard a voice as my eyes adjusted to the low lighting.
There was laughter, and I recognized it instantly. Shondra. My nostrils flared as I walked past empty stalls until I found the person I came to see.
“Shondra. Funny running into you again. And at the farm.” I folded my arms over my chest.
The only relief I felt was that Shondra was alone. Daisy wasn’t with her.
“I read a flyer in town that you were holding an adopt-a-thon at your farm. I thought it was today. But then your girlfriend was nice enough to let me know it starts tomorrow.”
“Girlfriend?” I asked, as I didn’t want Shondra to know I was with Daisy. If Daisy hadn’t said anything, then I might convince Shondra we weren’t together.
I knew my ex well. She would make it her mission to destroy me and Daisy. I wasn’t about to let that happen. That was probably why she spread that rumor we were married to screw with Daisy.
Shondra tilted her head. “Yes, Daisy. She’s so sweet, Cillian. I really am happy for you both.”
How would Shondra know about Daisy being my girlfriend? Daisy was adamant about not telling anyone for fear her brother would know.
“You needn’t be, as we aren’t together. She’s just helping me with this.” I waved around the barn.
Shondra put her hand over her heart and chuckled. “Oh, what a relief.”
I knew she was jealous.
“Happy I’m single, huh, Shondra? Should I still be longing for you? Well, just because Daisy and I aren’t together doesn’t mean I want you back.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s something Brian gave me, that’s all.”
“Brian? The team captain?”
She leaned the rake she was holding against the wall and held out her hand. Her ring finger on her left hand held the biggest diamond and emerald ring I had ever seen.
“That’s quite a ring you got there.”
“Isn’t it gorgeous?” She pulled her hand back and held it as if it was the most precious thing in her world. “He proposed the night I ran into you. It was perfect, overlooking the mountains.”
I thought I had seen Brian at the restaurant. “I didn’t realize you two were dating.”
Her smile widened. “He wanted to keep it secret. It was really sweet, actually. He knew you were hurt because of our breakup and your mother dying, so he felt it best we didn’t let anyone know.”
I clenched my jaw. “How long have you two been together?”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, gosh, it’s such a blur. I think it was…” She let out a nervous giggle and never finished what she said before we were interrupted.
“Hey, Shondra, I found some old gloves for you… Oh, Cillian. You’re here?” Daisy walked into the stall.
“Thank you, Daisy. You are such a lifesaver.” Shondra took the gloves but kept her eyes bouncing between us. “I told Daisy I’d help. It seemed like such a good cause.”
Her smile curled, and not in a good way.
“I just find it strange you two never hooked up,” Shondra added.
I swallowed. Where was she going with this?
Daisy laughed nervously. “Why is that so strange? I work for Cillian… nothing more.” Daisy raised her voice on the last part.
Glancing around, I noticed Jackson leaning against the opposite stall.
“Then there’s nothing to worry about,” Shondra said.
“Why would anyone be worried?” I almost didn’t want to ask, but it was better to know what she was up to.
She frowned. “Because we’re still married, Cillian.”
Daisy gasped, and I felt blood rush to my head. Why would she lie like that? Shondra was many things, many terrible things, but she never lied to hurt people.
“No, we are not.” I turned to Daisy. “I swear. She’s my ex-girlfriend, not my wife.”
Jackson strolled toward the stall. “Why is it important that Daisy knows you aren’t married? It seems to me it’s none of her business.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “Yes, of course. But I just wanted to clarify that what Shondra was saying wasn’t true.”
“But it is true, Cillian.” Shondra took a step forward, letting the gloves fall to the ground. “Wow, I didn’t think you were that drunk. Remember Vegas? The last night we thought it would be fun to do one of those drive-thru weddings. And it was fun, but I realized my mistake when we sobered up and you turned into a grumpy jerk again. I thought I filed the paperwork for divorce, but I must have forgotten.”
“How come I don’t remember any of this?”
Shondra folded her arms. “Because you are too self-absorbed to think about anyone but yourself. I thought you never brought it up because I embarrassed you. I mean, we broke up soon after.”
“You’re married?” Daisy asked, her voice a whisper.
I reached for her, but she stepped back, heartbreak etched in her features.
“I did not know. I swear.”
Jackson pulled Daisy behind him and took a step forward. “What the fuck did you do to my sister?”
“I did nothing to her. I love her,” I yelled out.
Jackson’s eyes grew large, but I wasn’t concerned about his reaction. It was the bitter laugh that came from behind him that caused my throat to tighten.
“Love? You don’t know what love is, Cillian. You think what we did was love, yet you don’t even realize you’re married.”
I waved my arm back at Shondra. “Neither did she. We both thought we weren’t married.”
Daisy glared at me with red-rimmed eyes. “But at least she knew you had married once. You couldn’t even remember that. Or did you know the whole time, and this is all an act?” She stared up at the ceiling and shook her head. “How do I do it? How do I keep ending up with liars?”
“I’m not a liar. Shondra is the liar.”
“How can you say that, Cillian? You know, I would not say this because, unlike you, I don’t hold any ill will for you. But calling me a liar, I just can’t hold this in.”
She turned to Daisy and said, “I knew I recognized your name when we met at the restaurant. I knew it because I remember Cillian made a joke about how you threw up on him. Called you Daisy the Hurler. Told Brian and some others on the team. Brian and I were together by that point, so he told me what Cillian said.”
I waved my hands in the air. “That’s not true.”
