Bronagh

by L. A. Casey

  She fit right in with us.

  "Thanks Gav, why don't you swing by later? I'm sure we're all goin' out somewhere tonight."

  "Thanks for the invite, but I'm in work until eleven, I'll be shite company from fallin' asleep standin' up."

  I snorted. "Okay well, come by durin’ the week so we can watch a film or somethin'."

  "You're on, speak soon, hun."

  I grinned; he said hun like an old woman.

  "Bye hun." I replied.

  He laughed and hung up.

  I put my phone in my bag and felt him close behind me as I done so.

  "You hurt me hand you know?"

  Dominic sighed. "Sorry, I just hate-"

  "You hate Gavin. I know that, he knows that, the fuckin' world knows that, Dominic."

  Silence.

  "I just hate that you're close with him."

  I turned to Dominic and glared up and him.

  "I warned you before not to start this argument up again, but yet you started it. If you can't handle one of me best friends is a fella then you might as well pack up your shite and move out of me house and life because he isn't goin' anywhere. He is me friend; I don't know how many times I have to tell you that."

  Dominic narrowed his eyes back at me.

  "And I warned you not to threaten me with break ups. I'll end up killing someone over it Bronagh, you fucking know how mad it gets me."

  I did, but he got me mad with his constant hang-ups about Gavin.

  "Then grow up and accept I have a male friend. Honestly Dominic, are you worried I'll cheat on you or somethin'?"

  Dominic went red in the face. "No it's not you, it's him. He likes you; he always has."

  I threw my hands up in the air just to avoid wrapping them around his neck.

  "That was years ago! He is the one who decided on us just bein' friends, you remember that night, right? You ruined me first date."

  Dominic had the audacity to laugh. "Yeah, and you started dating me instead.... I also fingered you for the first time in the hospital examination room. Good times."

  Oh. My. God.

  "You fuckin' infuriate me!" I snapped and shoved him in the chest before turning and storming away from him.

  He jogged after me though.

  "Do you even know where you're going?"

  I didn't.

  Phoenix Park was huge, and I was in a part of it I had never been in before.

  "No, but I'll follow this path and get out eventually. I'll then get a taxi home away from fuckin' you, you stupid fuckface bastard."

  I was mad, and when Dominic laughed at me when I was mad I became murderous and laugh at me is exactly what the cunt did.

  I turned around and rushed at him with a screech.

  He dodged my swinging hands grabbed my shoulders then crooked his leg behind my knee and pushed. I gasped when my back touched the ground.

  That bastard tripped me up.

  I tried to get up, but Dominic was on me within a second.

  "Listen to me crazy, calm down or one of us are going to get arrested. We're out in public, we aren't at home where we can kill each other then fuck it out."

  Fuck it out?

  Bastard!

  "I'm never have sex with you again, do you wanna know why? Because I'm goin' to cut your fuckin' dick off when you are least expectin' it!"

  Dominic gazed down at me with gleeful eyes.

  "Every time you say you won't have sex with me I get you on your back and fuck you so hard that you cry when you come. This challenge has been set and completed millions of times pretty girl, you might as well stop it."

  I growled because that was true.

  Very true.

  "I hope me vagina closes up and never gives you access again."

  Dominic shrugged. "Your asshole feels just as good wrapped around my cock, I won't be sad."

  Oh, my God.

  "You're a bastard."

  "You're a bitch."

  Gah!

  "It's not nice to call me a bitch."

  Dominic raised an eyebrow then said, "You will get over it."

  Prick.

  I huffed and looked away from him; he took it as an invitation to his my cheek.

  "Can we get to your birthday picnic now? It's only around the next bend."

  I gasped. "A picnic? We're goin' picnic?"

  We've never gone on a picnic before!

  "We are." Dominic smiled.

  I leaned up and kissed him hard on the mouth and as always our argument; name-calling and threats were forgotten... until the next time we fought of course.

