Walker

I feel like someone pulled open my shirt and dropped a bucket of live eels down it.

I can't stop pacing and fidgeting.

Candace scrunches her eyebrows up and looks at me, trying to figure out what's wrong.

"Hey, babe, what's up?" she asks. "Is this a bad time? Is it still ok that I came? I thought you'd be a little more enthusiastic to see me. And why're you all banged up? What happened between you and your brother today?"

Shit! Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

My hands are shaking, so I put them in my pocket to quell my nerves.

"Yeah, uh. I just need a glass of water. It's been a long day," I reply, walking towards the kitchen. I open the freezer and grab an ice pack. Then I bend over and grab a dishtowel from underneath the sink. I wrap the ice pack in the dishtowel, and then put the whole thing over my eye.

"Walker," Candace says, following me across the kitchen. She grabs my arm from behind.

"Baby, what's wrong? It's early and yet you look all done in."

Did she just call me baby? This is too weird.

"I don't know, Candace. I guess I just have a lot on my mind. Listen, how about you and I get out of here for a while? We can go down to Scoop's. They're a local ice cream parlor. We could get some dessert and just sit outside and talk and catch up. You can tell me all about your trip to France and we'll relax. What do you say?"

"I was going to suggest a trip later to this little nightclub I saw on the way here," she teases. My face must betray how I feel because she quickly back-peddles, "but I can do ice cream now. Come on, let's go."

Before we leave, I run into the bathroom. I put the ice pack on the edge of the sink and take care of business. I flush the toilet before putting the seat down to sit. Restless, I stand up again and look up into the mirror hanging over the sink while I wash my hands. There's an angry red mark on my brow from where Cian hit me. My lip is split and scabbing already from my early morning tussle with Deaglán.

Dragging my palms down my face I let out a moan. I take some cold water from the faucet and splash it over my face. I rub my eyes to make the vision of Jenny's tear-streaked face go away. How am I supposed to go out there with Candace?

Disgusted with myself, I dry my hands and face on the decorative towel hanging nearby. When I'm done, I throw it in the laundry bin behind me in frustration. Distracted, I forget the ice pack on the sink. I turn off the light and go out into the living room.

Mother Nature is playing a cruel joke on me and I'm on the bad end of her stick.

It's gonna be a long weekend. "Ok, Candace," I holler, walking down the hall towards her. "Let's go."

We leave the house and I unnecessarily help Candace climb into my truck cab before shutting the door after her.

Cian's right. What a day it's been, and I haven't even been home a full 24 hours yet.

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