Hold Me Close

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

Shane managed to finish the rest of his workday without spending too much time thinking about Maggie. He’d already talked to his roommate, Joe, to let him know that he’d found a place. Grateful that things aligned in his favor for a change, Shane packed up his tools and looked at his dad. He’d need to tell him what was going on.

“Hey, Dad. Buy you a beer?”

“I wouldn’t turn one down. Where to?”

“Mulligan’s is right down the street,” Shane said, knowing the bar often had blue-collar workers filling the place in the late afternoon.

“Meet you there.”

Shane lugged his bucket of tools out of the apartment complex they were remodeling. At least this job prepared him for living above O’Leary’s. More of the same day in and day out. Unfortunately, now there would be no escape.

He beat his dad to the bar, so he grabbed a table and ordered a couple of beers. His dad found him before he was halfway done with his draft. Without saying a word, Dad took a big gulp of the brew.

“So what’s the occasion?”

“Maggie’s home.”

“Good. Bet that makes you happy.” Another drink.

“The thing is, she’s got this idea that she wants to work at O’Leary’s and live above the bar.”

“Isn’t that where—”

“Yeah,” Shane answered. “It’s complicated. During lunch today, I went to see Ryan O’Leary to ask him about working there again.”

His dad’s eyebrows slammed down, but Shane continued. “I’ll still work with you, but I’ll be at O’Leary’s on the nights she works. And I’m moving in above the bar. They have one more apartment that needs to be fixed up. I live rent free if I do the work.”

“Why are you doing this to yourself?” His father’s voice was low and stiff.

“Because I need to know she’s okay. She won’t lean on her family when she freaks out. And I’m fairly certain she will. She’ll need someone to be there for her.” He finally took another drink of beer to wet his quickly drying throat. He’d never spoken to his dad about his feelings for Maggie. Everyone knew they were best friends, and he’d always left it at that.

His dad shook his head.

“It’s the right thing to do, Dad.”

“And what happens when the police department calls you up?”

Shane hadn’t even thought about that. He’d taken the test over a year ago and hadn’t been called for training. He shrugged. “I’ll cross that bridge when it comes. If it happens. Right now, this is what I need.”

“How does she feel about you playing bodyguard?”

Shane laughed. “She doesn’t know.”

His dad shook his head again. “Don’t you think she’ll get suspicious when you keep popping up wherever she is?”

“Don’t care.”

“You’re playing with fire with that one, kid. I remember her temper.”

Shane smiled. His dad had known Maggie for years, and his assessment was accurate. “I’ll take my chances.”

His dad sobered. “No joke. What will you do if she doesn’t want to have anything to do with you?”

“That’s not possible. She’s my best friend. She knows I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.” He drained his glass. He knew Maggie. There was very little he could do that would send Maggie running from him. They’d been through too much together, knew each other too well.

“I hope you’re right.”