  Dominic stood up then helped me to my feet; we walked down the pathway and around the bend to where a Ryder Slater stood over a beautifully laid out picnic.

  "Uh... hey Ry."

  Ryder winked at me then turned and walked off without saying a single word.

  I looked to Dominic.

  "What was that?"

  Dominic shrugged. "He set this up then stood guard until we came, he is gone back home now."

  I gasped. "He drove an hour from home just to come into the city to set up a picnic for us?"

  "Yes."

  "God, I love your brothers."

  Dominic chuckled. "They love you too."

  I practically skipped over to the picnic and sat down. Dominic laughed and sat down across from me. He opened a huge basket and reached inside; I burst out laughing when he lifted out a bucket of KFC chicken pieces.

  "What? You think I can survive this day on your sandwiches? Please."

  I shook my head still laughing as he grabbed some paper plates, napkins and plastic forks and placed them in front of us. I sat patiently as he poured chips onto my plate followed by chicken pieces and beans."

  "That smells so good!"

  Dominic looked up and gave me a knowing look.

  "It's a one-time thing, okay?"

  I rolled my eyes.

  "I'm serious, every time you eat fast food you complain about gaining weight."

  "Fat food," I mumbled.

  "What?"

  "It should just be called fat food not fast food, the person who added in the 's' was a clever little fucker."

  Dominic snickered. "You've gone six weeks without stepping food inside a Mac Donald’s or Burger King or even a KFC. You're doing awesome, and you've lost a dress size to show for it."

  I stared at him. "How do you know I lost a dress size?"

  Dominic shrugged. "You buy your clothes from ASOS on my debit card, and you use my account. I get an email with your order, and it tells me the sizes of the items you bought."

  I mentally grumbled.

  I was not smart with computers, emails and debit cards. Whenever I needed them, I would just use Dominic's accounts for everything. I gave him the money of course; I wasn't that type of girlfriend.

  "I lost a size on top, not on the bottom."

  Dominic grinned.

  "It's not a good thing, me arse is-"

  "Perfect the way it is." Dominic cut me off as he dished up his food. "You stress you have a pear shaped body and that you have a big ass because you have big hips, it's time to just fully accept it and move on, you can’t change your bone structure."

  I grunted.

  "Unfortunately."

  Dominic was appalled. "You have an ass, a phat ass. I love it and so do the guys who check you out."

  "No one checks me out."

  Dominic snarled. "Trust me, they do... why do you think I hate going into town with you? I use bucket loads of self-control not to punch people."

  I snorted. "And people say I have anger issues."

  Dominic grinned. "I know I have a bad temper, but so do you, we're a perfect match."

  "A match made from Hell according to Branna."

  "Like she can talk."

  I chuckled and opened a bottle of coke Dominic handed to me. He had more chicken on his plate than I did because he could eat more, but I was curious as to why he was even eating this food in the first place
.

  "No celery sticks or steaks hidden in there?" I asked peering down into the picnic basket.

  Dominic smirked. "Like I said, it's a one-time thing."

  I sighed. "You will work all this off later, and I won't."

  Dominic chewed on his lower lip before he released it and said, "You could work out with me you know?"

  I laughed but stopped when I seen Dominic's face.

  "You can't be serious?"

  Dominic gave me a stern look. "You have to look after your body, and I'm sorry to say it but you're unfit babe."

  I frowned.

  "I'm not calling you fat before you go off at me, I'm just saying that it wouldn't hurt for you to be able to walk up stairs without getting out of breath."

  I was mortified because it was true.

  I was very unfit.

  I frowned. "You would ease me into it, right?"

  Dominic's sudden smile warmed my heart; he was shocked I was considering it.

  "Yeah I would, I'll do you up a beginner's exercise and diet program."

  The word 'diet' disheartened me.

  "I'm not eatin' rabbit food, you would be dead within a week after I turn into a monster and go on a rampage for real food."

