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"I was just calling to see how things were going?"

"Hang on," he says, and I wait a few moments His voice is louder when he says, "Sorry I haven't called"

"That's okay I was just getting ready to go to bed and wanted to see if you were still coht"

He sighs, and I can envision hiht's going to be good She's having a really rough tiht now"

"Sure," I say confidently "That's not a probleoes well"

Before he can answer, I hear Maeve in the background "Cillian, please corates onwith a hint of sexuality to it Maybe I' it, but I don't think so

"Look I got to go," he says abruptly, whispering again "I'll call you in the "

And then he hangs up without even saying goodbye

I put naws at my stomach, and I can't help but feel that I'm stuck in some spider's sticky web created by Maeve

I' to me as if he was ashaoodbye to me I hate that she called out to him as if her needs were far superior to anyone else's

Most of all, I hate that I feel any of this, because when it boils down to it, Maeve has a serious problem and I'm ashamed that I'm jealous of her time with Cillian

CHAPTER 20

Cillian

I disconnect the call to Renner and grip it tightly I want to hurl ht now

I'ry at Maeve I'm pissed because she has a problem, and I'm the one that has to deal with it I know that's unfair to her, but I' pissed all the same I hate her weakness, the sa here for al to talk sense into her, and it's going nowhere

When I first arrived at her apart about her life At first, it was about the stresses with the band, and then it was about me and how she missed e had She even had the nerve to tell me that she was stressed because she orried about my relationship with Renner, and she wasn't sure that she was the girl for me

She could tell that pissed me off, particularly when I told her that I wouldn't listen to her badmouth Renner I al She apologized, and then wanted to tell me all about her crappy life

She'd never shared in the past with ed from her parents, but surprise of surprises, it was because they were both alcoholics and it was far worse than I could have i as she told me her father would molest her when he was drunk, and that herto stop it I sat and listened to her patiently, my heart sick with how much she suffered I also co about the subject of alcoholish she doesn't know just how much

I'ry with myself, because as I sat there and listened to Maeve pour her heart out to ht about Renner But then I would shake my head and focus back on Maeve because she needed someone to listen to her Her experiences are different thanin a very different way

Just when I thought I had her calht I could o be with Renner, she would start a fresh round of sobs that had ain

I had stepped into the living roo for a little privacy I had wanted to stay on that call with Renner for as long as possible, because just her voice coated me like a bal htmare

Shoving my phone inin her bed since I got here and e of it as we talk I alternately pat her leg or reach over to the nightstand to grab some tissues for her to wipe her eyes

Staring down at her now as she lays there, my heart lurches for Maeve's ile--I' I say or do willrun But what I have to reh this day, and hopefully tomorroill be better for her

"Who was that?" she asks, in a somewhat petulant voice

"Renner," I say quietly

"Oh Well, if you need to go be with her, I understand I've taken up enough of your time"

For a split second, I think I ht, that Maeve is actually feeling okay enough for me to leave But her stateh inwardly This is going to be a long night

Fuck, I feel like shit this

It's al and head to the lift Maeve had kept o to sleep, I stu rooh the eer with her and I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow

When I woke up, she was in her kitchen, cooking breakfast She looked bright and cheery, and even gave et etting out of there andmy way to Renner She looked pissed I wouldn't stay, and even stuck her lower lip out, but I wasn't having any of it I'd provided the support she so desperately needed and she needed to get through soth

I figure I'll grab a quick shower then head over to Renner's I'o into work and we can at least spend the day and night together I'd kill to just veg out on the couch and watch movies all day with her

As I exit the lift, I look in surprise atup against it She has two Styrofoa