Chapter Ten

It had been a few days since the meeting at the club, Seamus and I had been talking  everyday since then. In fact, we had a date tonight.


Yep, you heard me. A date.


Well, I wasn't positive if it was a real date or if he just wanted in tell or-


Stop over thinking everything, Ayla! He's a good guy!  


Cara was sitting on the black velvet love seat in my closet helping me decide on my outfit for the night.


"What about that body con dress, the one with cut outs?" She was bouncing in her seat, excited to see me excited.


"I don't know, Car... What if it's too dressy? What if it's not dressy enough?" I bit my lip and took a step back from my wall of clothes.


"He didn't tell you where you were going?" She stood and came to my side, copying my stance with her hands on her hips.


"He said to not worry about anything, he would take care of everything. That's it."


"Call him. Put him on speaker, I'll be quiet! Pinkie promise!"


I sigh, and then pull up the Irish man's contact. I hit the little phone icon and we listened to it ring three times before he picked up.


"Hey! Uh, I- Hi, Ayla!" He stumbled over his words, he was just as nervous as I was.


"Hey, Seamus," I laughed softly, "I was just wondering-"


"I'm not telling you, it's a surprise!"


"Okay, just tell me one thing! what's the dress code? Is it super dressy? Floor length dress kind of dressy? Or is it 'jeans and sneakers' kind of dressy?" I pushed a curl off of my face and turned to Cara.


"Ooh, Irish?" She mouthed, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively and fanning herself with her hand dramatically.


I rolled my eyes, a coy smile played on the corner of my lips.


"Would you prefer super dressy?" Anxiety coated his words.


"I'm okay with whatever you planned, I just want to make sure to dress properly." I laughed and switch my weight between feet, shuffling in place.


"Dress dinner casual. A dress if fine if you'd like but you'll look great in anything."


"Okay, Seamus. Thank you!" 


"Of course, Ayla. I'll be there to pick you up in thirty minutes." He hesitated, like he wanted to say something, instead we said our goodbyes and we hung up.


"You didn't tell me he was Irish!" Cara sprung from her spot.


"I don't think it should matter, it's been decades! Plus, Seb is working with the O'Conners anyway." This feud is dumb, in my opinion. We all came from poverty way back when. If we had all came together instead of all the fighting, we could have had the world in our hands...


"Woah, first of all, 'Seb'? And second of all, I'm not saying anything bad, I just want to make sure you're safe!" Cara swiped through my clothes until she landed on a little black dress. 


It was fitted on the bodice with a sheer panel and a collar at the neck and the sleeves were the same sheer material. The sleeves were loose and poofy with black bands of fabric encircling the wrists.  The skirt met the bodice at my waist, flaring out into a full bell shaped skirt that ended between my mid thigh and my knee. I shrugged into it, Cara helping zip me in, and we contemplated our shoe choice. Flats? Or maybe heeled ankle boots?


A devilish look crossed Cara Stella's elfin face as she reached for a pair of velvet, square toed heels. The kind of heels that you couldn't help but imagine tripping and breaking your face in.


"How tall is he?" She questioned absentmindedly, already set on her decision and forgetting about the whole "Seb" thing. I didn't even know what to tell her anyway. That man was confusing.


"A good foot or so taller than me, why?" 


"Not that it matters, I'm just trying to picture the whole ensemble. You will take a picture together for me, right?" She gave me those puppy dog eyes that very few people could trick me with.


I sigh in fake exasperation, "I suppose I could try, especially for my best friend..." 


"I would also like a play by play when you get back. And no funny business! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"


"No offense, Car, but I feel like that list is on the shorter side." I laugh and she pouts at me, arms crossed over her chest again.


"Oh, yeah? Well... You're on the shorter side!" She stomped her foot childishly.


"Cara, you're only like 3 inches taller than me!" I rolled my eyes and readied myself for the only argument we have and will ever have.


"Yeah! I am taller than you!"


"I... I'm going to be late." I try and hide my smile. 


"Jewelry?" Her sour mood diminished just as quickly as it appeared and she held her hands together in front of her, tapping her finger tips together in sequence like an evil mastermind.


"What do you suggest?" I cocked my head to the side, allowing her to have her way with my outfit.


Her eyes traveled over to my jewelry box on my shelf and she began rummaging through it, coming toward me with a simple pair of diamond studs and the necklace I wore almost every day. It was the same necklace I wore to the meeting at the club.


"Okay, I think I'm ready-" a horn sounded outside and I ran to my window, seeing my redheaded companion leaning against the hood of his royal blue colored Beamer. 


"I believe that's our que." Cara Stella, being the menace she is, grabbed my arm- not too gently, might I add- and pulled me towards the front door. 


Once we reached the door, she pulled it open to reveal Seamus in a black pant suit, his white collared shirt was missing a tie and the top couple buttons were undone once again. His hand was raised in a closed fist, poised to knock on the door that had separated us.


"Ayla! You look- you..." Seamus stumbled over his words as he looked me up and down, mouth agape and reminiscent of a gold fish. I smiled sweetly and continued to check him out.


"Gorgeous. As always." This voice came from behind me and chilled me to my bones. 


Sebastiano was standing on the bottom step behind me with a pair of light wash denim jeans hung low on his hips and no shirt to be seen.


"Gesu Cristo..." Cara Stella whispered under her breath and we both took in the Italian God in front of us.


Seamus cleared his throat, pulling my attention back to him with a soft, apologetic smile as heat crept up my cheeks. "Yes, that's exactly the word I was looking for. Thank you, Sebby." He nodded his head in Seb's direction then turned back to me, "You look like a goddess, Ayla. As per usual."


Seamus held his hand out to me and I, as gracefully as I could, placed my hand in his. He once again laid a soft kiss on my knuckles and led me out the door, interlocking our fingers together.


Once his opposite hand grasped the passenger door handle, I heard Cara call out from the doorway.


"Don't forget to use protection, Love Birds! Oh! I can't wait for little Ayla's and Seamus' running around!" She squealed.


My shoulders slumped in embarrassment. Before I could turn around and scold her, another voice from behind her did it for me. Just a little more aggressive than necessary.


"Really, Cara? There's no way in Hell they would have babies, never the less, have babies in this house."


"Oh, my God. Let's go. Quickly, before she starts planning our wedding and Seb burns the house to the ground in rage." Seamus was handling this much better than I was. I was in a stunned silence, letting his warm hands guide me into his car.


"Yeah. Sure. Okay." I squeaked out, surely my face was the shade of the ripest tomato you had ever seen.






*****


Hello, my lovelies!


Uh-oh! Sounds like someone's jealous. Or just perpetually angry... We shall see!


How do you guys feel about Seamus so far? He sounds like a dream- boat!


Let me know what you guys think, love y'all!!

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