  Dominic burst out laughing. "You won't be eating rabbit food, you will eat the same food as me just in smaller portions. You can still have small treats and even a cheat meal once a week."

  Dominic got a cheat meal every week, and it was the Mega Meal Deal from Four Star Pizza, it was for a family of four but he could finish it all by himself. We never had sex the night he had a cheat meal, but it does be worth it for him, he goes into a food coma.

  "Okay, fine, I'll do it... but not today, tomorrow."

  Dominic nodded his head.

  "Great, you could even try Pilates or something if you wanted."

  On a diet?

  "Are they allowed?"

  Dominic furrowed his eyebrows. "It's an exercise, Bronagh. Pilates."

  "Pilates? Oh, Jesus Christ, no. I thought you said pie and lattes."

  Dominic just looked at me like I grew an extra head so I shrugged my shoulders and said, "I like food."

  I smiled and then scooped up some beans onto three chips them put them into my mouth to prove my point.

  "You aren't going to use a fork... are you?"

  i chewed and swallowed my food.

  "To eat chips and chicken? Dude, no."

  Dominic snarled. "Stop saying dude, I don't say dude!"

  I swallowed my food and said, "Sorry bro, it won't happen again."

  "It's annoying that you can mimick my accent so perfectly now."

  I snorted. "I listen to you yap on 24/7 of course I've picked it up."

  Dominic mumbled something under his breath then proceeded to eat his food. I took a swig of my drink when I glanced to my left and smiled.

  "Dominic," I whispered. "Look."

  Dominic turned his head and followed my outstretched pointed finger to the lake that was twenty foot away from where we sat.

  "That's a lot of ducklings."

  I squealed a little. "They are so cute, I want to squeeze them."

  Dominic's expression was unsure as he looked at me.

  I cheerfully laughed. "I won't, don't worry."

  I looked back to the mama duck and her babies as she waddled around and they followed her in a perfect line.

  "Can you imagine if human kids followed their ma's around in a line like that?"

  Dominic laughed. "I'd be so amused."

  I chuckled and continued to eat my food. After a few moments, I reached down into my bag and took out the book Dominic made me.

  He chuckled. "You like it that much to keep looking at it?"

  I looked up and smiled. "I love it, you have no idea how much. I even love all the crude ones... but did you honestly have to say you love me because I give you head when I'm on my period?"

  Dominic nodded his head. "Of course, you're so considerate during the week your period hits."

  I burst out laughing.

  He was such a weirdo.

  "Well I love it, it's the best present ever."

  Dominic smirked. "You haven't received your third one yet."

  Another present!

  "Where is it?" I asked.

  Dominic nodded to the bucket of chicken, so I leaned over and peered into the bucket. I felt my eyes widen when I seen a black rectangle box down the end of the bucket.

  I felt my lower lip wobble then.

  "You put my present under the chicken? You're so romantic."

  Dominic laughed as I sniffled and reached into the bucket and lifted out my third birthday present.

  "Thank you," I said to Dominic, who just nodded for me to open the box.

  I took a breath then slowly lifted the lid of the box; I spotted the chain of my necklace first so I reached inside and lifted it out so I could see what the pendant was.

  I stopped breathing when I caught a glimpse of the heart pendant. It wasn't just a normal flat heart shape pendant; it had picture holograms on the front and back.

  "Me parents," I whispered as I slide my fingers over the holographic face of my beautiful mother then flipped if over to do the same to my father.

  "I know how much you miss them and how much of your heart they are, so I wanted something of them that you could carry around and keep close to your heart. Alannah helped me design it since she is great with designs and shit... do you like it."

  Like didn't cover it.

  "Words can't express-" I cut myself off as a sob escaped my throat.

  "Baby, I don't mean to make you cry so much on your birthday."

  "Stop givin' me priceless presents that I adore then!" I snapped through my tears and crawled over to him.

  Dominic only smiled at me and opened him arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his hips as I sat on him.

