Actually, I can. It’s so Audrey.
“Girl, if you don’t want him, I’ll happily take him off your hands,” she adds.
Ash pops her head in between us, looking a little green in the face. “I almost barfed listening to that. Gross, so gross. That’s my brother! A sister should never hear that shit!” She visibly shudders, and I laugh.
“Your brother is hot. Both of them are,” Audrey says. “You didn’t fall off the ugly tree either. Good looks clearly run in the family.”
“Sucking up has totally redeemed you,” Ash quips. “But you should know both my brothers only have eyes for this one.” She jabs her finger in my chest.
“I noticed,” Audrey says, as Ash tugs on my arm.
“You should talk to Ro now.” Her eyes lift to her youngest brother, and I see he’s looking straight at me.
“Now?” I shriek. “As in, just before they go on stage?”
“Yep.” She fixes me with a no-nonsense expression. “Ro looked like he was ready to beat the shit out of Dillon just now. He’s not blind. He sees the sparks flying between you.”
“You don’t seem to mind the idea of Dillon and Viv but not Ro and Viv,” Audrey says, voicing what I haven’t been brave enough to ask. “Why is that?
“Viv isn’t attracted to Ro. She’s attracted to Dillon,” Ash states matter-of-factly. “And Dillon is attracted to her. Oh, he’s trying to fight it, but we all see it.” Her features soften as she looks at me. “I don’t want to pressure you. I would never do that. I just think you two could be good for one another. I’m excited to think Dil might finally have found a girl worthy of risking a relationship for.”
I lift my palms as panic bubbles up my throat. “Woah. Let’s not get carried away here. We’ve got chemistry. Right now, that’s all it is.”
“I hope you explore it, but I’m here for you, no matter what.”
“It won’t get awkward if anything does happen?”
She shakes her head. “Nope. As long as we agree that whatever happens between you and my brother won’t impact our friendship.”
“I can get with that plan.” I don’t know how easy it would be to separate things, but I can try.
“Ro needs to understand he’s out of the running,” Ash adds. “Please put him out of his misery. He’s my little bro and I don’t want to see him hurt.”
“You know I’d never do that, Ash. Ro is a great friend.”
“Tell him that,” she says, giving me a nudge. “Please, just tell him.”
I know she’s right. I also know I’ve been delaying this talk, because the thought of hurting Ronan upsets me, but I can’t let this linger. Whether anything happens between Dillon and me doesn’t even matter. Ro needs to know he’s a friend and nothing more.
Drawing a brave breath, I approach him just before the band leaves the room. “Hey. Can I talk to you for a second?”
“Sure.” A happy smile covers his mouth as he angles his body into mine. “I’ll meet you guys up there,” he says to the others. Dillon drills me with a look, but I pretend I don’t see it. “So, what’s up?”
My tongue darts out, wetting my dry lips. Fuck. How do you say this to someone without coming off like a conceited jerk and without hurting his pride as well as his feelings? Shoving my hands into the back pockets of my skinny jeans, I force a shaky smile on my face. “You know you’re one of my best friends, right, Ro?”
His eyes examine mine as uncertainty filters into his gaze. “Sure.”
“I was so nervous coming to Ireland, but meeting you, Ash, and Cat was a stroke of luck because you’ve made this experience everything I’d hoped it would be.”
“What are you getting at?” He folds his arms across his chest.
I purposely soften my expression and lower my voice. “I value your friendship so much, Ro, but that’s all there will ever be between us.”
Hurt flickers in his eyes. “Because of Dil?” His voice hums with quiet resignation.
“No.” I shake my head, hating to have to say this, but I don’t want him harboring false hope. “Because the feelings I have for you are strictly platonic. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for how you feel, and it’s cool. I appreciate you telling me.” He takes a step forward. “Was that it?”
I nod. “Are we okay?” I reach out to touch his arm before thinking better of it.