Chapter 7
The amount of work Tadhg needed to do behind the bar dwindled with the crowd and he spent more and more time chatting with Annie at the end of the bar, parting every now and then to serve the last stragglers.
Annie couldn’t believe how perfect he seemed. She could tell he was someone who everyone was naturally drawn to because of his pleasant demeanour; the way talked happily, with ease and made you feel like there was no one else he would rather be talking to at that moment. And, if she was honest, she didn’t want him to talk to anyone else, jealous every time someone drew him away from her.
His hearty laugh rumbled from his barrel chest when she made a joke and his strong arms rippled under his shirt sleeves as he gesticulated and gestured when telling a story.
Her insecurities were still welling up inside her. Had he noticed her undyed roots showing? Could he see the wrinkles and crows nests starting around her eyes? Did he think she was too close to forty to love? Some men she had known through the years were immediately put off by a woman once she passed thirty, never mind forty. There were too many ditzy twenty year olds who were happy to be wined, dined and spoilt by an older man, mostly leading them on for the lifestyle.
“Oh, one second” he said, interrupting her story about the time she had ran away from home as a five year old, getting as far as the postbox on the corner before her mother coaxed her home.
He reached up and rang the large bell hanging above the spirits on the back wall.
“Last orders,” he roared.
No one seemed to make a move. Looking around Annie realised the pub was practically empty besides two older men in the corner. One of them seemed to be asleep. His friend poked him in the ribs and they got up, waving to Tadhg as they braved the weather.
Tadhg came back laughing, “that was Old Maguire, he falls asleep every night.”
“Oh God, what time is it?” Annie asked, having a look at her useless phone which had died early in the night.
“11:45” Tadhg said, checking his watch.
“Oh wow, I need to get back,” she said, shocked at how time had slipped away from her; she really had lost herself in the conversation.
Tagh looked slightly downhearted by her leaving.
“But this has been lovely,” she said smiling, “Are you sure I don’t owe you anything for the drinks?” she added, realising she had drank about five gin and tonics without paying a penny.
“Don’t worry about it, you can buy me a pint tomorrow if you haven’t run off!” he replied, regaining his own composure.
She gathered her things and put her coat on.
“I hope it isn’t too bad out there,” Tadhg said, with real concern.
“As long as my tent hasn’t blown away,” she said, only half joking.
She could already hear the howl as the wind as she made her way to the door. Pulling the handle, the wind thrust the door open without the need for Annie to put any pressure into her pull. The rain was blowing sideways and a pair of overturned bins were being pushed along the road by the gusts.
“Are you sure you don’t want the spare room?” Tadhg said, peering over her shoulder at the ominous scene.
She could almost feel the blast of wind through the door as he had asked.
“Maybe I should,” she had replied, turning around nervously, so they were inches apart.
“You should” he murmured, leaning in to her, one hand placed on her waist, the other hand gently caressing her check. She reached behind her and shut the door. The scent of his aftershave swirled around her as his lower lip brushed her upper lip, before she surrendered to him and they kissed.
The wind blew on outside but they were oblivious to it.
Coming up for air, Tadhg had looked slightly embarrassed.
“Sorry, I don’t normally kiss the customers if that’s what you’re thinking,” he laughed nervously.
“They don’t know what they’re missing,” Annie replied, smiling up into his crystal blue eyes.
He smiled back and she nuzzled into his chest.
...
They had sat cuddled into one of the booths for a little before Tadhg had got up to lock the pub up and store the night’s takings away in the safe in the back office.
“I’ll set your bed up,” he said, rousing Annie, who had begun to dose off, when he came back.
She followed him upstairs to the living quarters above the pub and into the bedroom to the right at the top of the stairs.
The room was plain and looked like it hadn’t been lived in for a while, with only a bed and a small locker with a lamp on it. Tadhg grabbed sheets, pillows and a duvet from a cupboard, as well as a spare phone charger for her, and they made the bed together.
“See you in the morning,” Tadhg whispered as he kissed her gently in the doorway before going to his own room.
Annie closed the door and leaned her back against it breathing deeply, her heart beating through her chest. She had wanted him to stay so badly but didn’t know what to do or how to say what she was feeling.
“Are you just meant to ask?” she wondered as she stripped off and got into bed, “how does it even work?”
Ten years with Greg and she suddenly felt like a rookie, inexperienced in love; a teenager all over again.
She put her phone on charge and lay back on the bed, thinking longingly about Tadhg piercing blue eyes as she drifted off to sleep.