  "You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm so glad you sat on me chair in school."

  Dominic vibrated with laughter as he squeezed me tight.

  "Me too pretty girl, me too."

  I leaned back and handed my chain to him; he smiled and lifted the chain over my head, and fixed the heart on my chest.

  "You look like your dad, you know? I went through loads of pictures to find clear ones that could be made visible on your pendant, and I was a little shocked at how much you resemble him. You have his eyes, nose and ears, but your mom's smile. They would be so proud of you."

  Oh, fuck him anyway.

  I started sobbing again so Dominic silently hugged me and rocked me from side to side.

  "I'm happy I didn't wear any makeup today."

  "Me too, my tee would look like a colouring book otherwise."

  I giggled and continued to hug him tightly. I released him then and moved back over to my side of the blanket. We finished off our food and to be honest; it made me a little tired. I opened my mouth and yawned, but before I could fully enjoy it Dominic stuck his fingers in my mouth and said, "Yawn rape."

  Oh, for fuck's sake.

  "Will you stop doin' that?"

  "No."

  "But it drives me mad!"

  "I know."

  "So stop it!"

  "No."

  Gah!

  I screeched in frustration like a child, and flopped onto my back and laid still. I heard Dominic packed everything up, but I wouldn't look up to see. His face appeared over mine after a few minutes and the bastard, as usual, was smiling.

  "Come on, we have one more thing to do before we go home."

  I wanted to lie down and not move for at least half an hour.

  "What's in it for me?" I mumbled.

  "Your fourth present."

  Oh... well played Mr. Slater.

  "Okay fine, help me up, but I'm not talkin' to you for stickin' your fingers in me mouth. That shite is just fuckin' nasty."

  Dominic laughed and helped me to my feet. He pulled out his phone then and unexpectedly kissed
me and took a picture of it. I laughed and he snapped that picture too.

  "Okay, pull a stupid face."

  I went cross-eyed and stuck my tongue while Dominic pulled a silly face too.

  "Why all the pictures?"

  Dominic grinned. "You'll see.... now you ready for your fourth present?"

  I smirked. "Born ready."

  "Bowlin'... you're takin' me bowlin' for a birthday present... thank you, but really?"

  Dominic grinned. "Bowling itself isn't the present, you get your present at the end of the game."

  He sat down at the control panel of our bowling land and typed in our names. He typed in Nico as player one and Phat Ass as player two.

  "No!" I snapped but before I could change it, the fucker hit the enter button and started the game. "You're evil."

  Dominic grinned and stood up; he rolled his head on his shoulders and his neck cracked. I instantly put my hands to my ears and sang so I wouldn't hear the cracking sound. I jumped when Dominic smacked my arse as he passed me by to select a bowling ball.

  He stared down at a range of different coloured balls, and after a minute of thought he settled on the red one and it wasn't a surprise because red was his favourite colour.

  "You aren't allowed let me win; this is a serious game."

  Dominic looked to me and winked. "You're going down, baby."

  "Down on you? I hope so."

  Dominic's heated gaze bore into mine, and it made me grin.

  I waved him on. "Go on, show me what you can do."

  Dominic turned his back to me as he stepped forward to our lane. With his bowling ball in hand, he swung his arm back then forward then released the ball. I sat up in my seat and watched as the ball zoomed down the late at a lightening pace and smack the pins bang on in the middle. The force of the hit caused all pins to be knocked down.

  "STRIKE!" The machine roared.

  "God dammit," I muttered and stood up to take my turn.

  Dominic walked by me, and he looked smug as fuck.

  Bastard.

  I walked over to the bowling balls and selected a purple one; I had to hold it with both hands because it was a little heavy.

  "You can do this," I said to myself as I stepped forward to the lane.

  I glanced to my right just as a little kid three lanes away rolled his ball down the lane and knocked all his pins down.

  Every. Single. Pin.

  He couldn't have been older than nine, ten at the most.