But as I watched the scene unfold, Daisy’s tears streaming down her face while her brother wrapped his arm around her, the memories came back. Those fucking shitty drunken memories I could never erase despite how much I wanted to.
“Sounds like something you would say, asshat,” Jackson said, glaring at me. “You used to come up with nicknames all the time back then. Say shit about the players. That’s why I never liked you. And now I really hate your guts after you said that about Daisy.” He pushed his finger aggressively into my chest.
Closing my eyes, I drew in a breath. It felt like my last because, in the next moment, I’d drown. I couldn’t lie to Daisy. She didn’t deserve it.
“I said that about you, Daisy. It’s not an excuse, but I was drunk and hurt. I thought you didn’t like me and…” I glanced at her brother, not caring what he did to me after I admitted what came from my heart, “I had the biggest crush on you since I first met you.”
“What the fuck?” Jackson ground out.
I held up my hands. “Let me finish before you beat the crap out of me. Back when I was drinking, I was so conceited, thought I was the best at everything—hockey, women, you name it.”
I frowned and shook my head. I was an asshole and deserved everything that came my way.
“When you puked on me, I was stunned. I couldn’t believe someone would do that and then run away from me. Honestly, I was probably the one who let it out that we kissed. But I don’t remember because of the drinking. I have a feeling Shondra is telling the truth.”
Daisy stepped back, her hand covering her mouth.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember.”
She ran off, leaving me in the stall with two people who wanted to kill me. The way I felt, it would be a blessing if they went through with it.
Chapter twenty-one
Daisy
“This is awkward,” Angelica said as she stared at Cillian, showing someone a puppy.
I let out a sigh and felt like I was living a nightmare.
Nope, just the adopt-a-thon I helped plan. Then the guy I thought was my boyfriend but turned out to be married was about twenty yards away at the same event.
What nightmare wouldn’t be complete without my ex-boss showing up too?
“How did you find out that Cillian and I broke up?” I turned to look at her perfect cheekbones and felt my stomach start to reject the coffee I had earlier.
“Cillian? Who’s Cillian?”
I pointed to the man she had been gazing at.
“Not that guy, the one behind him. Andrew.”
I threw my hands up in the air and yelled out, “Fuck.”
A few heads turned my way; one woman even pursed her lips and covered her little girl’s ears.
I winced. “Sorry.” The woman sneered at me and tugged the little girl away from the dog she had been petting.
“Fuck is right. I hate when I run into a guy I slept with. They are always begging me to come back. It’s pathetic.”
I smirked at the knowledge that Andrew had already done that with me. Even if he asked Angelica back today, I knew he had begged me first.
Pinching my brow, I groaned. Was I thrilled at the petty thought of being Andrew’s first pick? Yesterday had been so bad that, yes, I was taking joy out of it. It was sad, but it was my pathetic win.
“I know. It was so sad when Andrew asked me back last week. So sad.”
Angelica coughed and took a step back. “Wh-what? He asked you back?”
I nodded, not even bothering to look at her. “Oh, yes. He appeared so pathetic in my robe. Like he missed me so much that he had to wear my clothes.”
“But you’re so, uh…”
I turned toward Angelica. Her face was pale, as if she had seen a ghost. Folding my arms, I asked, “I’m so what?”
Before she could answer, Cillian’s father came over. “Daisy. This is going great. We’ve adopted five dogs already, and it’s not even lunchtime.” He had a big grin on his face, but I couldn’t help but notice the pity twinkling in his eyes.
Cillian must have told him about how we ended things. As much as it hurt to discover Cillian had been married the whole time, it broke my heart when he denied being involved with me to Shondra.
It shouldn’t have hurt, but it did. I was the one who told him to deny our relationship to everyone, but to hear it out loud… it felt so real.
“Wonderful. We have to keep up the good work.”
Mr. Walsh nodded but kept glancing over at Angelica. “Pardon me for asking, but why are you here?” He glared at my former boss.
“I used to be a part of the adopt-a-thon in previous years, so—”
Putting my hand on her shoulder, I stopped Angelica. “Oh, don’t be so modest. No, she’s here to beg me back. It seems when she fired me, people stopped bring their pets to her clinic. Now she’s lucky to get a sick bird.”
Angelica cleared her throat, apparently unhappy with my new-found zero-fucks-given attitude. She didn’t want me informing Cillian’s dad the real reason she showed up at his farm.
Tough titties, Angelica. Don’t go sleeping with my man behind my back.
“I wouldn’t say ‘beg,’ but I do—”
“But you were tearing up when you were asking me back. Saying how lost you were without me. And the clinic will close within the next month if I don’t come back. Then there was the moment you were on your knees—”
“Hey, I fell. I just shouldn’t have worn heels to a farm. It wasn’t like I was begging. And if this is your attitude, then maybe I don’t need you back after all.”
It was fun messing with Angelica. She deserved all the humiliation I had thrust upon her. But she had come at a perfect time since I wouldn’t be working for Cillian anymore.
I had already worked for someone who had no problem lying and using me. I couldn’t do that again.
Going back to work for Angelica wasn’t a better option, but since I didn’t care about Andrew anymore, it wouldn’t break my heart every time I stepped foot into the clinic.
“She wouldn’t go back to you if you paid her double.” Mr. Walsh folded his arms over his rounded belly.
Angelica’s eyes flashed with determination. I knew that look—she got it whenever a client questioned her methods. “Actually, I was going to pay her double—and offer her a full-time veterinarian position.”
