Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“What’s goin’ on?” I ask her, confused at the coldness of her greetin’.
Granted, we haven’t sat down and spoken about where our relationship is goin’, but she knows I want her in my life. I haven’t given her any reason ta doubt me.
“Nothin’,” she tells me with a smile, but I can see the lie flicker in her eyes.
I know her better than she thinks. We may not spend all day every day together, but I can recognise this girl’s emotions. Over the course of our relationship, I’ve learned how ta read her, ta see what she’s thinkin’.
Somethin’ is wrong. Very feckin’ wrong.
I take her hand and lead her ta the small café attached ta the hotel. We settle in at a table before orderin’ coffees. Once the waiter has gone, I stare at her and notice she’s not even lookin’ my way.
“Orla,” I address her, but she shakes her head, and I notice her eyes are shimmerin’ with unshed tears.
Silence. It hangs heavily over us. It’s as if there’s a large rift between us, and I can’t get ta her. I’ve known Orla for two years now. She’s been my girlfriend fer most of that time, and I’ve seen her upset before, but never like this.
Just then, the waiter returns with our drinks and places them down in front of us. I thank him before he leaves, and I return my attention ta the girl sitting’ across from me.
“What’s goin’ on?” I reach fer Orla’s hand, but she doesn’t allow me ta take it, and that’s when I realise what’s happenin’. “Ye came a fair distance just ta break up with me.”
This time, she looks at me. “I… I didn’t want ta come all this way. But I owed it to ye ta tell ye face-ta-face, Ronan.”
I don’t know what ta say at this point. Our drinks slowly cool as they sit on the table, forgotten. There was a while, when we first got together, I second guessed our relationship because I spent so much of my time in Italy. With Da workin’ fer the mafia, and me helpin’ him on jobs, I wasn’t always around. I know long distance relationships are difficult to maintain, but if the feelin’s are real, it can work. I love Orla, and I know she’s good fer me. Everythin’s been great…until now.
“You should’ve stayed in Belfast,” I tell her, anger obvious in my tone. I push ta my feet and slap some money down on the table fer the coffees. “It would have made this less trouble fer both of us.”
Without another word, I leave, but the moment I exit the café, Orla is behind me. I hear her heels clickin’ as I rush away from the hotel, away from the woman who flew here just ta tell me she’s not interested in takin’ things further.
I’m hurt.
Anyone would be.
All the while I’ve been plannin’ ta ask her ta move over here, she’s been readyin’ herself to tell me it’s over.
“Ronan, please. Ye don’t understand.” Her hand on my arm halts my steps. Even though I can’t bring myself ta face her right now, I wait fer her ta speak. “I don’t want it ta end like this. I want us ta stay friends.”
That forces me to spin on my heel and pin her with a glare so fierce she shies away.
I’m taller than her, and loomin’ over her, I say, “Ye want us ta be mates?” I didn’t expect the venom in my tone, but it’s there, causin’ her to wince. “Let me make somethin’ clear, Orla, we’ve never been mates. When I asked ye ta be my girl all those months ago, it was fer somethin’ more than friendship.”
“I don’t believe you really love me, Ronan. I doubt ye ever will,” she throws back, and I don’t have any response.
I’m convinced I love Orla, but maybe my feelin’s aren’t as real as I thought. Ma seems ta doubt them, and now the girl I’d intended ta spend the rest of my life with is sayin’ the same thing. At this point, I’m not sure what ta think, but I am sure I need ta get away from her.
Orla says I don’t love her, but if that’s true, then why does it cut me so deep ta know she’s leavin’. I never thought I could feel this hurt.
“If that’s the truth, ye can walk away with a clear conscience. Ye’re free, Orla. Ye can find yerself a new man, and ye can move on with yer life.” My words must hurt her because she blinks and the tears trickle from her lashes, slowly makin’ wet salty paths down her cheeks.
Even though this was her decision, I know I should be nice ta her. She’s never done anythin’ ta make me hate her…until now. Before today, I’d be the one wipin’ her tears away. But she brought this on herself, and it’s not my fault she’s cryin’. She can find some other fool ta comfort her now. She’s the one who’s breakin’ up with me. Not the other way around.