Page 35 of Nolan (The Doherty Mafia)
“I’m very sorry to hear that, honey. I lost my mom at a very young age too,” she said.
Our eyes met and in that moment, I knew I’d found someone who’d completely understand me.
“I’d been in the system since I was a baby. Grew up in foster homes all my life, I never knew my parents. I still don’t know who my father is,” I said.
Reese turned to me, leaning against the kitchen counter with her hands clasped together. She was done arranging the dessert but it seemed like she wanted to stay and talk to me. I’d rarely been interested in talking to someone before but I felt like I could trust her.
“Was it a difficult childhood?” she asked.
I shrugged.
Reese took in a deep breath and shook her head.
“I have some idea of what it feels like to live in a home where you don’t belong. Where you know you’re not wanted. I barely knew my father and whatever little I knew of him, I didn’t like. Then my mother remarried and my stepfather was a monster to me.”
I didn’t want to confess that Nolan had told me a little bit about her life already, I didn’t want to embarrass her.
“You learn to look out for yourself, it’s the only way to survive,” I said. Reese agreed and nodded.
“I’m not sure where I would’ve ended up had I not met Killian. If he didn’t save me from my inevitable fate.”
“I’m happy for you,” I said.
Reese smiled and reached for my hand, squeezing my fingers gently.
“And I’m happy for Nolan that he’s met you.”
It was my turn to blush. Guilt and joy coursed through me. Guilt at knowing I was deceiving the whole Doherty family, and joy that Reese thought Nolan was lucky to have me. I could barely look her in the eye.
“When I first met Killian, things were complicated between us. I’ll tell you the story some other time, you’ll be in shock. Things were never cut-and-dry, they rarely are. It took him a while to trust me and it took me some time to see him for who he really is. For who they all are. Tough on the outside, tough on the inside too, but when they give their heart to somebody they’ll protect that person with their lives.”
My throat had gone dry. My feet had frozen to the ground with dread and sorrow. I wished I could agree with Reese, I wished things were different and I could truly enjoy the experience of falling in love with Nolan.
I knew I was falling for him—as much as I fought against it.
“I don’t think there’s anything serious between us,” I said quickly. I really didn’t want to deceive Reese. She didn’t deserve it after all the kindness she had shown towards me.
Reese picked up the tray with the desserts and headed for the door. She threw me a glowing smile over her shoulder.
“Maybe the two of you aren’t seeing what the rest of us can see,” she said and went back into the dining room. Leaving me in the kitchen, struggling to get my breath back.
Eighteen
Nolan
Reese and Amelia went to the kitchen to arrange dessert, and that was when Colin’s tongue was set loose. He was already drunk, it was plain for the rest of us to see. He’d been drinking all night with no-holds barred and usually it turned out to be comical, but not tonight.
It seemed like tonight he had a personal agenda he wanted to accomplish first.
“You know dad’s been waiting for you to show up and give him an explanation for your behavior,” Colin said, almost as soon as Amelia left the room. I banged my glass down on the table in the hopes that he’d get I didn’t want to have this discussion right now.
“Well, then it’s between him and me so you should stay the fuck out of it,” I growled.
Marley tried to interfere by placing a hand on her husband’s arm. “Colin, come on, you can talk about this some other time.”
“How about never?” I snapped.
“Don’t you dare talk to my wife like that!” Colin snarled, jumping up from his chair.
Aidan, who sat next to him, grabbed him and pulled him back down in the chair.
“It’s okay, Nolan, your brother needs to go home and sleep this off,” Marley said, rolling her eyes.
“You don’t want to be treated like a kid by the family? Then stop having a teenage hissy fit and sort it the fuck out,” Colin continued in the same snarly voice.
I stayed silent because it was sinking in—my brother had a point. I didn’t have an appropriate comeback.
“I mean, it’s not like you’ve ever made it clear if you actually want to be a part of this family or not,” Colin continued.
“Yeah, maybe I don’t.”
Colin threw his head back and laughed.
